> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.openbrim.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.openbrim.org/templates/steel-tub-girder-bridge-workflow/superstructure-stg/connections-stg/bolted-field-splice-stg.md).

# Bolted Field Splice \[STG]

The bolted field splice has no direct impact on the finite element model and is only used for design and 3D visualization purposes.

## Girder

**Girder:** The girder to which the splice plate belongs.

**Station:** Station along the PGL.

**Gap Between Girders:** It represents the gap between the girders connected by the splice plate. It has no effect in 3D. If there is a geometric difference between the girders at the splice plate's connection point (e.g., flange thickness, flange width), it is recommended to enter a non-zero value for this parameter.

**Web Weld Size:** The thickness of the weld joining the web and flange. (It affects the inner plate width.)

**Web Weld Clearance:** Web weld clearance refers to the gap between the web of a steel beam and the surface of an adjoining steel plate or member before welding. (It affects the inner plate width.)

![image-20240629-183003.png](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2185396796/image-20240629-183003.png?api=v2)

![image-20241030-125310.png](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2185396796/image-20241030-125310.png?api=v2)

## Web Splice

The parameters listed below can be defined for detailed specifications of the Bolted Field Splice’s web. For a visual representation of each parameter, please refer to the figure below.

**Plate Thickness**: This parameter can be used to set the thickness of both the outer and inner plates.

**# of Bolts (Horz.)**: This parameter can be used to define the number of bolts for half of the plate in the horizontal direction. The other half will be generated symmetrically and according to **Bolt Spacing @Center** parameter.

**# of Bolts (Vert.)**: This parameter can be used to specify the number of bolts in the vertical direction.

**Bolt Spacing (Horz.)**: This parameter can be used to adjust the spacing of bolts in the horizontal direction.

**Bolt Spacing (Vert.)**: This parameter can be used to adjust the spacing of bolts in the vertical direction.

**Bolt Spacing @ Center:** This parameter can be used to adjust the spacing between bolts at the center, with plates generated symmetrically along the horizontal axis.

**Bolt Edge Distance (Horz.)**: This parameter can be used to set the distance between the plate's outer edge and the outermost bolt’s center in the horizontal direction.

**Bolt Edge Distance (Vert.)**: This parameter can be used to set the distance between the plate's outer edge and the outermost bolt’s center in the vertical direction.

**Plate Material**: This parameter can be used to specify the material for the web splice plates. A material can be imported or selected from previously defined materials under Properties - Materials.

**Splice Width (readonly)**: This parameter can be used to display the total width of the generated splice plate based on input parameters.

**Splice Height (readonly)**: This parameter can be used to display the total height of the generated splice plate based on input parameters.

![image-20241030-131025.png](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2185396796/image-20241030-131025.png?api=v2)

## Top Flange Splice

The parameters listed below can be defined for detailed specifications of the Bolted Field Splice’s top flange. For a visual representation of each parameter, please refer to the figure below.

**Inner Plate Thickness**: This parameter can be used to specify the thickness of the inner plate.

**Outer Plate Thickness**: This parameter can be used to specify the thickness of the outer plate.

**# of Bolts (Long.)**: This parameter can be used to define the number of bolts for half of the plate in the longitudinal direction, with the other half generated symmetrically.

**# of Bolts (Trans.)**: This parameter can be used to specify the number of bolts in the transverse direction for half of the plate.

**Bolt Spacing (Long.)**: This parameter can be used to set the center-to-center distance of bolts generated in the longitudinal direction.

**Bolt Spacing (Trans.)**: This parameter can be used to set the center-to-center distance of bolts generated in the transverse direction.

**Bolt Spacing @Center (Long.)**: Since the plate will be generated symmetrically in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, this parameter can be used to adjust the spacing for bolts at the center in the longitudinal direction.

**Bolt Spacing @Center (Trans.)**: Since the plate will be generated symmetrically in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, this parameter can be used to adjust the spacing for bolts at the center in the transverse direction.

**Bolt Edge Distance (Long.)**: This parameter can be used to set the distance between the plate's outer edge and the outermost bolt’s center in the longitudinal direction.

**Bolt Edge Distance (Trans.)**: This parameter can be used to set the distance between the plate's outer edge and the outermost bolt’s center in the transverse direction.

**Plate Material**: This parameter can be used to specify the material for the web splice plates. Materials can be imported or selected from previously defined materials under Properties - Materials.

