For the purposes of this guidelines document the different types of joints have been divided into the following five main categories;
- a. Concentric Axially Loaded Joints,
- b. Eccentric Axially Loaded Joint,
- c. Shear Loaded Joints,
- d. Combined Loaded Joints, and
- e. Low Duty Joints.
These are defined by the geometry and system of loading. Due to the different verification procedures “Shear Loaded Joints” and the “Combined Loaded Joints” are further subdivided in to;
- • Bearing Joints, and
- • Friction Grip Joints.
The categorisation of joints in this manner is reflected in the structure and format of the document. Within each of the main categories, sub-categories can be identified depending on specific geometrical or loading attributes. Details of the main categories together with examples of typical sub-categories are given in this section. It is intended that this indicates the range of joint types covered in the guideline and operates as an index to direct the user to the relevant parts of the document.