Hello Bill,
The code checking engine was updated to work according to AISC 14.1 norms. I looked in the steel connection specification and there is a condition that says that the distance between the weld and the first bolt row must be equal or smaller then 3 1/2". The verification that fails when you increase the length of the shear plate, in your case. You can't bypass this verification; there is no way in which you can specify that this is an extended shear plate connection and the distance value should be greater (in this case).
As I mentioned earlier, the code checking module was updated to AISC 14.1. Also the code checking module verifies a connections geometry based on some formulas and not finite element analysis. If you are sure that the shear plate can be longer, and will not bend or buckle under the stress, or from the article that you attached, then you can have all the verification in the code check report pass except this one.
Regards,
Mihai Sandu
Sr. QA Analyst
