Hi Steven,
The summary file gives fastener tensions from the baseline analysis (original preload), the 'Base Analysis to scale Fastener Preloads'
then it gives the fastener tensions 'Analysis with scaled Fastener Preloads and External loads'
and if the external loads are zero, the resulting fastener preloads should be the actual desired.
What the log files don't tell me is what I need to manually amend each fastener tension to in the fastener definition dialogue in order to avoid further base analyses.
What I was looking for may be there but I can't find it, 'reuse preloads from analysis XX' or 'auto update input preloads for future analyses' or a config option or analysis definition output tab check box ,,, an ascii list of required/actual input preloads in the .stt file (where I can now get my fastener shear force components), would be a good cross check but would still require a manual update of each fastener.
I know updating the required input preload is a trivial exercise but it introduces potential for error even when cutting an pasting. The alternative is that one extra load case would mean one more base analysis where it is almost certainly quicker to perform the hand calc and manually update the input tensions and only run the analysis with external loads ignoring 'account for stiffness' for all further work.
atb
Charles