Design Dowel & Bolt Connections to NDS

• Lateral Design Value (“Z'”): Solves all 6 Yield Limit Modes for Single and Double Shear connections (Wood-to-Wood and Metal-to-Wood).
• Combined Actions: Analyzes connections under simultaneous Shear, Axial Tension, and Bending Moments, using an elastic analysis method to determine the resultant force on each individual bolt.
• Group Action Factor (Cg): Automatically calculates the reduction in capacity for rows of fasteners, critical for tension members where load distribution is non-uniform.
• Geometry Factors (CΔ): Verifies End Distance and Edge Distance requirements, automatically applying the reduction factor (CΔ) if spacing is tight.
• Steel Side Plates: Checks the bearing and tensile capacity of ASTM A36 or Grade 33 steel side plates.

For the United States region, the calculator supports AWC NDS:2024 – National Design Specification for Wood Construction. Supports bolts and steel dowels installed in timber members with steel side plates, allowing flexible configuration of plate positions, fastener layouts, and loading conditions.

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

Evaluates connections using Yield Limit Equations (YLE) per AWC NDS. Considers: timber bearing strength, fastener bending yield strength, steel plate stiffness, load distribution within the fastener group. Evaluates: timber bearing failure, fastener yielding, combined timber-fastener plastic mechanisms.

AWC NDS Design Factors: Design Method (ASD or LRFD), Load Duration, Moisture Content at Time of Fabrication, Moisture Service Content, Temperature Condition, Temperature Factor (Ct), Load Duration Factor (CD), Time Effect Factor (λ), Repetitive Member Factor (Cr), Geometry Factor (CΔ), Edge Bonded Factor (CEB), Wet Service Factor (CM), Shear Reduction Factor (Cvr).

Define: timber member thickness, timber material properties, steel plate placement within the timber section, plate arrangement (uniform or non-uniform). Determines load transfer mechanism, fastener spacing requirements, splitting resistance, overall joint behavior.

Steel plate grade (e.g., ASTM A36 carbon steel), plate thickness, plate depth, edge distances, end distances. Material properties: yield strength, ultimate strength. System verifies plate against: plate bending, bearing capacity, shear capacity, block tearing resistance, tension capacity, buckling strength.

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

Define: spacing along the grain (a1), spacing across the grain (a2), loaded end distance (at), unloaded edge distance (ac), edge distances. Manual definition or minimum spacing requirements per AWC NDS provisions.

Geometric Verification: spacing/edge distances/layout per AWC NDS geometric provisions.

Timber Member and Fastener Checks: Fastener yielding resistance (N0,y), Row shear resistance (N0,rs), Group tear-out resistance (N0,gt), Net tension resistance of the timber member (N0,t).

Results and Output Summary: clear output dashboard highlighting geometric verification status, timber member verification, fastener resistance checks, governing failure mechanisms — confirms whether the connection satisfies AWC NDS design requirements.