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Connections 8 represents a major upgrade to the program with significant new features and improvements. Released November 14, 2011.
Important Note – These are descriptions to changes implemented in WoodWorks Connections for version 8 and may not reflect current program behaviour.
The program operation has been streamlined so that you do not have to create a new file just to see all the connection possibilities or change your connection. You just select from either a list of all Connections in a “tree” list or in a view containing images of the connections.
At any point while inputting data, by clicking the “Geometry” button you can see a “tree” of all possible connections, and to select from that tree to change your connection type. The lower branches of the tree invoke views that show images of all Connections along that branch.
The previous details, materials, and geometry screens have now been combined into one screen, so all input can be viewed at once.
The program shows the diagram of the connection while you are inputting data, updating it to show the meaning of the various fields such as “offset”.
The program redesigns the connection automatically upon any change in the materials or loads input. When connections details change, it is necessary to press the “Run Design” button.
Lag screws have been added for all connection types that implement bolts, as per CSA O86 10.6.
Wood screws have been added for all connection types that implement nails, as per CSA O86 10.11.
New parameters required by changes to CSA 086-09 have been added, for example embedment strengths
Additional data showing the results for each yield mode have been added. It is possible to control whether the intermediate data is output via a menu item. .
The program now reports load/capacity design ratios in the output.
The program now reports relevant design code clauses.
For the lapped shear connections, if an offset was left as unknown, connections would often fail when it was possible to achieve a passing design with a legitimate offset.
For bolted and shear plate connections, the program was calculating the tensile resistance for glulam using the gross section, but it should have been using using the net section.
The wrong size factor in tension Kzt was being used for MSR lumber. CSA O86 Clause 5.4.5.3 states that the size factor should always be unity for MSR, but the program was using the same size factors for MSR as it was for regular lumber.
The wrong tension net section value ftn was being used if the material was glulam and the species was spruce-pine-fir. The program always used a value of 20.4 for ftn . When the species is spruce-pine-fir, the value should be 17.0 according to table 6.3.
When there are two loads with different load durations, the load with the shortest duration is used to find the duration factor KD, in accordance with CSA 086 clause 4.3.2.4. However, the program was including the duration input of loads that were not entered and had a magnitude of zero to determine the duration factor. This has been corrected.
For bolts and lag screws, in orthogonal and skewed lapped shear connections , when the service conditions factor from Table 10.2.1.5 depends on the orientation of the load relative to the grain of the member the program used the load orientation for the main member when the load was in fact on the side member.