**Splice Length (readonly)**: This parameter can be used to display the total length of the splice plate in the longitudinal direction, based on the specified inputs.

**Inner Splice Width (readonly)**: This parameter can be used to display the total width of the inner splice plate based on the specified inputs.

**Outer Splice Width (readonly)**: This parameter can be used to display the total width of the outer splice plate based on the specified inputs.

![image-20241030-134455.png](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2185396796/image-20241030-134455.png?api=v2)

## Bottom Flange Splice

The parameters listed below can be defined for detailed specifications of the Bolted Field Splice’s bottom flange. For a visual representation of each parameter, please refer to the figure below.

**Inner Plate Thickness**: This parameter can be used to adjust the thickness of the plate on the inner side.

**Outer Plate Thickness**: This parameter can be used to adjust the thickness of the plate on the outer side.

**# of Bolts (Long.)**: This parameter can be used to adjust the number of bolts in the longitudinal direction, with half of the bolts applied symmetrically on each side.

**# of Bolts (Trans.)**: This parameter can be used to specify the number of bolts in the transverse direction.

**Bolt Spacing (Long.)**: This parameter can be used to specify the spacing of bolts in the longitudinal direction.

**Bolt Spacing (Trans.)**: This parameter can be used to specify the spacing of bolts in the transverse direction.

**Bolt Spacing @Center (Long.)**: Since the plate is generated symmetrically, this parameter can be used to specify the distance between bolts at the center in the longitudinal direction.

**Bolt Edge Distance (Long.)**: This parameter can be used to set the distance between the plate's outer edge and the outermost bolt’s center in the longitudinal direction.

**Bolt Edge Distance (Trans.)**: This parameter can be used to set the distance between the plate's outer edge and the outermost bolt’s center in the trasnverse direction.

**Plate Material**: This parameter can be used to specify the material for the web splice plates. Materials can be imported or selected from previously defined materials under Properties - Materials.

**Splice Width (readonly)**: This parameter can be used to display the total width of the generated splice plate based on input parameters.

**Splice Length (readonly)**: This parameter can be used to display the total length of the generated splice plate based on input parameters.

![image-20241030-141603.png](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2185396796/image-20241030-141603.png?api=v2)

## Bolts

**Web Bolt Property:** This parameter can be used to assign a previously defined bolt property from *Properties - Bolt Property* to the web plate.

**Flange Bolt Property:** This parameter can be used to assign a previously defined bolt property from *Properties - Bolt Property* to the flange plates.

**Detailing:** The bolts are drawn on the 3D view whenever the DETAILING button on the top middle bar is turned on; there is no per-object switch. Each bolt group is drawn as one pattern, so showing the bolts adds only a small fraction to the compile time.

{% hint style="info" %}
If splices ,that are modeled, need to be included with their weight loads, after modeling the splices from this section, the spreadsheet under Construction → Superstructure Construction → Girder Erection (Partial) /Girder/Cross-Frame Erection (Complete) has a parameter named 'Splice Load' that must be set to 'Include.' Otherwise, this parameter can be kept as 'Ignore'. ![image-20240828-105607.png](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2185396796/image-20240828-105607.png?api=v2) ![image-20240828-105709.png](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2185396796/image-20240828-105709.png?api=v2)
{% endhint %}

## IFC

**Type:** The IFC entity type for BIM export. Available options include \[IfcPlate/IfcElementAssembly/IfcMember/IfcBuildingElementProxy] (default: IfcPlate).

**Predefined Type:** The IFC Predefined Type is specified using this parameter. Available options include \[SPLICE\_PLATE/BASE\_PLATE/COVER\_PLATE/FLANGE\_PLATE/GUSSET\_PLATE/STIFFENER\_PLATE/WEB\_PLATE/USERDEFINED/NOTDEFINED] (default: SPLICE\_PLATE).

**Parent \[Bridge/Superstructure/Deck/Substructure/Foundation/Approach\_Structure/Retaining\_Structure]:** The IFC Parent is specified using this parameter to define the hierarchy relationship in the IFC model.

## Quantities

**Bolt Count:** The total number of bolts for each splice is calculated based on user definitions and presented to the user under this column.

**Volume:** The total volume of all splice plates (web, top flange inner/outer, bottom flange inner/outer). (Read-only)


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