Connections 8.3 Service Release

Released March 12, 2013 as part of Design Office 8, Service Release 3

Important Note – These are descriptions to changes implemented in WoodWorks Connections for version 8.3 and may not reflect current program behaviour.

1. Edge Distance used for Effective Depth and Splitting Resistance (Bug 2640)

   For lag screw post-and-beam connections with SCL (that is, LVL or PSL) main members, the withdrawal capacity was always zero, leading to failed design whenever there is a x-direction load. This is because the CSA O86 does not include SCL in table 10.6.5.1 based on wood species groups.

   Therefore, it is no longer possible to enter an x-direction load for lag screw SCL connections. We are researching withdrawal strengths for LVL connections, and if design procedures are found, this capability of using lag screws in withdrawal will be added to the program in a future version.

2. Tolerance for Checking Equal Member Sizes for Beam to Column Top Connections (Change 30)

   The program compares the two members in a beam to column top connection using floating point accuracy to determine whether they are the same size. For this reason, multi-ply members that would be the same nominal thickness as a single member are not considered the same thickness because of metric conversions. This has been corrected by applying a ¼” tolerance when comparing the member thicknesses.