In my previous blog post about Peikko Designer® BOLTED CONNECTION, Peikko’s next generation online application for calculating bolted connections, we explored the extensive customization options for concrete geometries and took our first steps toward fully customizable anchor bolts by introducing editable bolt lengths. We also delved into the next generation of rebar generation and more detailed calculation results.
Since that, we’ve been enhancing our anchor-bolt customization, including support for non-headed bolts. Users can now personalize these bolts by changing their length or even creating bent-bolt shapes. We’ve also fully overhauled our PDF printing capabilities, rebuilding both the printing service and the reports from the ground up for a significantly better user experience.
You can, as always, browse the full list of changes in the Release Notes on our official Designer Forum at www.peikkodesigner.com. Here’s a short highlight reel of the newest upgrades and enhancements:
Fully customizable straight non-headed anchor bolts
Designers can now work with customizable non-headed anchor bolts, including PPM®-P, HPM®-P, and a totally new (two rebar) PPM®-S models, taking anchor design freedom to a whole new level.
All non-headed bolt lengths can now be customized in the same way as headed bolts. In addition, edge-failure calculations are now also performed for these bolts — a highly requested feature and one that has previously been missing from the Column Connection desktop application.
Verifying Edge failure in a stadium shaped support with different anchor bolt types.
To support more refined calculations, new customizable partial factors for non-headed bolts have been added to the Standard tab under Project settings.
Detailed results of the Splicing length calculations. The last two columns before utilization instantly show whether the current splicing length is sufficient or if the anchor bolt length should be increased.
Bent non-headed anchor bolts that you can customize in every detail
We have also introduced the ability to create customizable bent anchor bolts, enabling users to model even more complex geometries directly in the application. By enabling the use of shallower supports, bent anchor bolts can help cut down the overall concrete volume — saving both materials and cost. In addition to geometric freedom, anchor bolts can now be rotated, giving designers full control over positioning and avoiding the clashes between other objects in the support.
The inputs of the bent anchor bolt altogether define the product code which is visible in the bottom of the dialog. Mandrel diameter (red box) was made bigger from default value since the calculations were requiring that (see the picture below). Notice that the anchor bolts have been rotated to avoid clashing with other objects in the support.
Every bent anchor bolt is thoroughly checked for both steel and concrete failure, ensuring full confidence in your anchorage design. The detailed results make it easy to see whether the current anchorage length is adequate or if a longer bolt is required. You’ll also find clear guidance on whether your mandrel diameter is sufficient or if it needs to be increased.
Axial forces in the bolts are leading to rather high minimum mandrel diameter requirement (red box) --> Back to JOINT page to fix the issue.
Together, these features deliver a powerful expansion of your anchor-bolt design toolkit.
Fully redesigned and modernized PDF reports
The REPORT page has received a usability upgrade. The dialog is now simpler, with all toggles clearly serving a purpose. Designer information is automatically fetched from the Peikko Account, eliminating repetitive manual input, and you can choose whether or not to include this information on the cover page. It’s also worth noting that calculation results are now printed only for the most critical load combinations at each stage, keeping the reports concise and focused.
Simplified user interface for the reports. The dialog now also features Reinforcement and Bill of Quantity sections, making the reporting setup more complete than ever.
We’ve refreshed the cover page with a cleaner, more streamlined layout. It now clearly displays the design code along with unified fields for the project location and the designer’s location.
If you print multiple connections in the same report, the new Connections overview page provides a clear, well-organized summary of the most essential information for each selected connection.
The Connections overview page includes details such as the number of identical connections and the most critical load combination for each connection.
The connection summary page now presents clear and concise details regarding the connection, including newly added information such as Protrusion and Efficient Height. Additional information, such as product heights and rotation angles, is also available for review here.
Connection summary page with additional details.
Reinforcement details for the support can now be efficiently documented using visually enhanced tables. These measurements subsequently provide clear guidance for developing detailed designs within appropriate BIM software.
Support reinforcement page featuring clear, static example illustrations.
A new Bill of quantity page is also available, combining all products from the printed connections into a clear, consolidated table. You can even choose to print only these Bill of quantity pages and send them directly to Peikko for ordering.
Bill of quantity page including the products of all the reported connections.
In summary
To conclude, this release empowers designers with greater flexibility, faster workflows, and clearer documentation by expanding anchor-bolt customization and delivering a fully modernized reporting experience. Here’s a concise overview of the most impactful updates:
- Customizable Straight Non-Headed Anchor Bolts
- Fully customizable PPM®-P, HPM®-P, and new PPM®-S models with editable lengths.
- Edge-failure checks and customizable partial factors added for more refined and complete calculations.
- Customizable Bent Non-Headed Anchor Bolts
- Create fully customizable bent bolts for complex geometries, with rotation and mandrel-size verification.
- Enable shallower supports, reduce concrete usage, and view detailed checks for steel and concrete failure.
- Redesigned PDF Reporting
- Simplified REPORT page, cleaner cover page, and new Reinforcement and Bill of quantity sections.
- Critical load combinations highlighted, with clearer connection overviews and improved tables and illustrations.
With this update, we continue our mission to provide engineers and designers with tools that combine strength, flexibility, and usability. We hope you take the time to explore the new version and see how these improvements can support your daily work.
More features and tutorials are coming soon, and we warmly welcome your thoughts and feedback through the in-app feedback button or through this link.
