Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Chapter 3: Connections example for RC-RE

This chapter will take you step by step through the design of steel connections. The structure to be
used in this chapter is only illustrative and is shown below:

It is a small steel building with steel columns, beams and girders.

See the previous examples for more details regarding to the generation and analysis of a structure.
The file of this example is available in the Data\Samples folder of RAM Elements.

1) Retrieve the structure

Select the Open a model command.

1
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Open Connections Example.etz.

2) Assign basic connections to the model

RAM Elements is shipped with ready-to-use connections templates called basic connections. You
will see in the following sections how you can customize them to your work practice. For the
moment we will work with the standard settings.
Remark: The example model comes already with connections.
To erase all connections follow the next procedure:
1.- Select all the structure, using the Select all elements button on the Home tab.

2.- Verify that the Spreadsheet button is pressed in the Home tab and select the Conn
worksheet.

3.- Use the Delete selected connections button in the Active spreadsheet tools group in the
Spreadsheet tab to erase all the connections in the model.

2
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Note. - Previous start assigning the connections, the user should take care to make distinction
between inclined beams and braces in the worksheet to let the program assign the connections
correctly. For that:

Select all the braces of the model, go to Members/ Connectivity and description worksheet and
change No to Yes by making double click on the Brace cell.
Once the user has done this distinction, he is ready to start assigning connections.
To customize the connection design press the Design configuration button in the lower right side in
the Connections group on the Modules tab. The customization includes the configuration of the load
conditions included in the design, design standard, maximum strength ratio limit and structural
integrity.

3
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Select all load conditions and keep a stress ratio limit of 1.0 (default value). The structural integrity
is a design parameter only for the BS 5950-1:2000 design standard.
In order to apply any command you have to use the 'select and apply rule'. So, first, select the whole

structure. Press Select all elements button in the Selection group on the Home tab.
Now you are ready to assign your first connections. As a first try you need to know exactly the
required connection on each joint. A recommended procedure is to design individually each joint and
evaluate the obtained connections.
Select the Design each connection individually option pressing the Assign button.

Then press the Basic Connections button group and select the Basic SP (Single Plate) connection

4
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Steps to assign basic single plate connections to the whole structure.

In few moments the program will suggest an optimum single plate connection for each joint of the
structure that can have a shear connection.

Model with all shear joints with a single plate connection.

The user can display the template name of each connection in the graphic window, which includes
the family. To evaluate the different single plate connections required, select first one instance of the
desired connection family; in this case select a BCW connection. Finally select the option Templates
from the Properties button on the View tab.

5
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Display connection templates

The program includes several options for the selection of the connections. These options are available
in the Connections option of the Elements selection button on the Home tab.

6
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Connection selection options

7
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Single
Plate BCW connections designed individually for each joint.
It is possible review the particularities of each connection selecting this and pressing the Edit button
in the Connections group on the Modules tab.

Note that some connections require 4 bolts while others require only 3 bolts. Let’s suppose that for
construction we decide to adopt the same connection for all BCW connections.

Select all the structure (pressing ), deactivate the option for design each connection individually.

8
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Press again the button to assign single plate connections ( .) You can select the BCW
connections and you will see that all BCW connections are with 3 bolts (as expected). The other
families have also 3 bolts. When you design by group you can obtain the same connection for each
family independently of the related sections and materials of the joints.
It is possible check the status and strength ratio for the current load condition pressing the Status
button. It also possible to check the ratio for the controlling load combination; in order to do that,
select the option For the controlling load combination in the menu of the Status button. Notice that a
different ratio is shown for each connection.

Similarly it is possible to have the stress ratio pressing the Stress ratio button.

Notice that you can select all connections that have an OK or N.G. status pressing one of the
following buttons.
You can print a summary report. Select all the structure and go to the Output tab and select
Design/Connections in the Reports group. Finally choose Group by tag in the Connection design
dialog. With this report you will obtain a summary of all adopted connections with their main
characteristics and the critical strength ratios.

9
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

The report looks like:

Now you can continue with the design of the moment connections.
Press Hinges button in the Model group in the View tab to view all the hinges of the structure (you
have to select previously all members). The moment connections will be designed only for the fixed
joints.

10
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Select all the structure (pressing ), activate the option to design individually each connection and
select the Basic FP Bolted connection. To see the designed connections pick samples
of the FP connections (one for BCW and one for BCF), go to the Home tab and finally activate
Connections/Select all connections of the same type option pressing the Elements selection button .

Flange plate connections individually designed.

In the same way to the shear connections is possible check the status and stress ratio for the moment
connections designed.
Next, you can continue with the design of the brace connections, for that, select all the structure

(pressing ), press the Gusset button and select CBB_DA (Column, Beams and Braces-Double
Angle) connection .
As you can see 6 CBB Connections were assigned.
Now you have finished the connection design. Notice that the task was performed very fast and in a
simple way. What you need to know now, is how to configure your connections design. This will be
shown in the next sections.
If you want to review in detail a connection or several connections of the same type and members,
select it and press the Edit button in the Connections group on the Modules tab.

11
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

For example select the SP BCF connections of the first floor (perimeter columns) and go to the
detailing of connections.

Review all the data for the selected connections in the connection pad. You can print the data or the

results reports by pressing or respectively.

You can edit any parameter of the connections. This is very useful when the design was not
successful in order to achieve an adequate connection. Notice, however, that any manual change will
be lost if the connections are redesigned or reassigned.
Now it is time to save your structure with all your connections. Press the RE Button and choose

Save or use the quick access toolbar.

What if the loads, geometry or any design condition change? No problem, you can redesign all or part
of your connections very fast. For example, select your FP BCW connections (tip: use the option
Select connections of the same type from the Home/Selection/Elements selection/Connections).
Change the connection configuration with a stress ratio limit of 0.80 and check the status and ratio for
the selected connections.

