.png)
The fin plate connection allows for the design of up to two number flexible beam to beam, simple connections. As a simple connection, each joint is designed for the applied vertical shear force. Tying forces can also be specified as part of the disproportionate collapse design checks. The supported beams are assumed to to be perpendicular to the supporting beam, in line with the SCI Green Book design model.
The default set layout is for a beam on the left and right of the supporting beam, with partial depth end plates The initial shear force values are set at zero. The default screen layout is shown below.
The General area provides inputs to apply a title to the connection. along with inputs to control the supported beam connection. The General area also has a filter option to control the information displayed in the property editor to assist in the inputting and editing of information. The layout of the General area is shown below.
.png)
Filter Properties - controls the display and contents of the property grid panel. The properties are selected by clicking in the row and selecting the required option from the drop down
Title - displays the input connection title. To enter a title, click on the row and input the required title.
Beam left - displays whether not a left side beam has been selected. The selection is made be clicking on the row and setting the required option from the drop down
Beam right - displays whether not a right side beam has been selected. The selection is made be clicking on the row and setting the required option from the drop down
The Bolt Details and Weld/Plate grade area provides inputs to control the bolt diameters and grade and the steel grade for the end plates. The default layout of this input area is shown below.
.png)
Bolt Details - displays the currently selected bolt grade and diameter. The default bolts are grade 8.8, 20mm diameter bolts
Plate Grade - displays the currently selected steel grade for the end plates. The grade can be selected by clicking on the row and using the drop down to selected the required steel grade
To select the bolt grade and diameters, the Bolt Details row can be expanded by clicking on the arrow to the left of the row. This displays the following bolt parameter inputs.
.png)
Bolt Grade - indicates the grade and diameter of the currently selected bolts
Bolt Diameter - indicates the selected bolt diameter. To select a bolt diameter, click to select the row and use the drop down options
Hole Dia - click to select and use the drop down options to select the required bolt diameter as a function of the selected bolt diameter
Slip factor - the slip resistance factor ks for preloaded bolts
Each row can be amended by clicking on the required row and using the drop down to select the required bolt parameter.
Where a left hand beam has been set in the General area of the property grid, the left beam properties are displayed in the main property grid under the Left Beam Shear & Section area. This area also allows the shear force on the left beam connection to be defined. The default layout of this area is shown below.
.png)
Shear - shows the input shear force. The default value is zero. To input a force, click on the Shear row and type in the required shear factored (ultimate) shear force
Section - displays the current left beam section. The default section is a 457x152UB67.
To define the left beam section, the Section row can be expanded by clicking on the arrow to the left of the row. The layout of the Section area is shown below.
.png)
Steel Grade - display the currently selected steel grade
Section Type - shows the current section type. The default section is a UB
Section - displays the current section. The default is a 457x152UB67
Cell Depth - displays the overall depth for cellular or castellated beams. The default input is zero, meaning the section is based on the input Section only
The Left Beam Plate area provides input to control the dimensions of the left fin plate. The default layout of the Left Beam Plate area is shown below. The default inputs are zero, which means the software will size the elements on dimensional rules.
.png)
Thickness - the current end plate thickness. The default end plate thickness is 10mm
Width - the current end plate width.
Depth - the current end plate depth. A zero input uses the default end plate depth of 0.6 times the depth of the left beam
Weld Size - displays the current set weld size. A zero input uses a default weld size of 0.8 times the beam web thickness
Bolt rows - displays the current set number of bolt rows in the end plate.
The Left Bolt area provides inputs to define the arrangement of the bolts within the left flange plate. The inputs also control whether staggered bolts or two bolts per row are used in the connection. The layout of the left bolt geometry area is shown below.
.png)
Horizontal Web distance - the distance to the 1st bolt column from the supporting beam web
Staggered web distance - the distance to the 2nd column of bolts from the supporting column web. An input of zero means only a single bolt column will be used
Vertical c/c - the vertical centre-to-centre distance of the bolts
Top edge Distance - the distance from the top edge of the fin plate to the centre of the top bolt(s)
Bolts in Paris - displays the current bolt arrangement when 2 bolt columns are used. The selection is made by clicking on the row and using the drop down
Where a right hand supported beam has been selected, the main property grid will include input areas to allow the definition and set-up for the right hand beam, right hand fin plate and the bolts in the right hand fin plate. The layout and functioning of these areas are as per the left hand beam and are, therefore omitted. For details, refer to the above section for the left hand beam and fin plate.
The supporting beam input area provides control for the parameters of the supporting beam. The default layout of the Supporting Beam area is shown below.
.png)
Section - displays the currently selected beam section and steel grade.
Handed Channel - for use with a channel supporting beam. The orientation of the channel is chosen by selecting the row and using the drop down
Top Flange Offset - the offset of the top of the supporting beam relative to the tops of the supported beams. A positive value offsets the supporting beam downwards
Plate Offset - the offset of the end plate relative to the supported beams
Cantilever End Support - defines the supporting beam as a cantilever. This is used to check the shear force capacity of the supporting beam. To change, select the row and then use the drop down options
The Notches & Gap area provides inputs to define any notches in the top and/or bottom of the supported beams. The layout of the Notches & Gap area is shown below.
.png)
Min Notch Depth Top - displays the current set minimum notch in the top of the supported beams
Min Notch Depth Bottom - displays the current set minimum notch depth in the bottom of the supported beams
Min Notch Length - displays the minimum notch length in the beams
Beam Gap - the currently defined gap between the end of the supported beam and the web of the supporting beam. An input of zero uses a default gap of the weld size plus 2mm
To input a specific value, select the appropriate line and then over-type the required value.
The Tie Force area provides an input to define the tie force for the disproportionate collapse design of the connections. The minimum tie force is 75kN.
In the case of a design to the British Standard, the tie force will be based on the greater of either 75kN or a percentage of the applied shear force on the connection, with the percentage of the shear force used being based on published guidance SCI P341. The percentage of the applied shear force to be used is set in the Connection Defaults Settings area.
For a connection design the BS EN 1993-1-8, the user must specify the value for the tie force check, subject to a minimum tying force of 75kN.