CONNECTIONS 209

8.3.1.1 Strength limit state

Clause 9.3.2 of AS 4100 considers the strength limit state design of bolts and applies to
/S, /TB and /TF bolting categories.
(a) Bolts in shear
The nominal bolt shear capacity, Vf , is calculated as follows.
Where there are no shear planes in the threaded region and nx shear planes in the
unthreaded region:
Vf = 0.62 kr fu f nx Ao
Where there are nn shear planes in the threaded region and no shear planes in the
unthreaded region:
Vf = 0.62 kr fu f nn Ac
Where there are nn shear planes in the threaded region and nx shear planes in the
unthreaded region:
Vf = 0.62 kr fu f (nn Ac + nx Ao )
where
fu f = minimum tensile strength of the bolt
Ac = core area (at the root of the threads)
Ao = bolt shank area
kr = reduction factor for length of bolt line
= 1.0 for connections other than lap connections, otherwise
= 1.0 for lengths up to 300 mm, and 0.75 for lengths over 1300
mm (interpolation should be used in between).
It is worth noting that the capacities of bolts are based on the minimum tensile strength
fu f rather than the yield strength.
The overall inequality to be observed is:
V * < φVf
where V * is the design shear force on the bolt/bolt group and the capacity reduction
factor, φ, is 0.8 from Table 3.4 of AS 4100.
The normal commercial practice of thread lengths is based on the formula: length =
two bolt diameter + 6 mm. The usual bolt projection allowance is roughly 1.25
diameter + 6 mm. This means that the length of thread projecting into the bolt hole is
roughly 0.75 times the bolt diameter if the outer ply is thinner than 0.75 bolt diameters.
This is quite common in building structures, where plate thicknesses are often less than
16 mm. In such instances it may be more economical to use shorter bolts and allow
threads to project into the shear plane, provided the bolt capacity has been checked on
this basis.
(b) Bolts in tension
The nominal capacity of a bolt in tension, Nt f , is calculated from:
Nt f = As f u f