Structural Engineering & Statics
where the load goes
Concept

Ultimate strength — where it appears

3 essays name this object, across one field. What follows is each of them, and the objects they name alongside it.
pullshear plane, 180 mmtension plane, 40 mmcapacity 421.7 kN0.6 fu Anv = 322.5 kN · 0.6 fy Agv = 297 kN · fu Ant = 124.7 kNthe yield value governs the shear plane

The metal between the holes, which comes out as a block

A bolted end connection can fail without a single bolt breaking and without the plate reaching its tensile strength anywhere. A block of metal simply comes out, bounded by two surfaces with two different strengths on them.

connections · block shear s = 50g = 60net width 166.42 mm of 200the critical path crosses two holes, with s²/4g = 10.42 mm added back

The tear that goes diagonally, and the correction that has no derivation

Stagger the holes so that no straight line crosses more than one and the plate does not get its strength back. The tear runs at an angle instead, and the arithmetic that makes it come out right is a century-old piece of curve-fitting nobody has improved on.

connections · net section 020406080100120140160180200050100150200end distance, mmbearing capacity, kN40 mm → 52.12 kNcorner at 165 mmplate crushesbolt tears out

The hole that goes oval, and the one that tears to the edge

A bolt pressing on the side of its hole either crushes the plate in front of it or shoves a channel of metal out to the end. Which one happens is decided entirely by a distance that is usually set by a minimum in a table.

connections · bearing

Named alongside it

The objects these essays reach for when they reach for this one.

ConnectionBolt groupDuctilityNet sectionShear planeBearingBlock shearEfficiencyEmpirical ruleEnd distanceLoad pathPlate thickness

All concepts