The Nuts and Bolts of Nuts and Bolts
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steelwise This month’s SteelWise features THE NUTS AND answers to general questions on bolting BOLTS OF in structural steel framing systems. NUTS AND BOLTS EDITED BY LARRY S. MUIR, P.E. AISC IS UPDATING the Frequently Asked Questions sec- A194M; for washers, ASTM F436/F436M; for direct tension tion of its website (www.aisc.org). As these updates are created, indicators, ASTM F959/F959M; and for tension control bolt/ selected sections will be published as SteelWise articles. This nut/washer assemblies, ASTM F1852 and ASTM 2280. These month’s installment covers bolting questions. fasteners should be specified and accepted based upon the cri- teria established therein. 6. Bolting 6.2.2. What information must be included in the pur- The AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings and the chase order for high-strength bolts? RCSC Specification for Structural Joints Using High-Strength From RCSC Educational Bulletin No. 3 (see www. Bolts cover requirements for the use of bolts in structural steel boltcouncil.org), the purchase order for high-strength bolts connections. The FAQs in this section include a discussion of must include the ASTM grade (A325 or A490), the type (1 or portions of these provisions and subsequent recommendations. 3), a copy of the project specification for the manufacturer or Some of the discussion is taken from Bolt Bulletins published vendor, and the “Ordering Information” as required by the by RCSC. appropriate ASTM Specification. Additionally, the purchase order should require the following: 6.1. Economical Suggestions 1. That the vendor provide certification that the bolts, nuts, 6.1.1. Why should bolt diameters be limited to a 1-in. and washers furnished conform to all requirements of maximum when possible? the referenced ASTM specification. 7 The industry standard ¾-in., ⁄8-in. and 1-in. bolt diameters 2. That certified manufacturer’s mill test reports be sup- provide adequate design strength for the vast majority of con- plied that clearly show the applicable ASTM mechanical nections in steel structures. Accordingly, commonly available and chemical requirements together with the actual test bolt installation equipment has been designed with a capac- results for the lot of supplied fasteners. ity to fully tension 1-in. diameter ASTM A490 bolts when re- 3. That the bolt heads and the nuts of the supplied fasteners quired; larger bolts will usually require special equipment and/ be marked with the manufacturer’s identification mark or effort. Additionally, bolt diameters larger than 1 in. may re- and the ASTM grade and type as specified in ASTM quire larger clearances, edge distances, and spacings than are specifications. standard. Therefore, bolt diameters larger than 1 in. should be 4. For projects requiring slip-critical connections, that the avoided, when possible, to help prevent potential bolt tension- lubricated bolt, nut and washer be pre-assembled to en- ing difficulties. sure proper fit of the bolt and nut and that the lot be 6.1.2. Why should mixed use of ASTM A325 and A490 tested for strength prior to shipment to the purchaser to bolt grades be limited to different diameters? meet the requirements of the 2004 RCSC Specification If ASTM A325 and A490 bolts of the same nominal diam- Table 4. eter are mixed on a project, there exists the possibility that the A325 bolts might be installed where the A490 bolts were re- quired. Therefore, when ASTM A325 and A490 bolts are used Larry Muir ([email protected]) on the same project, quality assurance is simplified if different is AISC’s director of technical diameters are used for different grades. assistance. 6.2. Ordering Bolts 6.2.1. What quality requirements must high-strength bolts, nuts and washers meet? The manufacturing quality requirements for high-strength bolts, nuts and washers are covered in the following specifica- tions: for high-strength bolts, ASTM A325/A325M and ASTM A490/A490M; for nuts, ASTM A563/A563M or ASTM A194/ Modern STEEL CONSTRUCTION steelwise 6.2.3. When must high-strength bolts be ordered as a 6.3. Verification Testing bolt/nut assembly from a single manufacturer? 