Bolt Toolkit Tutorials
EDRMedeso Bolt Toolkit: Simplifying Bolt Analysis and Joint Verification
The EDRMedeso Bolt Toolkit is one of our popular Productivity Tools designed for managing the setup and post-processing of multiple joints, including assessment according to Eurocode and AISC standards. We have just released a set of new best practice tutorials for how to run a project from start to finish and take full advantage of the tool.
Setting up a model with fasteners and joints can be an overwhelming task. A large model can easily contain hundreds of bolts, where you need to manage the definition of contacts, mesh and pretension. Depending on the type of joint category and evaluation, there are many choices the user must make during the model preparation, as well as in the assessment and verification of the results.
Getting Started with the Bolt Toolkit Tutorials
The online documentation contains detailed information about each feature, and with the new Bolt Toolkit tutorials you will be guided through typical real life joint types with easy step-by-step instructions. Even if you don’t want to use the Eurocode 3 criteria the guides provide valuable information on how to perform detailed joint analyses and all the checks that can be made as well as an example on how to customize and save your own custom design code. Here follows a short introduction to Eurocode 3 and an overview of the different tutorials.
Understanding Eurocode 3 Joint Assessment
Eurocode 3 differentiates between shear and tensions connections and for each joint category (A-F) different checks must be made, see Table 3.2 in EN 1993-1-8 (2005).
The “Utilization Factor” (Uf) is calculated for each criterion in the selected category as the ratio between the design load (F_Ed) and design resistance (F_Rd).
The maximum utilization (Uf_max) is saved from the evaluated criteria for each bolt or rivet.
If Uf_max > 1.0 the joint does not fulfil the Eurocode 3 criteria.
Tutorial 01: Shear Connection Analysis Using Eurocode 3
A bearing-type shear connection joint using Rivets (Category A) and then pre-loaded slip-resistant Simplified Bolts (Category B or C) evaluated for strength.
Tutorial 02: Tension Connection Strength and Fatigue Assessment
A non-preloaded Simplified Bolts to Ground joint (Category D) followed by a preloaded version (Category E) evaluated for strength and fatigue.
Tutorial 03: Preloaded Bolt Connections Under Thermal and Structural Loads
A preloaded Advanced Bolts joint (Category E) subject to variable thermal and structural loads evaluated for both strength and fatigue.
Tutorial 04: Combined Shear and Tension Bolt Analysis
A preloaded Advanced Bolts joint (Category F) subject to combined shear and tension loads evaluated for both strength and fatigue.
