USE OF HIGH STRENGTH STRUCTURAL BOLTS IN STEEL RAILWAY BRIDGES

This report is in three parts. Part one presents details of the inspection of experimental installations of high-strength structural bolts in various railroad bridges. A significant observation is that the bolted joints have proven superior to the riveted joints. Part two is a report on a method of tightening high-strength bolts in which bolt tension is correlated with turns of the nut from a "finger tight" position. Test equipment, wrenches, bolts, nuts and washers are described. Test procedure is presented. It is shown that at 1/2 turn of the nut the bolts develop minimum tension. Additional tightening into the plastic range will not damage the bolt, but will improve its performance. Part three presents revised Specifications for Assembly of Structural Joints Using High Tensile Steel Bolts in Steel Railway Bridges offered for adoption and inclusion in the manual. This specification covers recommended practice for the fabrication of steel forming rigid joints using high-strength steel bolts tightened to a high tension. Bolts, nuts and washers are described. Bolted parts, the assembly and field inspections are presented.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1955

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 592-634
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 56
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bolted joints; Bolts; Bridges; Joints; Metal bridges; Rivets; Steel bridges
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge structures
• Old TRIS Terms: Riveted joints
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052407
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM