Bolts
Bolts are checked according to SP 16, Cl. 14.2. The tensile and shear force in each bolt is determined by finite element analysis. Prying forces are determined by finite element analysis and taken into account. Each shear plane is checked individually. Ply in bearing is checked against the sum of shear forces at nearby planes.
Bolt in shear
A bolt subject to a design shear force is designed according to Cl. 14.2.9 and shall satisfy:
\[ N_s \le N_{bs} = R_{bs} A_b \gamma_b \gamma_c \]
where:
- Ns – shear force in one plane of a bolt
- Nbs – bolt shear resistance
- Rbs – design shear strength of a bolt – SP 16, Table 5
- Ab – bolt gross section area
- γb – service factor of bolt joint – SP 16, Table 41 – γb = 1.0 for single bolting and multibolting with accuracy class A, γb = 0.9 for multibolting and accuracy class B and high strength bolts (Rbun ≥ 800 MPa)
- γc – service factor – SP 16, Table 1, editable in Code setup
| Rbyn [MPa] | Rbs [MPa] |
| \(R_{byn} \le 300 \) | \(0.42 \cdot R_{bun} \) |
| \(300 < R_{byn} \le 400 \) | \(0.41 \cdot R_{bun} \) |
| \(400 < R_{byn} \le 936 \) | \(0.40 \cdot R_{bun} \) |
| \(936 > R_{byn} \) | \(0.35 \cdot R_{bun} \) |
Each shear plane is checked individually.
Bolt in tension
A bolt subject to design tension force is designed according to SP 16, Cl. 14.2.9 and shall satisfy:
\[ N_t ≤ N_{bt} = R_{bt} A_{bn} \gamma_c \]
where:
- Nt – tensile force in a bolt
- Nbt – bolt tensile resistance
- Rbt – design tensile strength – SP 16, Table 5
- Abn – net cross-sectional area of a bolt
| Rbun [MPa] | Rbt [MPa] |
| \(R_{bun} < 830 \) | \(0.45 \cdot R_{bun} \) |
| \(830 \le R_{bun} < 1040 \) | \(0.54 \cdot R_{bun} \) |
| \(R_{bun} \ge 1040 \) | \(0.70 \cdot R_{bun} \) |
Bolt subject to combined shear and tension
A bolt loaded in shear and tensile forces at the same time is designed according to SP 16, Cl. 14.2.13 and shall satisfy:
\[ \sqrt{\left ( \frac{N_t}{N_{bt}} \right ) ^2 + \left ( \frac{N_s}{N_{bs}} \right ) ^2} \le 1.0 \]
where:
- Nt – tensile force in a bolt
- Nbt – bolt tensile resistance
- Ns – shear force in one plane of a bolt
- Nbs – bolt shear resistance
Bolts in bearing
A plate subject to a bearing force due to a bolt in shear is designed according to SP 16, Cl. 14.2.9 and shall satisfy:
\[ N_s ≤ N_{bp} = R_{bp} d_b t \gamma_b \gamma_c \]
where:
- Ns – shear force in a bolt acting on a ply
- Nbp – bearing resistance of a ply
- Rbp – bearing design strength; Rbp = 1.6 · Ru for accuracy class A and Rbp = 1.35 · Ru for accuracy class B – SP 16, Table 5
- R – ultimate strength of the connected element
Each plate is checked individually and the worst case is shown. SP 16 does not show the service factor of bolted connection, γb for cases outside detailing limits. Therefore, the bearing check is not performed for such cases.
Friction-type connections
For friction-type connections, the slip is required to be limited and checked according to SP 16, Cl. 14.3. These bolts should be also checked as bearing type for ultimate limit state after slip occurs. A bolt subjected to shear force shall satisfy:
\[ N_s \le N_{bf} = Q_{bh} \gamma_b \gamma_c \]
where:
- Ns – shear force acting on one preloaded bolt and one friction plane
- Nbf – shear slip resistance of one preloaded bolt and one friction plane
- Qbh = Rbh Abn μ / γh – design slip resistance of one preloaded bolt and one friction plane
- R = 0.7 · – design preload in the preloaded bolt – SP 16, Cl. 6.7
Static or dynamic loading can be set in Code setup.
| Number of bolts n | \( \gamma_b \) |
| \( n < 5 \) | 0.8 |
| \( 5 \le n < 10 \) | 0.9 |
| \( n \ge 10 \) | 1.0 |
Number of effective interfaces, κ, is always equal to 1, because each interface is checked separately.
According to SP 16, Cl. 14.3.6, for bolts in friction-type connections loaded by combined shear and tension, friction joint service factor, γb, is multiplied by:
\[ \gamma_b = \gamma_b \cdot \left ( 1 - \frac{N_t}{P_b} \right ) \]
where:
- Nt – tensile force in a bolt
- Pb = Rbh Abn – preload in a bolt
- Rbh = 0.7 · Rbun – design preload in the preloaded bolt – SP 16, Cl. 6.7
- Abn – tensile stress area
Friction-type connections should be also checked for ultimate limit state. The bolt type should be changed to bearing – tension/shear interaction, the loads increased appropriately and the joint should be checked again.