| Standard | Title | Reference Tools | Reference Table |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCSC 2020 | Specification for Structural Joints Using High-Strength Bolts (RCSC), 2020 Edition | - |
What this standard covers
The RCSC Specification for Structural Joints Using High-Strength Bolts is the American standard for high-strength bolted joints. It covers bolt and assembly requirements, joint types, installation, pretensioning and inspection.
The specification distinguishes three joint types. Snug-tightened joints require only that the plies be brought into firm contact; pretensioned joints require the bolt to be tensioned to a specified minimum; and slip-critical joints additionally rely on friction between faying surfaces and require a controlled surface condition. The joint type determines both the installation procedure and the way the joint is designed.
Much of the document is about installation and verification rather than strength, because the resistance of a pretensioned or slip-critical joint depends on work carried out on site. It sets out the turn-of-nut, calibrated wrench, twist-off and direct-tension-indicator methods, the pre-installation verification each requires, and the inspection appropriate to each joint type.
What you will find in it
- Joint types
- Snug-tightened, pretensioned and slip-critical joints, and the conditions under which each must be used.
- Bolt assemblies
- High-strength bolt, nut and washer assemblies, their grades, and the requirements for matching components.
- Faying surfaces
- Surface conditions and their slip coefficients, and the coatings permitted in slip-critical joints.
- Installation methods
- Turn-of-nut, calibrated wrench, twist-off-type tension-control bolts and direct-tension indicators, with the pre-installation verification each requires.
- Hole types
- Standard, oversized, short-slotted and long-slotted holes, and the restrictions each places on joint type and load direction.
- Inspection
- The inspection appropriate to each joint type, including what must be observed before, during and after installation.
When to use this standard
Use the RCSC Specification whenever high-strength bolts are used in American practice, particularly when a joint must be pretensioned or slip-critical. Bolt strength for design is taken from AISC 360; RCSC governs the assembly, its surface condition, and how it is installed and inspected.
How it fits with the other standards
The RCSC Specification is used with AISC 360, which gives the design strength of the bolts, and with AISC 341 and AISC 358 in seismic applications. AISC 303 covers the surrounding fabrication and erection practice.