A double angle connection is a classic shear connection evaluated using a bolt calculator, where two steel angles are attached to opposite sides of a secondary beam’s web and bolted to both the beam web and the supporting member (such as a column flange or primary girder). Because it relies primarily on high-strength structural bolts, it provides a fast, dependable, and easily adjustable joint that transfers vertical shear forces efficiently without field welding.

Unlike all-welded framing joints, a bolted double angle connection utilizes discrete mechanical fasteners to safely transfer vertical loads:

Beam Web: The supported flexural member transferring end shear, which must be evaluated for bolt bearing, tearout, and web shear strength.

Double Framing Angles: A symmetric pair of structural steel angles (e.g., L4x3.5×3/8) straddling the beam web to distribute forces evenly.

High-Strength Structural Bolts: Heavy hex bolts (such as ASTM F3125 A325 or A490) acting in single shear on the outstanding legs and double shear on the web leg.

Supporting Column or Girder: The receiving member face (flange or web) to which the outstanding angle legs are bolted.

Bolted double angle connections are widely specified when rapid field erection, simple fit-up adjustments, and strict quality control are required. Common applications include:

Field-Erected Steel Framing: Allows ironworkers to rapidly secure floor and roof beams using impact wrenches without relying on site weather conditions for welding.

Heavy Beam-to-Column Joints: Double angles provide balanced, symmetrical load paths that eliminate eccentric torsion on the beam web.

Industrial Platforms & Facilities: Ideal for structures where routine joint inspection, fastener re-torquing, or future member replacements are expected.

Simple Shear (Pinned) Frame Connections: Designed to carry gravity shear while allowing sufficient rotational flexibility to prevent bending moments from transferring into columns.

Bolt Shear Strength: Evaluates single shear (outstanding legs) and double shear (web leg) for thread-included (N) or thread-excluded (X) shear planes.

Bolt Bearing & Tearout: Verifies minimum bolt spacing and edge distances to prevent local crushing or tearout failure of the angle material or beam web.

Angle Gross Shear Yielding & Net Shear Rupture: Evaluates the shear capacity of the angle leg material along the vertical bolt lines.

Block Shear Rupture: Checks combined tension-shear tearout modes along the bolt group perimeter on both the angles and beam web.

Select Design Method: Choose between LRFD or ASD according to your project specification requirements.

Define Member Profiles: Input or select standard AISC W-shapes, channel sections, and L-angles for supported and supporting members.

Input Bolt Details: Specify bolt grade (e.g., A325, A490), bolt diameter, hole type (Standard, Slotted), and bolt pitch/edge distances.

Enter Design Loads: Input the applied factored or allowable vertical shear force.

Run Analysis: Click Calculate to output instant utility ratios, governing limit states, and detailed step-by-step design checks.

SkyCiv transforms multi-bolt shear mechanics into a fast, transparent workflow. By automating AISC 360 geometric spacing checks, bolt shear, bearing, tearout, and block shear calculations, the bolt calculator ensures your bolted connections are structurally safe, fully compliant, and optimized for shop and field work—saving engineering time while preventing costly design errors.

• Steel Connection Design Calculator
• SkyCiv Connection Design Software