Your AIA is correct on the principle, after all it is not their duty to have a practical sense (though that would always help).
Personally I would follow this way of reasoning:
-App.2 calculations are based onto a ring beam model, and the strength of a ring beam is governed by the section modulus of the rectangular section about its neutral axis at mid thickness (
bt2/6,
b=flange ring width,
t=flange thickness)
-App.2 does not require to deduct bolt holes from the section modulus, and the reduction of the modulus is proportional to the ratio of hole diameter to
b (so that it may be not really negligible)
-a radial hole at mid thickness will also reduce the section modulus, this reduction may be easily calculated and will be quite negligible: the section modulus of a rectangular section changes by only 12.5% when the hole has a diameter that's half the depth
t
-hence the reduction in flange strength due to the radial hole is much less than the reduction due to bolt holes, and if bolt holes are acceptable...
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