Bolt capacity in hand-tightened condition

[bugbus]

Are there any situations in which hand-tightened bolts (less than snug tight, basically loose) can be relied on for structural capacity?

I am checking a steel-composite structure which is intended to be continuous for the future live loading. The beams are initially to be installed in a simply-supported arrangement, then a series of splice plates will be (loosely) installed, and finally a continuous concrete deck cast on top. The splice bolts would then be fully tensioned after the deck has been cast and cured, and the beams have taken up most of the deflection due to the wet concrete. The intention of installing the splice plates loosely is to prevent any unintended continuity of the girders until after the deck is cast and cured.

My question is whether the bolts can be relied on for structural capacity in this hand-tightened condition? We may end up needing to rely on them in the temporary case to provide restraint to the beams during construction.

Thanks in advance

 

[bugbus]

I suppose attacking this from another angle - if these bolts are installed snug-tight (i.e., by the usual definition, installed with a spanner with the full force of a person) instead of hand-tight, is it realistic to expect that they would allow slip in the connection and to avoid loading up the splices?

 

[human909]

I'd be going with LOOSE rather than snug tight. If you they are snug you can end up with a decent amount of friction. I've seen plenty of unintended moment connections from simple cleat plates don't up 'snug'. Sure in the engineering world this supposedly isn't a moment connection but when it is cantilever there is no doubting that it is BEHAVING as a moment connection. (Usually I've seen this lightly loaded structures that have not had any engineering.)

 

[BridgeSmith]

In the hand tight condition, they would theoretically have the same shear/bearing capacity as snug tight.

However, depending on the amount of deflection/rotation, the there could still be loading at the splices, if the bolts bear against the sides of the holes.

Another thing to consider is the sequence of the concrete placement. You may have to plan the direction/sequencing of the placement carefully to avoid movement of concrete that has already been placed and is starting to set, when concrete is placed in adjacent spans.

The whole concept is backwards of how we erect steel bridge girders. We want precise geometric control, so the girders are erected, aligned, and the splice bolts fully tensioned, before any concrete is placed. Of course, the splices for bridge girders are required to be designed for the full capacity of girder pieces they connect, so overloading them is precluded.