Application guide
BoltCalc
Bolt-group geometry, applied actions and individual bolt-force calculations.
What this tool does
Bolt-group geometry, applied actions and individual bolt-force calculations. This guide describes the main workflow, key information and stated limits to review when using the tool.
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.
What the model represents
- A rigid steel plate connected to a masonry face by fasteners at arbitrary coordinates.
- Fasteners carry tension normal to the plate; the masonry face is represented as a compression-only contact mesh.
- The load model includes axial force, two in-plane shear components, two out-of-plane bending moments, in-plane torsion and eccentricity.
- Repeated grids and keyboard row editing make it quick to build irregular groups from several regular patterns.
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.