Steel Connections

Program to calculate steel structures connections

according to EC3 and DIN18800

Theoretic Analysis Overview

The program Steel Connections calculates and designs connections in
steel frames. The analysis and the dimensioning is based upon either
EC3 or DIN 18800.
The theoretic basis of the program covers the following types of joints:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Nominally pinned joints

Rigid joints
Semi-Rigid joints
Full strength joints
Partial strength joints

The program classifies the beam to column joints by their stiffness in:
1. rigid
2. semi rigid and
3. nominally pinned joints.
Steel Connections

Analysis Techniques
Type of joint model
Simple

Continuous

Method of global analysis

All

Elastic

Classification criterion

Used connections

Stiffness

Nominally pinned

Strength

Nominally pinned

Stiffness

Rigid
Nominally pinned

Rigid Plastic

Strength

Full strength
Nominally pinned

Elastic - Plastic

Stiffness

Rigid
Nominally pinned

Strength

Full strength
Nominally pinned

Semi continuous

Elastic

Stiffness

Semi Rigid
Rigid
Nominally pinned

Rigid Plastic

Strength

Partial strength
Full strength
Nominally pinned

Elastic Plastic

Stiffness

Semi Rigid
Rigid
Nominally pinned

Strength

Partial strength
Full strength

Steel Connections

Nominally pinned

Connection Classification

By Stiffness
1. Rigid
2. Semi-rigid
3. Nominally pinned

By Strength
1. Full-Strength
2. Partial-Strength
3. Nominally pinned

Steel Connections

Rotational Stiffness (Sj)

The rotational stiffness of the joint is being determined from the flexibilities
of its basic components each represented by its elastic stiffness coefficient ki.

Ki is the stiffness coefficient for basic joint component i

k eff ,r

1
1
i k
i ,r

keq

keff ,r hr
r

zeq

and

Sj

Ez 2
1

i ki

The results related with rotational stiffness and all the ki coefficients (where
ever needed) appear in the output forms of the program.
Steel Connections

Classification by Stiffness
M

Boundary 1

Zone 1: Rigid

A beam-to-column joint may be

classified as rigid, nominally
pinned or semi-rigid according to
its stiffness, by determining its
initial rotational stiffness Sj,ini

M- Diagram

Zone 2: Semi -rigid

Boundary 2
Zone 3: Nominally pinned

Steel Connections

Classification by Strength

A beam-to-column joint may be classified as full-strength, nominally

pinned or partial strength by comparing its moment resistance with
the moment resistances of the members that it joins.

Full Strength:

Mj,Rd> Mpl,Rd,b

Partial Strength:
Nominally Pinned:

Mj,Rd< Mpl,Rd,b

Mj,Rd < 0.25 Mpl,Rd,b

Steel connection computes Mpl,Rd of beam, and informs the user for the
connection classification according to strength.
Steel Connections

Connection Resistance - Basic Components (1)

The strength of the connection is being calculated using the
strength of the connections components which are named Basic
Components.
For the beam to column moment connection
Strength of welded joints

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

The strength of the

components":
The strength of the
The strength of the
The strength of the
The strength of the
The strength of the
The strength of the
The lever arm (z)
The strength of the

connection is being calculated using the following "basic

column web panel in shear
(Vwp,Rd)
Vwp , Rd
column web in compression
(Fc,wc,Rd)
column web in tension
(Ft,wc,Rd)
column flange in bending
(Ft,fc,Rd)
beam flange and web in compression (Fc,fb,Rd)
beam web in tension
(Ft,wb,Rd)
welds.

Strength of bolted connections

Ft , wb , Rd

0.9 f y , wc AVC
3 * MO

beff ,t , wb * t wb * f y , wb

M0

The strength of the connection is being calculated using the previous plus the
following "basic components":
1. The strength of the end plate in bending
(Ft,ep,Rd)
2. The strength of the bolts in tension, in shear and in bearing
3. The lever arm (z).
Steel Connections

Connection Resistance - Basic Components (3)

For the Beam to Column connection with angle cleats
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Bolt's resistance in Shear

Cleat's resistance in Bearing
Strength of Cleat in Shear
Strength of Cleat in Rupture
Strength of Beam in Shear
Strength of Beam in Moment
Column's Web in Bearing

For the Foundation Connection

1. Anchor's Resistance in Tension
2. Anchors Resistance in Shear
3. Resist. of Footing Pl. in Bearing
4. Concrete Resistance in Compression
5. Column's Resistance in Compression
6. Footing Plate Resistance in Tension
7. Resistance of The Welds

Steel Connections

Connection Resistance - Basic Components (4)

For the Beam Splice Connection
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Bolt's Resistance in Shear

Bolt's Resistance in Bearing
Strength of Bolts in Shear
Strength of flange Plate in Tension
Strength of web Plate in Shear
Welds Resistance of Flange Plate
Strength of plate in rupture
Strength of beam in rupture

For the Tube Splice Connection

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Effective Length per Bolt

Resistance in Compression
Resistance in Tension
Resist. of Compressioned Bolt in Shear
Resist. of Tensioned Bolt in Shear
Resistance of Bolt in Bearing
Welds Stresses

Steel Connections

Connection Resistance - Basic Components (5)

