End-plate connection — moment resistance

Assembling the component method: each bolt row = an equivalent T-stub, and $M_{j,Rd} = \sum_r F_{tr,Rd} \cdot h_r$ — EN 1993-1-8 §6.2.7.

⚠ Scope of validity: Mj,Rd here covers the tension zone (the bent end plate + the bolts, with the triangular limit of §6.2.7.2(9)). Not checked: the beam flange/web in compression (§6.2.6.7), the column web in transverse compression / panel shear (§6.2.6.1–6.2.6.2), and the group effects of the bolt rows — these may govern the resistance of the connection. Check them separately.

Connection data

$M_{Ed}$ kNm

$t_p$ (end plate) mm

Plate steel

Bolt

$f_y$ = 235 N/mm², $A_s$ = 353 mm², $f_{ub}$ = 1000 N/mm²

Bolt rows (tension zone)

Pentru fiecare rand: lungimile eficace $\ell_{eff}$ (din liniile de curgere), distanta $m$, the edge distance $e$, and the lever arm $h$ to the centre of compression.

Row	$\ell_{eff,1}$	$\ell_{eff,2}$	$m$	$e$	$h$

All distances in mm.

Geometry for the FEM model (elastic plate — optional)

Idealizare pe server: placa de capat (solid) + tronson de grinda sudat, moment aplicat ca un cuplu pe talpi. Ruleaza live in CalculiX daca agentul e conectat; rezistenta $M_{j,Rd}$ de mai sus se calculeaza oricum. $t_p$, $M_{Ed}$ si otelul se preiau de sus.

$b_p$ plate mm

$h_p$ plate mm

$y_c$ centre mm

$h$ beam mm

$b_f$ flange mm

$t_f$ / $t_w$ mm

Bolt rows $y$ mm

Gauge $w$ mm

Suruburi la $(\pm w/2,\ y)$ pentru fiecare $y$ din lista. Origine $y$ = baza placii.

Tool information

What this calculator checks

The calculator analyses a bolted end-plate connection under moment, by finite elements. The end plate welded to the beam end is modelled as a solid plate, and the bolts as springs — an idealisation that captures the plate bending under the bolt forces more faithfully than the analytical T-stub method.

How the connection works

The moment in the beam turns into a couple: the compression flange pushes the plate against the column, and the tension flange pulls on the top bolt rows. The end plate works in bending between the bolts and the beam flange — and it is precisely its deformation that controls how much force reaches each bolt row.

The finite-element idealisation

The model keeps exactly what matters for the plate behaviour:

the solid end plate — discretised with finite elements, so the actual bending is seen, not assumed
a welded beam stub attached to the plate — essential: without it, the plate stiffness would be greatly underestimated and the utilisation would come out falsely low
the moment couple applied at the end (Saint-Venant), reproducing the action from the beam
the bolts as springs — which take the tension and transmit the reaction into the plate

The check is done on the plate, at the maximum stress in its critical zone. The model gives the end-plate utilisation, complementary to the bolt check.

Input data

The end-plate thickness $t_p$ and its dimensions.
The beam — the profile, which defines the welded stub.
The bolts — the position, diameter, stiffness.
The design moment transmitted by the beam.
The steel grade of the plate.

Assumptions and limitations

The check targets the end plate; the bolt tension/shear resistance, the welds and the column web panel are separate components.
The model is linear-elastic for the stress distribution; the capacity is assessed at the plate level.
The idealisation assumes simple plate–plate contact (no preload modelled explicitly).
For the full node with real geometry (stiffeners, 8 bolts, welds), see the solid beam-to-column analysis.

T-stub — the analytical check of the tension component (EN 1993-1-8)
Beam-to-column connection — a full node, solid CalculiX analysis
Import from Tekla — bringing the node geometry from a Tekla model
Bending resistance — the capacity of the beam reaching the connection