Question $1$:$[7$ Marks$]$

For the shown UKPFC $30010046,$ determine the critical effective area. Knowing that the bolts diameters are $18mm$ and the steel used is $$355$ and the spacing $S=3\mathrm{.}5cm,G=13cm$ and $G_1=50cm.$ Also what will happen if $S$ became less than $3\mathrm{.}5cm?$