Design Dowel & Bolt Connections to CSA O86

• Lateral Resistance (Nr): Solves the Yield Limit Equations (Modes a–g) for Single and Double Shear to determine the basic unit capacity.
• Combined Actions: Analyzes connections under simultaneous Shear, Axial Tension, and Bending Moments — calculates resultant force vectors on every bolt to find the critical fastener.
• Group Effect (JG): Automatically calculates the reduction factor for multiple fasteners in a row.
• Brittle Failure (Row Shear): Automatically checks Row Shear and Group Tear-out resistance (PRr, PGr) for the bolt group — often the governing factor in CSA O86.
• Geometry Verification: Checks minimum edge distance, end distance, and spacing, applying reduction factors if geometry is tight.

Dowel-type fasteners such as bolts and steel dowels are among the most widely used connection systems in structural timber engineering. For the Canadian region, the calculator supports: CSA O86:2024 – Engineering Design in Wood. Supports bolts and steel dowels installed in glulam or solid timber members, allowing flexible configuration of steel plate placement, fastener layouts, and loading conditions.

Loads: Axial Tension Force (Fx), Shear Force (Fz), Bending Moment (My). Engineers define connection configuration — whether it acts as a primary structural element or part of a larger load transfer system.

Evaluates connections using the European Yield Model (EYM), adopted in CSA O86 for dowel-type fastener design. Considers: timber embedment strength, fastener bending resistance, steel plate stiffness, load redistribution within the fastener group. Evaluates: timber embedment failure, fastener yielding, combined timber–fastener plastic mechanisms.

Define: Material type (e.g., GLT), Species, Grade, Member thickness (t), Member depth. Steel plate position: side steel plate configuration, middle steel plate configuration, number of steel plates.

Steel plate grade (e.g., ASTM A36 – Carbon Steel), plate thickness, plate depth, edge distances, end distances. Material properties: yield strength (fy), ultimate strength (fu).

Supports: Bolts, Steel dowels. Define: fastener type, dowel or bolt grade (e.g., ASTM A307 Grade A), bolt diameter, number of rows, number of fasteners per row, fastener distribution pattern, installation/cutting angle.

Define: spacing along grain (a1), spacing across grain (a2), loaded end distance (at), unloaded edge distances (ac). Options: User-Defined Edge Distance or minimum edge distance criteria.

Geometric Verification: ensures spacing/edge distances/layout satisfy CSA design code provisions.

Timber Member and Fastener Checks: yielding resistance of fasteners, row shear resistance, timber splitting resistance, group tear-out resistance, net tension resistance of the timber member.