Joining plates (14)

Joining plates (14) connects two beam ends using an end plate welded to both beams. End plates are connected with bolts. Stiffeners and ear plates can also be created.

Objects created

End plates
Shim plates
Ear plates
Stiffeners
Bolts
Welds

Use for


Situation	Description
	Beam ends connected with bolted end plates. Stiffener is created.

Selection order

Select the main part (beam).
Select the secondary part (beam).

The connection is created automatically when the secondary part is selected.

Part identification key


	Description
1	End plate
2	Shim plate
3	Ear plate
4	Stiffener

Picture tab

Use the Picture tab to define the geometry of the connection.

Dimensions


	Description	Default
1	End plate edge distance from the main part upper edge. If you do not enter a value for the end plate edge distance on the main part side, the secondary part side value is used on the main part side as well.	`10 mm`
2	End plate edge distance from the secondary part upper edge.	`10 mm`
3	End plate edge distance from the main part lower edge. If you do not enter a value for the end plate edge distance on the main part side, the secondary part side value is used on the main part side as well.	`10 mm`
4	End plate edge distance from the secondary part lower edge.	`10 mm`
5	Ear plate edge distance from the end plate upper edge.	`38 mm`
6	Shim plate vertical bolt edge distance.	1.5*bolt diameter
7	Stiffener edge inclination. To get a rectangular stiffener, set the value to `0`. To get a triangular stiffener, enter the same value here as for the stiffener width on the Parts tab.	`25 mm`
8	Shim plate horizontal distance from the secondary part end plate.

Parts tab

Use the Parts tab to define the part properties, and the shim plate shape and bolt edge distance.

Parts


Option	Description
Sec end plate	Thickness, width, and height of the secondary part end plate.
Prim end plate	Thickness, width, and height of the main part end plate.
Fitting plate 1, Fitting plate 2, Fitting plate 3	Thickness of the shim plate.
Number of fitting pl. 1, Number of fitting pl. 2, Number of fitting pl. 3	Number of shim plates.
Ear plates	Thickness, width, and height of the ear plates. When you enter the ear plate thickness, two ear plates are by default created.
Stiffeners	Thickness and width of the stiffeners.


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Finish	Describes how the part surface has been treated.

Shim plate bolt edge distance


	Description
1	Horizontal bolt edge distance in the shim plate.
2	Vertical bolt edge distance in the shim plate.

Shim plate shape


Option	Description
	Default Holes are based on the bolt group of the connection. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Holes are based on the bolt group of the connection.
	Finger shim plate with horizontal slots. The plate can be installed from the right or the left side of the connection.
	Finger shim plate with vertical slots. The plate can be installed from the top of the connection.
	Two separate finger shim plates with horizontal slots.
	Two separate finger shim plates with vertical slots.

Tolerance

Define the tolerance for the slots in finger shim plates. The width of the slot is the bolt diameter + the tolerance. For two separate shim plates, also define the tolerance between the plates.

Parameters tab

Use the Parameters tab to define ear plate creation and dimensions.

Dimensions


	Description	Default
1	Number of ear bolts You can define the number of the holes in the horizontal and vertical direction.	Horizontal: `1` Vertical: `2`
2	Ear bolt spacing	3*hole diameter If there are more than two bolts in the bolt group in one direction, give the distances separated by a space (for example, 40 50).
3	Ear bolt edge distance Edge distance is calculated from the top and outside edges.	2.5*hole diameter
4	Ear bolt hole diameter
5	Bolt edge distance to the edge of the shim plate

Ear plate creation


Option	Description
	Default Both ear plates are created. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Both ear plates are created.
	Ear plate 1 is created.
	Ear plate 2 is created.

Gap size

Define the limit value for the gap between the end plate and the secondary beam. Use this when the beam is slightly curved or sloped to decide if the end angle is so small that the beam end can be straight.

If the actual gap is smaller than this value, the end of the beam is left straight.

If the actual gap is larger than this value, the end of the beam is fitted to the end plate.

Bolts tab

Use the Bolts tab to define the bolt group dimensions and bolt properties.

Bolt group dimensions



1	Dimension for horizontal bolt group position.
2	Select how to measure the dimensions for horizontal bolt group position. Left: From the left edge of the secondary part to the leftmost bolt. Middle: From the center line of the secondary part to the center line of the bolts. Right: From the right edge of the secondary part to the rightmost bolt.
3	Bolt edge distance. Edge distance is the distance from the center of a bolt to the edge of the part.
4	Number of bolts.
5	Bolt spacing. Use a space to separate bolt spacing values. Enter a value for each space between bolts. For example, if there are 3 bolts, enter 2 values.
6	Dimension for vertical bolt group position.
7	Select how to measure the dimensions for vertical bolt group position. Top: From the upper edge of the secondary part to the uppermost bolt. Middle: From the center line of the bolts to the center line of the secondary part. Below: From the lower edge of the secondary part to the lowest bolt.
8	Define which bolts are deleted from the bolt group.

Bolt basic properties


Option	Description	Default
Bolt size	Bolt diameter.	Available sizes are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Bolt standard	Bolt standard to be used inside the component.	Available standards are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Tolerance	Gap between the bolt and the hole.
Thread in mat	Defines whether the thread may be within the bolted parts when bolts are used with a shaft. This has no effect when full-threaded bolts are used.	`Yes`
Site/Workshop	Location where the bolts should be attached.	`Site`

Bolt comment

You can define a bolt comment.

Slotted holes

You can define slotted, oversized, or tapped holes.


Option	Description	Default
1	Vertical dimension of slotted hole.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
2	Horizontal dimension of slotted hole, or allowance for oversized holes.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
Hole type	Slotted creates slotted holes. Oversized creates oversized holes. No hole does not create holes. Tapped creates tapped holes.
Rotate Slots	When the hole type is Slotted, this option rotates the slotted holes.
Slots in	Part(s) in which slotted holes are created. The options depend on the component in question.

Bolt assembly

The selected check boxes define which component objects (bolt, washers, and nuts) are used in the bolt assembly.

If you want to create a hole only, clear all the check boxes.

To modify the bolt assembly in an existing component, select the Effect in modify check box and click Modify.

Bolt length increase

Define how much the bolt length is increased. Use this option when, for example, painting requires the bolt length to be increased.

Staggering of bolts


Option	Description
	Default Not staggered AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Not staggered
	Staggered type 1
	Staggered type 2
	Staggered type 3
	Staggered type 4

Holes tab

Use the Holes tab to control the galvanizing holes in the end plates.


Option	Description
Bolt standard	Select the bolt standard.
Bolt type	Select the bolt type to define the location where the bolts should be attached.
Read data from	You can select to use the sinkholes.dat definition file to specify the default values for horizontal and vertical offsets, and the diameters for upper and lower holes. The file is searched in the following order: Environment common system steel folder (..\Environments\common\system\Steel), model folder, `XS_FIRM`, `XS_PROJECT` and `XS_SYSTEM` folder. You can also select to define the holes in the component dialog box.

Number of holes

The center of a hole group is the middle point of the beam and the middle point of the haunch, if the haunch exists. The hole groups are composed of 0, 1, 2, or 4 holes.


Option	Description
	Default No holes AutoDefaults can change this option.
	No holes
	1 hole
	2 holes
	4 holes