Structural Steel Connections

Eccentric Loads on Fastener Groups

© 1999 Thomas P. Magner, P.E. All rights reserved.

Introduction

This application calculates coefficients determining the strength of

eccentrically loaded fastener groups using the ultimate strength design
method.

References

· Manual of Steel Construction, Allowable Stress Design,

Ninth Edition
· Manual of Steel Construction, Load & Resistance Factor
Design, First Edition.

Notation

P vertical or inclined load

Xo horizontal distance from bolt centroid to load

Yo vertical distance from bolt centroid to load

θ angle of load from Y axis

n number of fasteners in one vertical row

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 b spacing of fasteners in vertical row

m number of vertical rows

D spacing of vertical rows

C coefficient for determining the strength of eccentrically

loaded fastener groups
xic horizontal distance from fastener group centroid to
the instantaneous center of rotation
yic vertical distance from fastener group centroid
to the instantaneous center of rotation

Functions

x coordinates of fasteners from center of gravity of

fastener groups arranged in evenly spaced rows and
columns

x' ( n , m , D ) := for c  0 .. m - 1
for k  0 .. n - 1
m-1
xn c+k  -  D + c D
2
x

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 y coordinates of fasteners from center of gravity of
fastener groups arranged in evenly spaced rows and
columns

y' ( n , m , b) := for c  0 .. m - 1
for k  0 .. n - 1
n-1
yn c+k   b - k b
2
y

Radial distance of fasteners from the instantaneous center of rotation


r' ( x , y , xic , yic) := ( x - xic) 2 + ( y - yic) 2

Relative resistance forces of fasteners

R'( x , y , xic , yic) := r  r' ( x , y , xic , yic)

Δ
 r  0.34

 max ( r) 


R 1-e ( - 10 Δ ) 0.55

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 Solve Block for determining C, xic and yic with inclined load

Given

R'( x , y , x'ic , y'ic)  r' ( x , y , x'ic , y'ic) - C' ( Xo - x'ic)  cos ( θ) + ( Yo - y'ic)  sin ( θ) = 0


x - x'ic
R'( x , y , x'ic , y'ic)  - C' cos ( θ) = 0
r' ( x , y , x'ic , y'ic)


y - y'ic
R'( x , y , x'ic , y'ic)  - C' sin ( θ) = 0
r' ( x , y , x'ic , y'ic)

SB ( C' , x'ic , y'ic , x , y , Xo , Yo , θ) := Find ( C' , x'ic , y'ic)

Solve Block for determining C and xic with vertical load

Given

R'( x , y , x'ic , 0)  r' ( x , y , x'ic , 0) - C' ( X o - x'ic) = 0

 
x - x'ic
R'( x , y , x'ic , 0)  - C' = 0
r' ( x , y , x'ic , 0)

SB2 ( C' , x'ic , x , y , Xo ) := Find ( C' , x'ic)

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 Function for computing coefficient C for bolt groups

EBOLT ( n , m , b , D , Xo , Yo , θ) := if Xo  cos ( θ) - Yo  sin ( θ)  TOL

C  n m
xic  0
yic  0

otherwise
x  x' ( n , m , D )
y  y' ( n , m , b)

(
C'  n m 1 - e
- 3.4 ) 0.55
x'ic  0 if cos ( θ) = 0
-TOL otherwise
y'ic  0 if sin ( θ) = 0

otherwise
TOL if θ < 0
-TOL otherwise
v SB2 ( C' , x'ic , x , y , Xo ) if θ = 0
SB ( C' , x'ic , y'ic , x , y , Xo , Yo , θ) otherwise
C  v0
xic  v1
yic  0 if θ = 0
v2 otherwise

(C xic yic )
T

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 Calculations

The function EBOLT ( n , m , b , D , Xo , Yo , θ) calculates the

coefficient C for computing the strength of bolt groups loaded
eccentrically in shear, and the location of the instantaneous center of
rotation from the centroid of the fastener group. Load capacity of the
fastener group is obtained by multiplying the load capacity of a single
fastener by the coefficient.

Example 1

(n m b D X o Yo θ ) := ( 9 2 3 3 6 0 75 deg )

C  C   15.305 
     
 xic  := EBOLT ( n , m , b , D , Xo , Yo , θ) x
  
ic = - 3.213 
y   y   -15.091 
 ic   ic   

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 Example 2

This example can be used to calculate any of the C coefficient tables in

the AISC Manuals for specified values of b, m, D, or q.

m := 2 b := 3 D := 5.5 Yo := 0 θ := 45 deg

T
n := ( 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ) if m = 1
T
( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ) otherwise

T
Xo := ( 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 24 28 32 36 )

i := 0 .. last ( Xo ) j := 0 .. last ( n)

 Ci , j 
 xici , j  := EBOLT n , m , b , D , X , Y , θ
  (j o
i
o )
 yici , j 
 

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 C=

End of application

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 · Right click on variables in Example 2 and click "Enable Evaluation"
to start computations. It take 10 to 45 seconds to calculate one
table using a Pentium III computer. Some earlier version Pentiums
will be considerably slower.

· There are small but significant differences between values computed

by this application and some values shown in the AISC Manuals.
This is due to the greater accuracy of the Mathcad solve block
algorithm.

· The accuracy of the application can be checked independently using

the computed values for the location of the instantaneous center of
rotation.

Comments, questions, or suggested improvements are welcome.

Tom Magner

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