NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.

SN016a-EN-EU

NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.

This NCCI provides rules for the initial sizing of the components of fin plate connections
for a "Simple joint". The rules apply to a bolted connection using non-preloaded bolts (i.e.

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a Category A: Bearing type bolted connection).

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Contents

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1. Typical connections 2

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2. Choice of fin plate connection 2

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3. Choice of bolt type 3

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4. Number of bolts in a fin plate connection 3
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5. Fin plate dimensions 5
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6. Weld size 6
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7. Ductility 7
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8. Rotation capacity 7
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9. Limits of application 7
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10. Background 7
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 NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.
SN016a-EN-EU

1. Typical connections
Fin plates are used for beam/column and beam/beam connections. Typical connections using
a single vertical line of bolts are shown in Figure 1.1.

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Figure 1.1 Typical Beam/Column & Beam/Beam connections with fin plates
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2. Choice of fin plate connection

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There are two basic types of fin plate connections (see figure 2.1):
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1. Fin plate with one vertical line of bolts.

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2. Fin plate with two vertical lines of bolts.

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It is recommended that:
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≤ 0,5 VC, Rd
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If VEd adopt fin plate with one vertical line of bolts

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If 0,75 VC,Rd ≥ VEd > 0,5 VC,Rd adopt a fin plate with two vertical lines of bolts
If VEd > 0,75 VC, Rd use an end plate connection.

In the above expressions:

VEd is the design shear force and

VC,Rd is the design shear resistance of the supported beam

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 NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.
SN016a-EN-EU

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Figure 2.1 Fin plate connections with one and two vertical lines of bolts

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3. Choice of bolt type

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It is recommended to use one grade and one diameter of bolt in a limited range of lengths.
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This document and the NCCIs for shear and tying resistance of fin plate connections (SN017
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and SN018) relate to Category A bearing type connections (as defined in EN1993-1-8 §3.4.1),
using non-preloaded bolts. For this type of connection, the bolt class which is usually used
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depends on the country of construction: class 10.9 bolts are used in most of Europe, but class
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8.8 bolts are used in France and UK.

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Usually, bolts should be fully threaded. The commonly used size is:
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Bolt diameter = 20 mm
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Length = 60 mm.
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However, the verification procedures for fin plate connections shown in SN017 and SN018
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are valid for bolts from class 4.6 to class 10.9 with different diameter and length.
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4. Number of bolts in a fin plate connection

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The minimum number of bolts (M20, class 8.8 or 10.9) to be adopted is given by:
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VEd
n=
K

Where:
n is the total number of bolts (i.e n1 × n2 )
n1 is number of horizontal rows of bolts

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 NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.
SN016a-EN-EU

n2 is number of vertical lines of bolts

(For one vertical line of bolts, n should be rounded up to the nearest whole number,
For two vertical lines of bolts, n should be rounded up to the nearest multiple of 2)
VEd is the design shear force in kN

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The value of K depends on the type of fin plate connection (i.e. one or two vertical lines of
bolts). Tables 4.1 and 4.2 below give the values of K for the two cases.

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Table 4.1 Values of K for one vertical line of bolts (i.e. n2 = 1)

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Steel grade Depth of K for thickness t
(lower of fin plate supported beam (lower of fin plate and supported beam web)

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and hb1
t = 10 mm t = 8 mm

t
supported beam) mm

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hb1 ≤ 400 30 25

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S235 400 < h b1 ≤ 600
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50 40

h b1 > 600 55 45
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h b1 ≤ 400 40 35
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S275 400 < h b1 ≤ 600 60 50

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hb1 > 600 65 55

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hb1 ≤ 400 45 40
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S355 400 < h b1 ≤ 600 70 60

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h b1 > 600 80 65
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Table 4.2 Values of K for two vertical lines of bolts (i.e. n2 = 2)

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Steel grade Depth of K for thickness t

(lower of fin plate supported beam (lower of fin plate and supported beam web)
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and hb1
t = 10 mm t = 8 mm
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supported beam) mm
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h b1 ≤ 400 20 20
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S235 400 < hb1 ≤ 600 30 30

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h b1 > 600 35 35
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hb1 ≤ 400 25 25
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S275 400 < h b1 ≤ 600 35 35

