Defining the bolt assembly

By default, the user selects from an excessive catalogue of prepared bolt assemblies. However, if required, he/she may define his/her own bolt assembly or edit the existing one. The bolt assembly specifies which bolts are used with which nuts and washers and defines properties of them.

Bolts

Selected bolt

Selects the particular bolt.

Type

Chooses either normal or pre-stressed bolt.

Bolt grade

Specifies the grade.

Ultimate tensile strength

Informs the user about the ultimate tensile strength of the selected bolt.

Bolt length

Defines the way the bolt length is defined:

  • standard length

  • grip + delta (common in the U.S.)

Length

Specifies the length of the bolt.

Grip limit - lower

Specifies the lower grip limit.

Grip limit – upper

Specifies the upper grip limit.

Nuts

Selected nut

Selects the particular nut.

Nut grade

Specifies the grade.

Washers

Washer at head

Says whether the washer is present at the head of the bolt.

Washer at nut

Says whether the washer is present at the nut.

Selected washer

Selects the particular washer.
The procedure for the definition of bolt assembly

  1. Have the connection properties displayed in the property window:

    1. this happens during the definition of a new connection,

    2. or when an existing connection has been selected for editing.

  2. Make sure that item Bolts is selected in the connection property table.

  3. In the required table group Bolts (there may be several Bolts groups in the table, one group per each beam in the connection) press the button at the right hand side of item Selected bolt assembly.

  4. The Bolt assemblymanager opens on the screen (The manager is one of many SCIA Engineer managers and its operation is unified throughout the whole SCIA Engineer environment.).

  5. Define a new bolt assembly or edit the existing one as required.

  6. Close the Bolt assembly manager.

  7. Use the new bolt assembly where required.