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In 1999, AASHTO adopted a new methodology for the design of
bolted field splices of flexural steel members. The new methodology was
developed in response to the lack of a uniform design methodology for
bolted splices, which resulted in confusion and costly splices. The new
methodology includes new formulas for the web and flange forces as well
as minimum design forces. It also includes new rules and formulas for
girders with holes in the tension flange as well as the resistance of
flange bolts when passing through fillers. To help engineers implement
the new methodology, AISI's Transportation and Infrastructures Committee
sponsored the development of AISIsplice.
AISIsplice is a tool for the analysis and design of bolted field
splices for straight, right, I-shaped, steel girders that follows the
procedures of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, Second
Edition, 1998, including the 1999 interim. The 1999 revisions to the
AASHTO Specification were based on research performed by Firas I.
Sheikh-Ibrahim and Karl Frank (1996, 1998) at the University of Texas at
Austin.
In the design mode, the software sizes and optimizes the splice
plates and bolts. In the analysis mode, the software determines the
adequacy of given splice plates and bolts. For both modes, performance
ratios (load/resistance) for all splice components are determined.
The software output consists of scaled graphics and a detailed
report. Graphic illustrations include the elevation and cross section
views of the splice and adjoined girders. Graphical output includes
splice dimensions, bolt details, a summary of required filler plates,
and splice component performance ratios.
When designing a splice, the Splice Design Summary screen appears.
This screen contains graphical output of splice details, required filler
plates and their locations, girder cross sections and elevation views,
properties of the flange and web connection bolts, faying surface class,
and performance ratios.
A useful feature of AISIsplice is the Adjust Design option. After a
splice design is generated by the software, the user may modify the
design to his/her preference. When this option is used all properties of
the designed splice are loaded into the Splice Analysis module. The user
may change selected properties of the splice, and then the program
analyzes the splice.
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The Splice Analysis Summary screen includes all
components of the Splice Design Summary screen, with the exception of
the Adjust Design button (since an analysis is performed instead of
design, thus the Back button may be used). The software also informs the
user of any given spacing that does not satisfy the provisions of AASHTO
6.13.2.6.
AISI Splice was developed by Dr. Firas Ibrahim, of HDR
Engineering Inc.-Pittsburgh and AISI's Transportation and Infrastructure
Group. The above contains edited exerts from the AISIsplice V2.1 user's
manual. To download the entire manual click here (zipped
files).
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