For the Truss joint connection with Plate
1. Bolt's resistance in Shear
2. Member's Resistance in Bearing
3. Member's Resistance in Rupture
4. Member's Resistance in Axial
5. Plate's Resistance in Bearing
6. Plate's Resistance in Moment
7. Plate's Resistance in Axial
8. Plate's Resistance in Shear
9. Weld's Resistance in Moment
10.Weld's Resistance in Axial
11.Weld's Resistance in Shear

For the K or N type joint

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Resistance
Resistance
Resistance
Resistance
Resistance
Resistance

Steel Connections

in
in
of
in
in
of

Chord Face Failure

Brace Failure
Chord in Shear
Punching Shear
Chord's Web Stability
Chord in Shear NoRd

Equivalent T-stub Bolted joints

In bolted joints the flange of an equivalent T-stub may be used to model
the resistance of the following basic components:
1. column flange in bending
2. end-plate in bending
3. flange cleat in bending

Steel Connections

Failure modes of actual components

and equivalent T-stub flanges

The Actual component the

Equivalent T-stub the Force
diagram and the Moment
diagram are presented for
three different failure modes.

Steel Connections

Note:
It is important to state that this program cannot be used to
check the strength of the members of a steel frame.
The program only checks the members components very near
to the connection and it assumes that a members check is
already been done.

Steel Connections

The Program

Steel Connections

Main Menu
Command Menu

Main window

Warning Messages
Steel Connections

Current state messages

Support programs

Steel Connections

Ser Manager
Section
Database

Manipulate all programs section properties

(change values or add-create user defined sections)

Graphic sections
representation

Required Data

Steel Connections

Sections
list

DXF output
Simple step generation of dxf files
for every connection.

Scales database

The program can be used undependably from Steel Connections

Steel Connections

Pre-solved connections library (DIN 18800)

Is a very useful feature for searching for a connection that satisfies
specific criteria

Multiple search
criteria

Results presentation
Graphic connection
representation
Steel Connections

Reading Nodes from a SOFiSTiK Database

Select analysis nodes, from a SOFiSTiK
database, to import in Steel Connections.
The selected nodes will be regarded as
connections in the program.
The selection is made graphically.

Steel Connections

Translate Nodes to Connections

The Program tries to

automatically define the
members that take part in the
connection for each node
selected.

If the user wishes to manually change or declare the members that

take part in the connection he must simply right click on the desired
member and select it from the popup menu.
Steel Connections

Reading Loads from a SOFiSTiK Database

Import loads from SOFiSTiK database

Steel Connections

Optimization

(Automatic optimum calculation for the

Beam to column moment connection)

Compute maximum
or optional strength

Input loads from

SOFiSTiK databases

Results representation.
Both list and graphical

Manipulation of possible
allowed reinforcements

Design restrictions regarding bolts

(number of rows, type or quality)
Steel Connections

Connection selection

Graphic view

Button selection and details

Steel Connections

Analysis

Steel Connections

Supported Connection Types

Beam to column bolted connection.

Flush or extended end plate configuration

Beam to beam connection

by angle cleats

Apex connection by flush

or extended end plate
Steel Connections

Beam splice
connection

Tube splice
connection

Beam to column
Beam to column connection
welded connection
with angle cleats

Truss joint with

plate

K or N type joints

Foundation connection
with or without shear elements

Data Input

Interactive
Preview Window
Simplified Input Data forms

Graphic representation
of all geometric data
Steel Connections

Bolts calculations

Independent
data manipulation

Fully user customized

bolt distances

Automatic bolt
layout generation
Steel Connections

Graphic Results Layout

Representation of most common used results,

according to connections elements checks

Ability to handle multiple analysis results,

at the same time, for comparison

Steel Connections

Graphic representations
where ever needed

Connection Classification
According to Stiffness

Zone 1 Boundary
Design Moment-Rotation
Characteristic

Zone 3 Boundary

M- diagram

Initial rotational stiffness of the joint

Steel Connections

Full Results Printout

Ability to produce fully

customizable result files.
The files can be stored
for use in later time, or
either modified with a
simple text editor.
The user have access to all the programs strength results.
According to the design code used for the analysis (EC3 or DIN18800)
the connections "basic components strength is presented as well as all
the calculations needed by the design code.
Steel Connections

Example

(Beam to column moment connection)

Dimensioning of the basic components that form the

connections on top left corner of the structure.
The structure was already solved by SOFiSTiK programs.
There is no restriction regarding the analysis type (eg:
elastic, elastoplastic, serviceability, ultimate strength)

Steel Connections

1. Select connection type

2. Add nodes from SOFiSTiK database

Steel Connections

3. Check selected nodes

Steel Connections

4. Add SOFiSTiK loadcases

Presentation of nodes/loadcases

Every kind of loads can be applied to Steel Connections.

There is no restriction regarding analysis type (e.g.
serviceability, ultimate strength, elastic, elastoplastic)
Steel Connections

5. Bolt layout

Steel Connections

6. Results overview

dbl click for more info

Errors regarding strength of basic

component's strength.
The designed connection is not sufficient.

Steel Connections

7. Results evaluation
for every node-loadcase

Steel Connections

8. Automatic correction of connection - Optimization

Steel Connections

9. Optimization results overview

1.
2.

Steel Connections

Optimization results
Transfer selected result to
Steel Connections for
further processing

10. Optimized connections results overview

No error ratios.
Optimum design > Ratios close to 1

Steel Connections