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Federal Highway Administration / Publications / Focus / December 2009

Accelerating Infrastructure Innovations

Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-10-009
Date: December 2009

Your Online Guide to Bolted Connections

Newly added to the free online training on materials and construction practices available from the Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council (TCCC) is a course on Bolted Connections (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134074). The 2-hour Web-based course is offered in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI). The TCCC's members include representatives from FHWA, NHI, regional State training and certification groups, several American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials subcommittees, and industry associations.

The course introduces the function, installation, and maintenance of structural bolted connections. Also included is useful information on nonstructural applications of the technique. The module is divided into three lessons. The first, Bolted Joints, reviews basic connection types, as well as types of holes, contact surfaces, use of washers, tightening patterns, and fastener documentation. The next lesson, Installation Procedures, explains the importance of protecting the fastener assemblies and surfaces during construction. Also reviewed is the preinstallation verification of fastener assemblies and rotational-capacity testing. Finally, Installation Methods discusses basic guidelines for achieving quality fastener installations. Several accepted methods for installing structural bolts are presented, including turn-of-nut, calibrated wrench, direct tension indicator, twist-off bolt, and lock pin and collar methods.

The training is designed for staff from State and local agencies, industry, and FHWA who are involved in the installation and inspection of bolts and bolted connections on construction projects.

This course and other Web-based training developed by the TCCC are available now through NHI. Each of the TCCC courses is free, self-paced, and available for scheduling at any time. To register, visit the NHI online catalog at www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/training/brows_catalog.aspx. For additional information on these TCCC courses, contact Christopher Newman at FHWA, 202-366-2023 (email: christopher.newman@fhwa.dot.gov). To learn more about the TCCC's many training resources, visit www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/tccc.

To receive free email updates on new courses available from FHWA's National Highway Institute, visit www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/esubscribeinfo.aspx.

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Updated: 06/27/2017
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