Fastener-group model
A rigid steel plate connected to a masonry face by fasteners at arbitrary coordinates.
Structural Design Apps
BoltCalc
Fastener-group analysis
Bolt-group geometry, applied actions and individual bolt-force calculations.
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Features
Tension and compression contact
Fasteners carry tension normal to the plate; the masonry face is represented as a compression-only contact mesh.
Loads and eccentricity
The load model includes axial force, two in-plane shear components, two out-of-plane bending moments, in-plane torsion and eccentricity.
Fastener layout editing
Repeated grids and keyboard row editing make it quick to build irregular groups from several regular patterns.
Getting started
New to BoltCalc? Follow Analyse a fastener group for the step-by-step workflow. Use Help by topic to find a particular field or control, and read Checks and limits before using the output.
Help by topic
Choose a topic for instructions, field guidance and controls.
Analyse a fastener group
- Generate a regular bolt, nail or screw array from the first empty row, or edit individual fastener coordinates to create the required pattern.
- Enter fastener and plate geometry, then define the axial force, in-plane shears, biaxial bending and in-plane torsion for each load case.
- Use ex and ey to position the load resultant relative to the group centroid; the app converts these offsets into centroid moments. Rows with the same case name are combined.
- Run the analysis and inspect the fastener actions, compression contact patch and summary diagnostics.
- Change the layout or stiffness assumptions to compare alternatives, and verify the selected arrangement using the relevant fastener and substrate design rules.
No matching topics. Try a field name or a word used by the app.
Tips and shortcuts
Keep the relevant field guidance open while you work.
Written tutorials
Follow these written walkthroughs. Each link opens the full instructions in Help by topic.
Video tutorials
No video tutorials have been added for BoltCalc yet. Use the written guidance above.
Checks and limits
Review the assumptions
Anchor and contact stiffness affect both the contact patch and fastener-force distribution. The defaults are calibrated against a stated example, not a universal substrate. Verify stiffness, edge distances, embedment, plate flexibility, masonry capacity, anchor product data and code interaction checks for the real connection.
Open BoltCalc
Your model, calculation controls and exports stay in the existing calculator.
Launch BoltCalc