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hb1 > 600 40 40

hb1 ≤ 400 30 30

S355 400 < hb1 ≤ 600 40 40

hb1 > 600 45 45

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 NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.
SN016a-EN-EU

bp bp
gh gh
gv gv

e1,b e1,b

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e1 e1
a a

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p1 p1
hp hp

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p1 p1

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e1 e1

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e 2 e2,b he e 2 p 2 e2,b he

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z z

t
n2= 1 n2 = 2

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Figure 4.2 Fin plate parameters
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5. Fin plate dimensions

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a) Depending on the bolt diameter, choose end and edge distances not less than 2d:
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i.e. e1 , e2 , e1,b and e2,b ≥ 2d

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b) Height of fin plate

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Minimum height of fin plate hp = 0,6hb1

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Maximum height of fin plate = d b1

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Note: Commonly the height of fin plate is rounded up to the nearest 10mm.
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c) Vertical bolt spacing: depends on the number of bolts. For M20 bolts p1 should not be less
than 70 mm.
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d) For M20 bolts, the following dimensions are recommended, depending on the depth of the
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supported beam.
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Table 5.1 Thickness and width of fin plates for one vertical line of bolts (n2 = 1)
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Depth of Fin plate Fin plate width Horizontal gap Beam edge Fin plate edge
supported beam thickness bp (mm) gh (mm) distance distance
hb1 (mm) tp (mm) e2,b (mm) e2 (mm)
h b1 ≤ 600 10 100 10 40 50

h b1 > 600 10 120 20 40 60

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 NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.
SN016a-EN-EU

Table 5.2 Thickness and width of fin plates for two vertical lines of bolts (n2 = 2)
Depth of Fin plate Fin plate Horizontal Beam edge Transverse Fin plate
supported beam thickness width gap distance bolt pitch edge

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hb1 (mm) tp (mm) bp (mm) gh (mm) e2,b (mm) p2 (mm) distance
e2 (mm)

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h b1 ≤ 600 10 160 10 40 60 50

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h b1 > 600 10 180 20 40 60 60

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where:

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d is the bolt diameter

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db1 is the distance between fillets of the supported beam

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hb1 is the depth of the supported beam

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hp is the height of the fin plate
e1,b s@
is the end distance to the edge of the beam or to the edge of the notch
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6. Weld size
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Adopt the following fillet weld sizes, depending on the fin plate steel grade and thickness.
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Table 6.1 Size of fillet weld for different fin plate steel grades and thicknesses.
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Fin plate Steel grade Dimensions, for fin plate thickness tp

8 mm 10 mm
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Throat a Leg length s Throat a Leg length s

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(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)

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S235 4 6 5 7
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S275 4 6 5 7
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S355 5 7 5,5 8
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1
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a 2

t f,c , t w,c , t w,b2

Figure 6.2 Fillet weld, throat and leg lengths

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 NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.
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7. Ductility

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The details given in this NCCI will provide sufficient ductility to meet the requirements of
Section 16 of SN017.

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8. Rotation capacity

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The details given in this NCCI will provide sufficient rotation capacity for the connection to
be treated as a “simple joint”.

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9. Limits of application

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This NCCI applies to one or two vertical lines of bolts (i.e. n2=1 or n2=2) using non-preloaded
bolts for Category A: Bearing type bolted connection in accordance with EN1993-1-8 §3.4.1.
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10. Background
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The rules in this NCCI are based on:

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(1) European recommendations for the design of simple joints in steel structures -
Document prepared under the supervision of ECCS TC10 by: J.P. Jaspart, S. Renkin
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and M.L. Guillaume - First draft, September 2003.

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(2) Joints in Steel Construction – Simple Connections (P212). The Steel Construction
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Institute and The British Constructional Association Ltd., 2002.

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 NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.
SN016a-EN-EU

Quality Record

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RESOURCE TITLE NCCI: Initial sizing of fin plate connections.

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Reference(s)

ORIGINAL DOCUMENT

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Name Company Date

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Created by Edurne Nunez SCI March 2005

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Technical content checked by Abdul Malik SCI Aug 2005

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Editorial content checked by D C Iles SCI 16/9/05

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Technical content endorsed by the
following STEEL Partners:
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1. UK G W Owens SCI 16/9/05
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2. France A Bureau CTICM 16/9/05

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3. Germany A Olsson SBI 15/9/05

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4. Sweden C Müller RWTH 14/9/05

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5. Spain J Chica Labein 16/9/05

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Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 26/4/06

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Coordinator
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TRANSLATED DOCUMENT

This Translation made and checked by

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Translated resource approved by:

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