5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures,

Singapore, 5 – 7 December 2007

A More Generalized Approach for Analyzing

Eccentrically Loaded Connections

Dung M. Lue; Wei T. Hsu; Ching H. Lin

Department of Civil Engineering
National Chung-Hsing University, 250 Kuo-Kuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan
dmlue@dragon.nchu.edu.tw

Abstract
Two general approaches for the analysis of eccentrically loaded connections are used in the AISC
Specifications. These two approaches are the elastic method and the ultimate strength method.
In ASD design, a tabulated solution is intended for eccentric loads that are vertical but not applicable
directly to eccentric loads which inclined at an angle from the vertical. An approximate method is
furnished for the use in dealing with eccentric loads that are not vertical. However, the approximate
approach gives unreasonable predictions when the inclined angle of applied load from the vertical is
somewhere between 75 and 90 degrees. In LRFD design, a tabulated solution for eccentric loads that
are inclined only at specified angles from the vertical is provided. This study furnishes a more
generalized solution to overcome the problems as mentioned above. The theoretical methods to
evaluate the strength of eccentrically loaded connections based on the elastic and ultimate analysis are
presented. A numerical procedure for the analysis of eccentric loads that are inclined at any angles
from the vertical is introduced. The eccentric loads, which obtained through the use of elastic
analysis, ultimate analysis and design manuals, are included in the illustrated examples for
comparison purpose. A trial-and-error procedure through the use of Microsoft Excel is developed to
locate the instantaneous center which is required in ultimate analysis. The completion of this study
will remove the deficiencies of the current AISC (ASD and LRFD) specifications. This will also
accomplish a better solution for practicing engineer in their routine design.

1. Introduction
Two basic approaches for the analysis of eccentrically loaded connections have been
provided in the AISC Specifications (1989,1993,1999,2005). The first method is the very
conservative elastic method in which friction or slip resistance between the connected parts is
neglected. In addition these connected parts are assumed to be perfectly rigid. The second
method, which is the ultimate strength method, provides the most realistic values as
compared with test results but is extremely tedious to apply, at least with hand-held
calculators. The tables in the AISC design manuals for eccentrically loaded connections are
based on the ultimate strength method and enable us to solve most of these types of problems
quite easily as long as the bolted or welded patterns are those listed in the AISC design
manuals. Although the ultimate method and the use of design manuals have been known and
developed in the AISC design manual (2005), the results for the inclined load, with angles are
somewhere between 75 and 90 degrees, may result in a value much larger than the one by
theory. This is obviously not acceptable and a better way to treat this is intended. In the AISC
Specification (2005), ultimate methods are introduced and the values for inclined load at
5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures,
Singapore, 5 – 7 December 2007

some particular angles but not any angles are furnished. A further investigation on the
inclined loads at any angles is anticipated and this has been done in this research.

2. Methods Used for Analyzing Eccentrically Loaded Connections

2.1 Elastic and Ultimate Strength Methods

In the analysis for eccentrically bolted connections, the bolts or welds must be designed to
resist the combined effect of direct shear and the additional shear from the induced moment.
Eccentricity produces both a rotation and a translation of one connection element with respect
to the other. The combined effect of this rotation and translation is equivalent to a rotation
about a point defined as the instantaneous center of rotation (IC). The location of the IC
depends upon the geometry of the bolt or weld group as well as the direction and point of
application of the applied load. Two analysis methods for this type of eccentricity are the
elastic method and the ultimate strength method (the instantaneous center of rotation
method). If the correct IC location has been selected, the three equations of in-plane static
equilibrium (Fx = 0, Fy = 0, FM = 0) will be satisfied.
2.2 Load-deformation Relationship for Bolts and Welds
In ultimate analysis, the load-deformation relationship (Crawford and Kulak, 1971) for one
bolt used in the instantaneous center of rotation method is given as
R  Rult (1  e 10  ) 0.55 (1)

where
R = nominal shear strength of one bolt at a deformation , kips. (1 kip = 4448 N)
Rult = ultimate shear strength of one bolt, kips
 = total deformation, including shear, bearing and bending deformation in the bolt and
bearing deformation of the connection elements, in. (1 in. = 2.54 cm)
e = 2.718…., base of the natural logarithm.
In ultimate analysis, the load-deformation relationship (Lesik and Kennedy, 1990) for a unit-
length segment of the weld is an approximation of the equation presented by
P  0.60 FEXX (1.0  0.50 sin 1.5 ) [ p (1.9  0.9 p )] 0.3 (2)

where
P = nominal shear strength of the weld segment at a deformation , kips.
FEXX = weld electrode strength, ksi.
 = load angle measured relative to the weld longitudinal axis, degrees.
p = ratio of element deformation to its deformation at maximum stress.
Unlike the load-deformation relationship for bolts, the strength and deformation of welds are
dependent upon the angle  that the resultant elemental force makes with the axis of the weld
element. The nominal shear strength of the weld group is governed by max of the weld
segment that first reaches its limit, where
 max  1.087 w (  6) 0.65  0.17 w (3)

where w is the weld leg size, in. (1 in. = 2.54 cm)

The nominal shear strengths of the other unit-length weld segments in the joint can be
determined by applying a deformation  that varies linearly with distance from the IC. The
nominal shear strength of the weld group is, then, the sum of the individual strengths of all
5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures,
Singapore, 5 – 7 December 2007

weld segments.

