One of the most complex and time-consuming phases of the steel structures design is the steel connections calculation. This long and complex process requires precision and efficiency and can become a source of errors with unwanted consequences.
Advance Design Steel Connections (ADSC) is an easy to use and accurate module that offers multiple advantages when it comes to connection design and verification.
Available connection types
The most frequently used connections are available in ADSC. For each connection type, you have a set of advanced options that allow you to modify and customize the corresponding connection. For the calculation of connections and loads combinations, ADSC uses standard methods in accordance with the latest versions of international standards: Eurocode 0 EN1990 – 2003 and Eurocode 3 EN 1993-1-8 – 2005).
Fast connection design
ADSC provides the option to create connections with all the corresponding components and features with a single operation. Starting from these templates, the user can completely customize the connection.
Detailed properties definition
Each connection has a complete set of properties that can be easily defined. For a better understanding, each parameter is illustrated by a small picture in the dialog box. The changes made in the properties dialog box are automatically applied. You can view the modifications in real time, in the graphical area.
Advanced visualization options
For an efficient handling of your model, ADSC offers zoom and view commands that are intuitive and easy to access, pan and orbit functions, various rendering modes, including realistic representations, etc.
Complete calculation reports according to Eurocodes 3
You can obtain complete or synthetic calculation reports for each combination as .rtf or .html files. The reports can be customized to suit your preferences. You can select the information to list in the report along with the verification status:
- The combination from which the highest stress is obtained, for each verified component.
- The theoretical formula.
- The formula for failed verifications only.
- The work ratio for each verification.
Advance Design Steel Connections is part of the Graitec Advance Suite
As part of the GRAITEC Advance Suite, ADSC can be either used as a standalone application or linked with Advance Design.
In standalone mode, ADSC will allow you to easily define the connection (geometry, connected elements, loads, etc.) and design it in a few clicks. Then, you can generate automatically a detailed calculation report and the corresponding drawing.
It is also possible to use this model with Advance Design after a finite element analysis. In this case, Advance Design calculates all the envelopes internal forces for the connection design. Just click in the contextual menu of the connection to export it to ADSC.
Civil Engineering Software Solutions 
Hello which is the difference from this and the Advance Steel module?
Advance Steel is a BIM software solution for structural steel engineering, detailing and fabrication, while Advance Design Steel Connections is a tool or a module.
The design calculation engine is the same for both.
Advance Design Steel Connections (ADSC) can be used in 2 ways: standalone or with one of the Graitec Advance software products.
For example, a user that has Advance Design installed, but does not have Advance Steel, is able, with the help of ADSC, to design steel connections in Advance Design. If ADSC is opened from Advance Design (using the “Export to ADSC” command), it will receive the joint efforts form Advance Design, and will send the resulted joint parameters back to Advance Design, if the user chooses this option.
If ADSC is used as a standalone, the user must define the supported elements, the joint type, and the joint efforts necessary for calculations.
The calculation reports generated using ADSC contain descriptive images of the joint (not precision execution details), due to the fact that the software’s purpose is resistance calculations.
The calculation reports, generated using the Advance Steel module, contain only the verifications, the detailed design drawings being handled by the Advance Steel.