Bolt Group Shear Capacity
Determine the shear capacity of individual high-strength bolts (A325/A490 or F3125 Grade A/B) and bolt groups in bearing-type connections. Checks bolt shear rupture on the shear planes, bearing and tearout at bolt holes, and the overall bolt group capacity. Handles both single-shear and double-shear configurations with standard, oversized, or slotted holes.
What this calculates
Single bolt nominal shear strength (Fnv·Ab), bearing strength per bolt (2.4dtFu), tearout strength per bolt (1.2LctFu), bolt group capacity as the sum of individual bolt capacities limited by the governing failure mode, and the overall demand-to-capacity ratio.
Inputs
Total factored shear demand on the bolt group
Nominal bolt diameter
Total number of bolts in the group
Number of shear planes per bolt (1 or 2)
Nominal shear stress of bolt (e.g. 54 ksi for A325-N)
Thickness of the connected element
Ultimate tensile strength of the connected plate
Clear distance from bolt hole edge to plate edge or adjacent hole
Outputs
Design shear strength of one bolt
Design bearing strength at one bolt hole
Design tearout strength at one bolt
Total design shear capacity of bolt group
Vu / φRn — must be ≤ 1.0
Methodology
Bolt shear per AISC 360-22 Section J3.6: Rn = Fnv·Ab, where Fnv depends on bolt grade and number of shear planes (with or without threads excluded). Bearing at bolt holes per Section J3.10: Rn = 2.4·d·t·Fu for deformation-at-service criterion, or 3.0·d·t·Fu for ultimate. Tearout per Section J3.10: Rn = 1.2·Lc·t·Fu where Lc is the clear distance. The bolt group capacity is the lesser of shear, bearing, and tearout summed over all bolts, with φ = 0.75.
Code References
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