Cost Studies of High Strength Bolted Connections

The new high strength bolt specification of the Research Council on Riveted and Bolted Structural Joints permits use of both ASTM A325 and ASTM A490 bolts in structural joints. The choice of which of these fasteners to use is essentially an economic decision. If the time and effort that have gone into the development of the new specification are to be justified, the new rules should lead to more economical joint designs with high strength bolts. This paper is intended to assist the engineer and the fabricator to achieve more economical designs. Cost comparisons between A325 and A490 joints are presented and discussed. Costs for producing holes and for installing bolts and washers were obtained from fabricators and erectors, and represent a cross section of cost information received. These costs vary from region to region, and even from fabricator to fabricator; however, it is believed that the cost comparisons achieved by the use of these average costs are valid.