Web plates are used in most cases to join two mediums together. Usually, one of the two mediums is vertical and the other is horizontal. Essentially, this means that web plates are just plates used to join two different materials to each other in a perpendicular fashion.
Within mechanical and construction applications, there are literally hundreds of different methods used to connect two materials to each other, either through fusion, such as welding, or through fastening. Regardless of whether the application is construction or mechanical related, one of the most popular connecting methods is the web plate. The web plate is also referred to in some applications as a t-connector because of the shape the pre-drilled holes are available in.
The shape of the web plate is also where the connection method gets its name because when the plate is applied, especially in construction applications, it resembles a spider’s web. The angled sides of the plate generally also protrude into the open corner of the connected materials. On the other hand, the shape of the holes provided for the application of fasteners to the materials is where it gets its nickname, the t-connector. The nickname comes because the fasteners run straight up the center of the plate and then straight across the top flat edge of the connection device.
Web plates are often triangular in shape with each corner of the triangle rounded off. They are most commonly made out of steel. This strong material is chosen so that the structural integrity of the connection is maintained.
The use of hardened steel for the fabrication of the web plates is imperative because of the number of applications the plates may be used in. Since the web plate is considered a structural tie, it must be able to withstand strength tests and be rated for strength before it can be applied in any application, regardless of how small the project may seem. Some plates are fabricated out of hard plastic and used to secure the connection and stability in the framework of plastic shelving units. In industrial, mechanical, or construction applications, though, the web plate must almost always be fabricated or machined out of hardened steel or alloy product.
In order to know which web plate to use, the size of the materials must be taken into consideration. The material must be large enough to allow for the application of the web plate at the junction. The web plate must also be large enough to provide sound structural support to the materials being joined.