Clamps and saddles – Part 1: Refined design approaches

Abstract

The article presents the current status of the revision of EN 1993‐1‐11 with regard to the design of saddles and clamps for ropes or for parallel wire tension components for suspended structures. The focus here is on presenting a general approach for clamps. For saddles, emphasis is on types where the slip resistance is – in addition to the component from deviation forces – increased by clamping forces, although general aspects are also covered. The starting point is a (retrospective) look at the provisions in national standards and guidelines as well as in the current version of EN 1993‐1‐11 (2006). Subsequently, the new provisions are presented, and the different new coefficients are explained in detail.

Clamps and saddles – Part 2: Remarks on detailing and testing

“…These stresses must be limited, otherwise a negative influence on the breaking force of the tension element cannot be ruled out. Depending on the group (B or D) and the component (clamp or saddle), there are different requirements, some on geometry (see [1], Section 4.2) and some on limitation of transverse pressure (see [1], Section 4.3). If these requirements are met, bending and transverse pressure can be neglected in the calculation of the resistance of the tension element.…”

“…The presentation of these requirements is limited to prEN 1993-1-11 : 2022 [2]. The provisions of the national standards and guidelines for the detailing of clamps and saddles reviewed in [1], Section 2, are mostly identical and did not change over time.…”

“…2) or, in case of ropes on cushioned grooves (see Tab. 1 for definition), r 1 � 20d applies in view of the minimisation of the transverse The requirements correspond to those in other design provisions reviewed in [1], Section 2, including [3]. Only in one provision there are additional requirements for saddles: Since N400 : 2015 [4], the additional requirement v cl = 1.04 (see Fig.…”

“…This also applies -albeit to a limited extent -to the provisions on the limitation of transverse pressure and on testing. In addition to part 1 [1] of the article, which dealt with the design of clamps and saddles, this part deals with the latter topics.…”

Revision of the standard EN 1993‐1‐11 and background information

“…A new formula is also introduced for the case of saddles with clamps that produce an additional clamping force. Details about this formula can be found in [10].…”