SS Anchor Bolt question 2

[transmissiontowers]

We have a transmission tower out in some salt water in a bay (up on piers but in the splash zone) that someone put in with SS anchor bolts. The drawings do not specify the grade or type of SS that was used. One of the anchor bolts (cast in concrete) got damaged so we need to break the concrete down and weld a new piece of SS onto the bolt shaft.

I don't have any experience with SS and had a couple of questions.

What type of SS might have been used for the original bolt and nut? Is there an easy test to determine type? (probably not)

What weld rod should be used to join the new to the old? I was going to specify a small angle as a splint and use a fillet weld in addition to a butt weld.

The bolts are about 1" diameter.

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I have been called "A storehouse of worthless information" many times.

 

[CoryPad]

What they might be:

inch-pound units:

screw: ASTM F 593 Group 1
nut: ASTM F 594 Group 1

metric units:

screw: ISO 3506-1, A4-70
nut: ISO 3506-2, A2-70

Easy test: portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) tester or send a piece to a lab and use XRF or energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry or optical emission spectrometry.

You absolutely should not weld structural fasteners - you will ruin the properties. You need to replace the fasteners with new ones.

 

[transmissiontowers]

Thanks for the info. It will be almost impossible to replace the entire bolt. They are probably 5 feet long. We were wanting to chisel down and attach somehow to the remaining bolt. If there were enough threads left in the concrete, we could use a sleeve nut to attach the 2 parts or some kind of cad-weld to connect the 2 parts. The bolt is part of a 4 bolt group that supports a tower leg.

Anybody else have an idea on how to butt splice 2 SS bolts together?

_____________________________________
I have been called "A storehouse of worthless information" many times.

 

[CoryPad]

If they are 5' long anchors, they probably are threaded rod instead of a formed bolt/screw. Alloy 304 or 316 are the most common, though not the most suited for the application.

A coupling nut seems suited for this application.

 

[strider6]

there are simple test to sort if it's 304 or 316..

Stainless Steel Identification Test kits

http://www.elmerwallace.co.uk/Stainless-Steel-Identification-Test-kits/C10-1-0.htm

http://www.corrosionist.com/Sorting_Stainless_Steel.htm

http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=175

S

Corrosion Prevention & Corrosion Control

 

[metengr]

Regarding attachment of a new fastener extension to an existing one embedded in concrete, if the fasteners are 3XX stainless use a full penetration butt weld. SMAW process with ER308 filler metal. Blend grind the butt weld cap and perform a Liquid PT to ensure no cracks. No preheat or PWHT are required.Make sure to regrout this location to avoid contact with moisture.

 

[transmissiontowers]

Thanks for the help. I'm hoping we do have enough threads in the foundation to use a double length nut since we don't have any qualified SS welders.

_____________________________________
I have been called "A storehouse of worthless information" many times.

 

[unclesyd]

You might give CNS a call to discuss your problem. You might be able to use something like their FASThread nut.

http://www.cns-sales.com/products/specialty-fasteners.php

 

[EdStainless]

Or the option that returns you closest to original is to core drill as deep as you can, remover the damaged rod, and grout in a new one.

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