Free steel bolt group analysis calculator

Analyse bolt groups under in-plane shear and moment - any bolt pattern, symmetrical or unsymmetrical.

Free · No sign-up requiredInstant resultsFEA-poweredAISC Steel Construction Manual, 15th Edition

How to use the free steel bolt group analysis calculator

1
Enter bolt locations
Define each bolt by its X and Y coordinates relative to a reference point. Any pattern is supported.
2
Apply loads
Enter applied shear forces (V_x, V_y) and the in-plane moment (M) at the bolt group centroid or at an eccentricity from it.
3
Check results
The calculator returns the maximum resultant shear on the critical bolt. Compare against your bolt's design shear capacity.

About this calculator

Effortlessly analyze steel bolt connections using the Calcs.com Steel Bolt Group Analysis Calculator. This powerful tool allows for the analysis of numerous steel bolts located at arbitrary X and Y positions, considering in-plane shear and moment loads. Users must independently verify and assess bolt design and detailing requirements.

Standard: AISC Steel Construction Manual, 15th Edition

How to use the free steel bolt group analysis calculator

Analyze numerous steel bolts at arbitrary X and Y positions. The calculator considers in-plane shear and moment loads and handles symmetrical and unsymmetrical bolt groups.

The sheet has: Key Properties (bolt locations), Applied Loads and Eccentricities, and Summary (max shear on bolt and diagrams).

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Frequently asked questions

What is a bolt group analysis?

Bolt group analysis determines how an applied load (shear force plus moment) is distributed among the bolts in a connection. The critical bolt - the one with the highest resultant shear - governs the connection design.

Does this calculator handle eccentric loads?

Yes. You can enter loads applied at an eccentricity from the bolt group centroid, which creates an in-plane moment that the calculator distributes to each bolt using the elastic (instantaneous centre) method.

What types of bolt patterns are supported?

Any bolt pattern is supported - symmetrical or unsymmetrical. Bolts are defined by X/Y coordinates, so patterns like L-shaped groups, circular patterns, or irregular arrangements all work.

Does this give me a design check (pass/fail)?

The free tool gives you the demand (maximum bolt shear). Compare that against your bolt's design shear strength from AISC Table J3-2. A full Calcs.com trial includes the full AISC bolt design check with capacity calculation.

Is this calculator free?

Yes, completely free. No sign-up required. A free Calcs.com trial adds bolt capacity calculations, saving, and PDF export.

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