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Increase connection resistance with 4 bolts in a row joint configurations

Posted on in PowerPad

Bolted end-plate moment connections are widely used in steel structures. The most common joint arrangement has two bolts in each row

and when the beam is deep, the moment capacity of the joint can be increased by adding additional bolt rows. However additional bolt rows add little to the resistance of the whole joint thanks to their reduced associated lever arm.

But what can we do if we require greater resistance and the lower bolt rows are not providing enough additional capacity?

If construction permits, the End-plate can be extended above and below the beam flanges to give you a larger lever arm.

Extended end-plate steel connection with two bolts in a row

When this is not enough, then in the case of wide flange beams, such as UC or HE European sections, you can use four bolts in a row.

With MasterSeries Connection Design, you can design moment end-plate connections with different configurations of four bolts in a row.  You can have 4-bolts per row in every row, or you can have 4-bolts in the external rows only.

Moment resisting end-plate steel connections with four bolts in a row
Symmetric, extended end-plate steel connection with four bolts in a row

Connection design can be done based on the regulations of the Eurocode or British Standard.

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