Abstract

In this article, you will find what type of connections can be checked according to Eurocode 3 within the Advance Design Steel Connection module

Keywords: #steeldesign #connections #advancedesign

Joint categories

The Advance Design Steel Connection module has evolved over the years, the User interface has changed, and a wide variety of steel joints can be calculated according to the EC3 norm, in a fast way, efficiently covering many of the situations that can occur in the steel joint calculation.

Part of Advance Design, the Steel Connection module ensures the configuration of a seamless solution, with the ability to manage and calculate bolted and welded joints, and with fully detailed design reports that include the calculation formulas and reference to the design code.

The joint library from Advance Design Steel Calculations is categorized according to the connection type, therefore 9 categories are available.

The Steel Connection module comes with predefined configurations for all categories, configurations that can help the user achieve faster the desired configuration.

1. Base Plate

The Base Plate joint is created by welding a steel plate to the bottom end of the column that is connected to the foundations through anchors. The joint can include several reinforcement plates, shim plates, or shear anchors.

The joint has predefined configurations that are categorized as:

• Reduce base plate
• Pinned base plate
• Fixed base plate

2. Tubular Base Plate

 The Tubular Base Plate is created for cases when the column has a hollow section, rectangular or circular. The particularity of this connection is that the verifications are done in two directions, therefore the joint can be categorized as a 3D connection.

For this joint, 3 predefined configurations are available:

3. Moment End Plate

Moment End Plate joint of Advance Design – Steel Connection module is used to connect a beam to a column flange. Additional elements are available to customize this connection (i.e. haunches, plates, stiffeners, welds). 

4. Apex Haunch

Apex Haunch joint of Advance Design – Steel Connection is used for roof beams. It consists of two beams spliced with bolted end plates, on which haunches or plates can be attached at the top/and the bottom. The haunches are created from profiles or plates.

The connection has 2 predefined configurations: with or without external bolts, but the many other possibilities are achievable.

5. Clip Angle

Clip Angle connections are used for connecting a floor beam to another beam, or a column to a beam. The attached beam can be sloped to the main one. The angles are bolted or welded to the main beam.

The connection of the module has 5 predefined configurations which can be changed accordingly to the project needs. Besides those, models can be started from the default configuration and modified.

6. Gusset

Gusset connection of Advance Design – Steel Connection module connects bracing members using gusset plates. The number of bracing members that can be enabled can vary from one to three. For the calculation, the Advance Design – Steel Connection module implements Eurocode 3 international design standards, for all the connection components verification and parts of the connected elements.

7. Splice

Splice connection of Advance Design – Steel Connection module is often used to assure continuity for structural members (beams or columns) along their length. The splice plates can be bolted or welded to the main members. On web connections, U-shaped profiles can be used instead of splice plates.

8. Gable Wall

Gable Wall End Plate connection is used to connect a continuous beam to the top of the column. Similar to the Moment End Plate joint, additional elements are available to customize this connection (i.e. haunches, plates, stiffeners, welds). Like all the other connections, the Gable wall has some predefined configurations which can be changed according to the needs, or the default configuration can be initialized and changed as needed.

9. HSS Bracing

HSS Bracing connection of Advance Design – Steel Connection module connects bracing members with hollow sections, circular or square. The number of bracing members can vary from one to three.

As a connection from the module, it comes with 6 predefined configurations to help the user achieve faster the needed configuration.