USE OF HIGH STRENGTH STRUCTURAL BOLTS IN STEEL RAILWAY BRIDGES

In order to determine if the use of high-strength bolts were practical in railroad structures, installation of over 1000 bolts of various size and lengths in about 20 different types of joints on 12 different bridges was made. It was found that bolting of joints was more economical than riveting, particularly in small or remote structures where riveting equipment is not readily available. After approximately a year of satisfactory service an inspection revealed the following points: 1) To avoid the breakage of the bolts subjected to high bending stresses it appears that the bolts should have fillets at the junction of the head and shank. 2) Bolts should not be installed in enlarged or irregular shaped holes without providing proper bearing surface for the hardened washers. 3) All the bolts in a joint should first be tightened to the approximate torque and then each individual bolt again checked for proper torque. 4) High-strength bolts properly installed stayed tight longer than rivets in similar joints subjected to the same vibrational loads. 5) High-strength bolts have a definite use in the maintenance work of railroad bridges.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1950

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 506-540
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 51
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bolted joints; Bridges; Construction joints; High strength; Joints; Rivets
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge structures
• Old TRIS Terms: Riveted joints
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052444
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM