Direct tension indicator
Encyclopedia
Direct Tension Indicators, or DTIs, are single use mechanical load cells used to illustrate when adequate tension has been achieved in structural fastener
assemblies. The Standard for DTIs in North America is the ASTM International
series of standards and the specific designation for testing and manufacturing DTIs is ASTM F959; Standard Specification for Compressible-Washer Type Direct Tension Indicators for Use with Structural Fasteners. DTIs are generally installed in accordance with the Research Council on Structural Connections Specification (RCSC) Specification for Structural Joints using High Strength Bolts. The RCSC Specification has been adopted, in its entirety, by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and appears as section 16 of that organization's Steel Construction Manual.
DTIs within the RCSC Specification section 8.2.4 are described thusly, "ASTM F959 direct tension indicators are recognized in this Specification as a bolt-tension-indicating device. Direct tension indicators are hardened [(see heat treating)], washer shaped devices incorporating small arch-like protrusions on the bearing surface that are designed to deform in a controlled manner when subjected to compressive load."
Regarding the ASTM F959 manufacturing specification, the Abstract from the ASTM website describe DTIs as "capable of indicating the achievement of a specified minimum bolt tension in a structural bolt and are intended for installation under either a bolt head or a hardened washer. Steel materials used in the manufacture of direct tension indicators shall be designed, processed, heat treated, and protectively coated as specified. The direct tension indicators shall conform to required chemical composition, compression load, and dimensional values."
Like other fastener
components, DTIs are covered by the Fastener
Quality Act of 1999 in Section 3. DEFINITIONs (6) where a DTI is described as "a load-indicating washer, that is through-hardened..." (see heat treating).
DTIs are a function of induced tension. As a fastener assembly is tightened, the arch-like protrusions are compressed and the change in distance between the base of the protrusions of the DTI washer and the protrusion apex, correlates to a value of tensile force induced into the fastener. This distance can be verified by insertion of a tapered feeler gage between the protrusions to the bolt shank. The number of instances the bolt shank can be reached by the feeler gage is then compared to either the results of a pre-installation verification procedure or the manufacturer's instructions.
A subset of the standard DTIs described above, is the "Squirter" type DTI that contains a small amount of material in the cavity of each protrusion. "Squirter" type DTIs are mechanically and metallurgically identical to the standard DTIs described above, except as the protrusions of Squirter type DTIs collapse upon tightening, the cavity material is expelled to the outer diameter of the device indicating protrusion compression, i.e. bolt tension, visually. The "squirting" feature of these types of DTIs is covered by ASME 18.2.6-2010.
Fastener
A fastener is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together.Fasteners can also be used to close a container such as a bag, a box, or an envelope; or they may involve keeping together the sides of an opening of flexible material, attaching a lid to a container,...
assemblies. The Standard for DTIs in North America is the ASTM International
ASTM International
ASTM International, known until 2001 as the American Society for Testing and Materials , is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services...
series of standards and the specific designation for testing and manufacturing DTIs is ASTM F959; Standard Specification for Compressible-Washer Type Direct Tension Indicators for Use with Structural Fasteners. DTIs are generally installed in accordance with the Research Council on Structural Connections Specification (RCSC) Specification for Structural Joints using High Strength Bolts. The RCSC Specification has been adopted, in its entirety, by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and appears as section 16 of that organization's Steel Construction Manual.
DTIs within the RCSC Specification section 8.2.4 are described thusly, "ASTM F959 direct tension indicators are recognized in this Specification as a bolt-tension-indicating device. Direct tension indicators are hardened [(see heat treating)], washer shaped devices incorporating small arch-like protrusions on the bearing surface that are designed to deform in a controlled manner when subjected to compressive load."
Regarding the ASTM F959 manufacturing specification, the Abstract from the ASTM website describe DTIs as "capable of indicating the achievement of a specified minimum bolt tension in a structural bolt and are intended for installation under either a bolt head or a hardened washer. Steel materials used in the manufacture of direct tension indicators shall be designed, processed, heat treated, and protectively coated as specified. The direct tension indicators shall conform to required chemical composition, compression load, and dimensional values."
Like other fastener
Fastener
A fastener is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together.Fasteners can also be used to close a container such as a bag, a box, or an envelope; or they may involve keeping together the sides of an opening of flexible material, attaching a lid to a container,...
components, DTIs are covered by the Fastener
Fastener
A fastener is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together.Fasteners can also be used to close a container such as a bag, a box, or an envelope; or they may involve keeping together the sides of an opening of flexible material, attaching a lid to a container,...
Quality Act of 1999 in Section 3. DEFINITIONs (6) where a DTI is described as "a load-indicating washer, that is through-hardened..." (see heat treating).
DTIs are a function of induced tension. As a fastener assembly is tightened, the arch-like protrusions are compressed and the change in distance between the base of the protrusions of the DTI washer and the protrusion apex, correlates to a value of tensile force induced into the fastener. This distance can be verified by insertion of a tapered feeler gage between the protrusions to the bolt shank. The number of instances the bolt shank can be reached by the feeler gage is then compared to either the results of a pre-installation verification procedure or the manufacturer's instructions.
A subset of the standard DTIs described above, is the "Squirter" type DTI that contains a small amount of material in the cavity of each protrusion. "Squirter" type DTIs are mechanically and metallurgically identical to the standard DTIs described above, except as the protrusions of Squirter type DTIs collapse upon tightening, the cavity material is expelled to the outer diameter of the device indicating protrusion compression, i.e. bolt tension, visually. The "squirting" feature of these types of DTIs is covered by ASME 18.2.6-2010.