6.3.1. What constitutes evidence of material conformity As indicated in the RCSC Specification Commentary, there for high-strength bolts, washers, and nuts? are two cases in which bolts and nuts must be treated as a manu- RCSC recommends that purchase orders require the follow- factured matched assembly: when bolts are galvanized (Com- ing as evidence of conformity: mentary Section 2.3.3) and when “tension-control” bolts are 1. That the vendor provides certification that the bolts, nuts specified (Commentary Sections 2.2 and 8.2.3). In the former and washers furnished conform to all requirements of case, because nut-thread over-tapping to accommodate the the referenced ASTM specification. added thickness of galvanizing may reduce the nut stripping 2. That the certified manufacturer’s mill test reports sup- strength, ASTM A325 requires that the galvanized assembly be plied that clearly show the applicable ASTM mechanical lubricated and tested by the manufacturer to ensure adequate and chemical requirements together with the actual test rotational capacity. In the latter case, some of the negative as- results for the supplied fasteners. pects of this torque-controlled installation method are mini- 3. That the bolt heads and the nuts of the supplied fasteners mized through good quality control in the matched assembly. must be marked with the manufacturer’s identification 6.2.4. Is it acceptable to substitute ASTM Grade BC, A354 mark, the strength grade and type as specified by ASTM Grade BD or A449 bolts for ASTM A325 or A490 bolts? specifications. In general, this is not an acceptable 4. That, for projects requiring slip-criti- substitution. While ASTM A449 seems cal connections, the lubricated bolt, nut to offer the same strength as ASTM In other words, and washer be preassembled to assure A325, the use of A449 material is restrict- proper fit of the bolt and nut and the as- ed in the Specification Section J3.1 to bolt pre-installation verification is sembly tested for strength to meet 1.05 diameters larger than 1½ in. or lengths times the requirements of Table 8.1 of exceeding 12 diameters. This is because the Specification for Structural Joint Using these bolts are not produced to the same only required when the bolts ASTM A325 or A490 Bolts prior to ship- inspection and quality assurance require- ment to the purchaser. ments as ASTM A325 bolts. If the bolts are to be pre-tensioned. 6.3.2. When must the purchaser must be pre-tensioned, the bolt geom- test high-strength bolts and why etry including the thread pitch, thread must they be tested if the manufac- length, head and nut(s) shall be equal to or (if larger in diameter) turer has already done so? proportional to that required by the RCSC Specification. Installa- Section 7 of the RCSC Specification requires pre-installation tion shall comply with all applicable requirements of the RCSC verification “only as indicated in Section 8.2.” In other words Specification with modifications as required for the increased di- ,pre-installation verification is only required when the bolts are ameter and/or length to provide the design pretension. to be pre-tensioned. ASTM Specifications are adequate and 6.2.5. Is it acceptable to substitute SAE J429 grades 5 appropriate for the strength and quality of the separate com- and 8 bolts for ASTM A325 and A490 bolts, respectively? ponents, but may not be representative of the factors and con- No. The strength properties of SAE J429 grade 5 bolts and ditions that determine performance of the fastener assembly ASTM A325 bolts are identical; likewise, SAE J429 grade 8 during installation and service as it is used in construction. For bolts are the strength equivalent of ASTM A490 bolts. These one example, the bolt itself is tested for strength by the manu- material specifications differ, however, in that ASTM A325 and facturer by screwing the bolt into a standard testing fixture and A490 specify thread length and head size, whereas SAE J429 subjecting it to pure tension. However, in usual applications, does not. Additionally, quality assurance and inspection re- bolt tension is induced by torque on the nut and the bolt is quirements for ASTM A325 and A490 bolts are more stringent. subject to combined tension and torque, which may cause the 6.2.6. What is an ASTM A325T bolt? bolt to fail at a load less than its strength in pure tension. RCSC The “T” in the designation ASTM A325T invokes supple- states that pre-installation verification is necessary to: ment S1 in ASTM A325, which allows for full-length threading 1. Confirm the suitability of the complete fastener assembly, (ASTM A325T). This provision may be specified for ASTM including lubrication, for pre-tensioned installation. A325 bolts of length less than or equal to four times the bolt 2. Confirm the procedure and proper use by the bolting diameter only; there is no similar provision in ASTM A490. crew of the pre-tensioning method to be used. The fully threaded bolt allows the fabricator the option to use a single-length fastener in the majority of bolting applications, 6.4. Handling and Storage if desired. Note that if ASTM A325T bolts are specified, it is 6.4.1. Should bolts and nuts be cleaned of all grease, impossible to exclude the threads from the shear plane and the wax or other lubricant prior to installation? design must be based upon the “threads included” strength val- No. Bolts are intentionally lubricated to facilitate installa- ues. Fully threaded A325 bolts are marked on the head of the tion.