Page 17 - Handbook of Structural Steel Connection Design and Details

Fasteners and Welds for Structural Connections

2 Chapter One

(Courtesy of The Steel Institute of New York.)

1.1 Introduction

There are two common ways to connect structural steel members—using
bolts or welds. Rivets, while still available, are not currently used for new
structures and will not be considered here. This chapter will present the
basic properties and requirements for bolts and welds.
Connections are an intimate part of a steel structure and their proper
treatment is essential for a safe and economic structure. An intuitive
knowledge of how a system will transmit loads (the art of load paths),
and an understanding of structural mechanics (the science of equilib-
rium and limit states), are necessary to achieve connections which are
both safe and economic. Chapter 2 will develop this material. This chap-
ter is based on the bolting and welding requirement specifications of the
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), “Specification for
Structural Steel Buildings,” 2005, and the American Welding Society
Structural Welding Code, D1.1 (2006).

1.2 Bolted Connections

1.2.1 Types of bolts
There are three kinds of bolts used in steel construction. These are
high-strength structural bolts manufactured under the American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specifications A325 and A490, Fig. 1.1,

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