10/17/2016 Thread Engagement - Portland Bolt

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Thread Engagement

QHow much thread engagement is recommended, i.e. how many threads

should extend beyond the nut?

This is a difficult question to answer. Depending on your application, the answer could be anywhere from 1/2 engagement, up to
having two full threads extend beyond the nut. Look at these conflicting answers found in four separate technical publications.

1. Federal Highway Administration, “Guidelines for the Installation, Inspection, Maintenance and Repair of Structural Supports
for Highway Signs, Luminaires and Traffic Signals.” Section 16.3.1.2 Anchor Rods
“Many times the rod is not long enough and the anchor nut is not fully engaged. This in itself is not a serious deficiency
as long as at least three quarters of the nut is engaged.”
http://wwwcf.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/signinspection.pdf
2. Industrial Fasteners Institute, Joe Greenslade, Director of Engineering Technology.
“How Many Threads Should Be Beyond The Nut?. The answer is: A minimum of two thread pitches should extend
beyond the top surface of the nut.”
3. RCSC (Research Council for Structural Connections) Specification for Structural Joints Using ASTM A325 or A490 Bolts
2.3.2. Geometry
“Heavy-hex structural bolt dimensions shall meet the requirements of ANSI/ASME B18.2.6. The bolt length used shall
be such that the end of the bolt extends beyond or is at least flush with the outer face of the nut when properly
installed.”
http://www.boltcouncil.org/files/2009RCSCSpecification.pdf
4. AISC Design Guide1 Page 10 Section 2.11.3
“Often, when the anchor rod is short, it may be possible to partially engage the nut. A conservative estimate of the
resulting nut strength can be made based on the percentage of threads engaged, as long as at least half of the threads
in the nut are engaged.”
http://www.aisc.org/store/p-1749-design-guide-1-base-plate-and-anchor-rod-design-second.aspx
5. AISC Steel Construction Manual, 13th Edition, Section 14-10
“Adequate thread engagement for anchor rods is identical to the condition described in the RCSC Specification as
adequate for steel to steel structural joints using high strength bolts: having the end of the [anchor rod] flush with or
outside the face of the nut”

So we are left a little confused>..which is it? The answer is, it depends. All joints are not created equal. Tightening an A325
structural bolt on a bridge may have different requirements than tightening the nut on an anchor bolt for a traffic signal pole.
Some screw and bolt specifications allow for one or more incomplete threads on the point end of the bolt to allow for easier
mating, while others do not. Structural bolts like A325s or A490s have a limited thread length, so having too many threads stick
out may mean that the nut is engaging into the thread run out and may not be able to develop the full strength needed.
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10/17/2016 Thread Engagement - Portland Bolt

Conversely, not enough stick out may leave threads exposed in the shear plane, which may not be desirable. The safest
answer is to consult with the project engineer on your job, to assure all variables that are specific to your job are taken into
consideration.

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Written October 12, 2009 by

Dane McKinnon
Phone: 503.219.6991
Email: dane@portlandbolt.com

6 comments

Rob Orme
April 10, 2015 at 10:50 am
1. I always check the thread engagement at the shank since structural bolts have random thread lengths. Some of the
bolts barely have any thread projecting out the top in order to work without “bottoming out”.

2. If building machinery, use lock washers and flat washers on slots with grade 5 bolts, not A325 bolts. This is our
practice.

Greg Hobson
September 13, 2014 at 4:42 pm
ASME B31.3, 335.2.3, states:
Bolts should extend completely
through their nuts. Any which fail to do so are
considered acceptably engaged if the lack of complete
engagement is not more than one thread.

Taylor
July 30, 2013 at 12:46 pm
I would think that this requirement is dependent on the nature of the objects being fastened together. For example: a
industrial machine that will vibrate while in operation could need to have threads extending past the nut to minimize the
risk of the nut loosening and failing/coming off.

Just a thought.

Dane McKinnon
August 1, 2013 at 6:43 am
@Taylor – Yes, exactly. Every application will have its own nuances that may require more or less thread engagement.

Lavonn

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August 7, 2011 at 9:17 am

Wow, this is in every respect what I needed to know.

Minerva
August 6, 2011 at 2:19 am
There’s nothing like the releif of finding what you’re looking for.

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