3. Illustrated Examples

1. Bolted Connections: This example is to demonstrate the methods specified above for
bolted connections. The procedure of calculation is not presented here due to the limited
space set by the conference. Only the results based on the various methods are given are plot
in the figures followed.

Problem: Determine the largest eccentric force P for which the design shear strength of the
bolts in the connection is adequate using the elastic, ultimate strength, ASD and LRFD
methods if the inclined angle  is in the range of 0 to 360 degrees. Use 7/8-in. A325-N
e = 16 in bolts.
P
θ
Solution:
In Figure 1, the e and h are the eccentricity and
h P
vertical location of the applied load (P) from the θ

center of gravity of the bolt group as shown. Four 5@3

methods as specified are applied. Elastic analysis:

Method 1(h = 0 in.) and Method 2 (h = 10 in.).
Ultimate analysis: Method 3 (h = 0 in., manual value)
and Method 4 (h = 10 in.).When the inclined angles 5 1/2
D
from the vertical (0    360) are applied, the obtained
loads (P) are plot as shown in Figure 2 for ASD design
Figure 1. Bolted connection
and in Figure 3 for LRFD design.
5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures,
Singapore, 5 – 7 December 2007

Figure 2. Elastic and ultimate analysis / ASD design

Figure 3. Elastic and ultimate Analysis / LRFD Design

2. Welded Connections: This example is to demonstrate the methods as specified for welded
connections.
Problem: Determine the largest eccentric force P (Figure 4) for which the design shear
strength of the welds in the connection is adequate using the elastic, ultimate strength, ASD,
and LRFD methods. Use 3/8-in. fillet weld and E70 electrodes. The load acts at an angle of 
with respect to vertical. ( l1  10 in., l2  5 in., l3  10 in., x  1.25 in.)
Solution:
In Figure 4, the e and h are the eccentricity and vertical
location of the applied load (P) from the center of gravity
of the bolt group as shown. There are four methods used

in this example. Elastic analysis: Method 1 (h = 0 in./ASD)
and Method 2 (h = 0 in. / LRFD). Ultimate analysis:
Method 3 (h = 0 in. / ASD) and Method 4 (h = 0 in. / LRFD).
When the inclined angles from the vertical (0    360) are
applied, the obtained loads (P) are plot as shown in Figure 5
for ASD and LRFD designs Figure 4. Welded connection
5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures,
Singapore, 5 – 7 December 2007

Figure 5. Elastic and Ultimate analysis / ASD & LRFD Design

4. Conclusions

Two examples have been given to demonstrate the analysis for bolted and welded
connections. The following findings can be found from this study.

1. If a load is vertically applied and the applied load location (H=0 in.), the calculated
values through the use of IC method, the calculated and the tabulated values are very
close and this specifies that the tabulated values (design manual values) are obtained
by using the ultimate strength method.

2. If an inclined load is applied and the applied location (H=10 in.), the calculated values
could very different as compared with the ones determined through the use of design
manual tables. The calculated values, which are theoretical ones, are larger than the
AISC tabulated values when the inclined angle is less than 75 degrees and this is
reasonable. However, the calculated values are less than the AISC tabulated ones
when the inclined angle is somewhere between 75 and 90 degrees and this means the
design value is larger than the theoretical value which is not acceptable in design
professions.
5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures,
Singapore, 5 – 7 December 2007

3. This study provides an iterative procedure to evaluate the theoretical strength of

eccentrically loaded connections which are bolted or welded. The iterative procedure
can be applied to any inclined angles (0    360) and the results have been shown in
Figures 2, 3, and 5.  The completion of this study removes  the deficiencies of the current
AISC (ASD and LRFD) design manuals. 

5. References
[1] AISC (1989), Allowable Stress Design Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, 9th edition, AISC,
Chicago, IL.

[2] AISC (1993, 1999), Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, 2 nd, 3rd,
editions, AISC, Chicago, IL.

[3] AISC (2005), ASD and LRFD Design Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, 13th edition, AISC,
Chicago, IL.

[4] Crawford S.H. and Kulak G.L. (1971), Eccentrically Loaded Bolted Connections, Journal of the Structural
Division, ASCE 97 (No. ST3), pp.765-783.

[5] Lesik, D.F. and Kennedy D.J.L. (1990), Ultimate Strength of Fillet-Welded Connections Loaded in Plane,
Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol.17, No.1, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa,
Canada.