METHOD OF STATEMENT – STEEL STRUCTURE WORK 1

A. Bolted Connection
3.A.1. Bolt Assembly

Grip is the distance from behind the bolt head to the back of the nut or washer. It is the sum of
the thickness of all the parts being joined exclusive of washers. Thread length is the threaded
portion of the bolt. Bolt length is the distance from the bolt head to the end of the bolt.

3.A.2. Bolt Types

❏ Carbon Steel Bolts – Normal Strength (A307)
- Similar to ordinary machine bolts
- Lower strength, low load/shear connector
❏ High Strength Bolts – (A325, A325M, A490, A490M, etc.)
- Higher shear resistance
- Can also be used in friction connection

Bolt Bolt dia. Clamping Yield Strength Tensile Strength

Type [mm] Forces [Mpa] (Fy) [Mpa] (Fu) [Mpa] Material
A307 6.35-10.4 - NA 60 Low Carbon Content
A325 12.7-25.4 585 560-630 825 Carbon Steel
A490 12.7-38.1 825 790-900 1035 Alloy Steel

3.A.3. Joint Types

a. Bearing Type Joints
Shear resistance is attained by the bold shaft during butting against the metal plates. The
holes should not be oversized for bearing type bolts.

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 METHOD OF STATEMENT – STEEL STRUCTURE WORK 2

Bolts do not need to be tightened to a pre-specified tension. Bolts are typically snug fitted.
Snug fitted bolts: Snug fitting is achieved by the force of an average worker using a spud
wrench. Snug fitting is done to make sure that the bolts will not fall off. In site, snug fitted
bolt is achieved by preliminary tightening.

b. Friction Type Joints

When the two plates try to move due to shear, friction develops between the two surfaces.
Friction resist the shear forces. Such joints are known as slip critical joints. The holes are
oversized since the bolt shaft need not butt against the metal plates. Shear resistance is
achieved through friction between plates. In this type of connection, proper tightening of
bolts is important. A design engineer will provide the tension required in the bolt. Tension in
bolts are proportional to the frictional resistance

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 METHOD OF STATEMENT – STEEL STRUCTURE WORK 3

3.A.4. Bolt Tightening

There are three bolt tightening methods in steel structure as follows:
a. Torque Shear Method

Install TC bolts completely:

bolt, nut, washer

Do preliminary tightening

Create a straight line marking from

bolt to the nut, washer, and plate
Do final tightening with TCB Shear Wrench
until the pin tail is released.
*or according to designer’s
instruction*before the work is started,
trial should have been done. If it is
necessary (e.g. bolt rotates more than 1
turn), then adjusting torque value for
preliminary tightening is allowed with
permission from the structural designer

Check!
Do the bolts in one group have a uniform final rotation angle? NO >>> Bolt tightening failed
If non-uniform group occur, the difference of rotation angle Change the bolt with the new
within ± 30o of average group rotation is permitted. one and repeat the method
Is it only the nut spinning? from the beginning

YES >>> Bolt tightening succeeded

Do final painting or apply temporary protection

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 METHOD OF STATEMENT – STEEL STRUCTURE WORK 4

❏ Tools and equipment:

Torque Wrench TC Bolts Shear Wrench

❏ Final control:
 Verify the pintail released after final tightening.
 Verify that in one group, each TC bolts rotation angle are within ± 30° of its
average group rotations.

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 METHOD OF STATEMENT – STEEL STRUCTURE WORK 5

b. Turn-Of-Nut Method

Install hexagon HTB

completely: bolt, nut, washer

Do preliminary tightening

Create a straight line marking from
bolt to the nut, washer, and plate
*or according to designer’s instruction*before the work is
started, trial should have been done. If it is necessary (e.g. bolt
rotates more than 1 turn), then adjusting torque value for
preliminary tightening is allowed with permission from the
structural designer

See Table 5 for target rotation

Do final tightening to achieve target rotation.
standard and its tolerance

No Check!Whether No NO >>> Bolt tightening failed

Check!Is target rotation
rotation is less than Restart method from the
achieved?
the target beginning
Yes Yes

Check!Whether only the nut Re-tighten until it Failed

rotates Success achieves target rotation

NO >>> Bolt tightening failed

Restart method from the
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 Do final painting or apply temporary protection

METHOD OF STATEMENT – STEEL STRUCTURE WORK 6

*Target rotation is defined by bolt diameter, bolt length, and its position towards plate and
follows Table 5 as below.

❏ Tools and equipment:

Torque Wrench Hexagon Bolt

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 METHOD OF STATEMENT – STEEL STRUCTURE WORK 7

❏ Final control:
 Verify that bolt rotation meets the target rotation (which is defined by bolt
length and diameter) and within its tolerance limit.

c. Torque Control Method

Install Hexagon HTB

completely: bolt, nut, washer

Do preliminary tightening

Create a straight line marking from

bolt to the nut, washer, and plate Sometimes, with preliminary tightening
following the torque listed, the bolt will
turn too far, so it is hard to do final control.
Therefore, trial should be done before. If it
is necessary, adjusting the torque value for
Do final tightening preliminary tightening is permitted with
structural engineer’s permission.

Check!
Do the bolts in one group have a uniform final rotation
angle? No
If non-uniform group occur, the difference of rotation Do torque check with
angle within ± 30o of average group rotation is torque wrench
permitted.

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Yes
Yes Check!Whether the final
Check!Whether only the nuts rotate? torque is ± 10% from torque
 No
Yes No

NO >>> Bolt tightening failed

YES >>> Bolt tightening succeeded METHOD OF STATEMENT – STEEL STRUCTURE WORK 8
Restart method from the
Do final painting or apply temporary protection beginning

❏ Tools and equipment:

Torque Wrench Hexagon Bolt

❏ Final control:
 Verify that in one bolt group, bolt rotation is uniform or within ± 30° of its
average group rotations.
 If bolt rotations are not uniform, check final torque with torque wrench. If the
final torque is ± 10% of torque design, bolt tightening is considered as succeed.

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 METHOD OF STATEMENT – STEEL STRUCTURE WORK 9

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