12
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

To upload the design of the connections, press the Redesign button in the Connections group in the
Modules tab. Note that the strength ratio for the critical load is now under the new limit and that some
connections have been modified to comply with the new limit.

3) Create a connection template

Although RAM Elements has by default several templates in the database, the user may want to
define new templates with all the specific characteristics required by the user practice.
It is always suggested to back up your connections database (file Connections.ini in the DB
folder of main directory) before generating or changing your templates.
To access to the connections database go to the main window and press the Connections button in the
Databases group on the Home tab.

A dialog window showing the available connections grouped in folders will appear:

13
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Create a new group with the button. Enter a name for the new group of connections. For the
example you can adopt the "MyShearConnections" group.

Then, add a new table with the button.

14
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Enter the name, family, type, design code and press OK. In this case enter the options shown in the
figure.

With the former table selected, press the button to create a new connection.
Notice that the name of the template is used to identify the connection and has to be unique in the
whole database (including all folders). Thus you have to assign a name that describes the geometry
and main characteristics of the connection.
The following window will be displayed:

15
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

You can review/change all the parameters of the template connection.

The following data are required: Loads, Tag name, Main Data and the specific data required in Shear
and/or Moment connections. For the units choose the English system.
For the case of the loads, notice that they are preceded with the icon, which means that these data
will be transferred automatically to the connection from the main program. Therefore you can leave
this field with no entries.
Now you can enter the specific parameters for the connection. Note that the beam, support sections
and materials are also transferred from the main program and they are not required to be defined. The
default values shown are used only for the 3D drawing.
Notice also that you have to enter only the parameters that are different from the desired values and
are constant for all connections to be generated with the template.

For this case accept all the default values, pressing the Close button.
Common tools are available for the manipulation of the drawing area in the status bar. Also specific
tools are available in the 3D Options and DXF Options to manipulate the drawing area in the
Extruded View and DXF View respectively.
Right click in the drawing area allow manipulating the views and perspective for the extruded view.

16
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

The help context ( ) is also available to give technical information related to the current parameter
to be edited (where the cursor is located).

4) Edit the templates to be used

If you want to enter a similar connection of the existing ones, you can use the Copy item button. For

example, place the cursor at the connection SP_1/4_BCF_2_3/4 and press the button as shown
below:

The new item will be copied with the name “SP_1/4_BCF_2_3/4 – Copy(1)”. Introduce the new
name of the connection accessing the connection pad with the button. For this example use
SP_1/4_BCF_3_3/4.

17
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Edit the new connection. In this example change the number of bolts from 2 to 3 and press the OK
button. Note that the connection is displayed with 3 bolts and that the length has automatically
changed to fit the bolts.

Change the number of bolts from to 2 to 3 for the new template. Enter the desired name for the
template.

5) Create a connection database

If you want to create several connections, the procedure outlined in steps 1 and 2 might be very
lengthy and time consuming. A very fast procedure can be adopted in order to change/create a set of
connections.
First, you have to create a connection prototype as performed in steps 2 and 3.
Lets generate a whole set of Single Plate connections of the database.

18
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Select the former generated folder. Press the button “Copy items to clipboard”. Open Excel and
paste it in a worksheet
The spreadsheet will look similar to the following figure:

Note that each column of the spreadsheet contains the different values of a specific parameter of the
connection. You can use the different tools available on Excel to copy or change the values. In this
example copy the data line (row 4) 4 times. The following columns will be edited in the following
way:

19
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

The name and the number of bolt rows (Nrow) are changed.
The user can keep or even erase the rest of the columns. In the latter case the connection will take the
default values.
Once the data is defined, the user may proceed with the generation.
Then select ALL the information and copy the data to the clipboard (Ctrl+C)

Press the Copy items from clipboard button to paste the connections into the database.
The program will ask if the existing connections are going to be replaced. Answer yes and then a
message with the number of generated connections (6) will be displayed.
The following connections will be generated:

20
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

As you can see, this way of generating the connections is fast and allows creating the complete set of
templates that a design office may need with the required custom values.

6) Configure the toolbar

Normally, a reduced list of connections of the same type may be required for a specific project. This
list may be defined in an assignment button in the following way:
Go to Connections group on the Modules tab, then press the Assign button and select the Customize
the tool bar option.

The following window will appear:

21
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

There are groups of connections that are predefined by the program and cannot be edited but it is
possible to define a new user’s group. For this purpose, select the “USER” group in the “Toolbar”
combo box.

Press to define a new group. Enter the name of the group (My group).

Dialog window to define a new group of buttons in the toolbar.

Press to define a new assigning button.

Dialog window to define the name of the new button.

22
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Steps to assign the group of SP templates to the new button.

Select the desired template or group of templates and press the button. Repeat the process until
you have assigned all the connections of the list. Note that the order in the list is very important
because it will define the priority in the selection of the template. To change the order in the list you

can use the and buttons.

You can assign an adequate bitmap to your button. Press and select the bitmap for the single
plates.
Remark: You can create your own bitmaps with any drawing tool like PaintTM.

23
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Dialog window for selecting the bitmap for the new assigning button.
Now you have a new button ready to be used in the connection design with your single plate
connections. You can try it in the model following a similar procedure was performed with the basic
connections.

7) Assign smart connections to the model

The program comes with another group of templates besides the basic connections. They are the
‘Smart’ connections, where the program determines all the main design parameters as the connector
size, number of bolts, size of welds, etc. based on the connection forces. This allows having one
smart connection template per family and connection type. These self-optimizing templates are
included in the Smart Connections group.
Remark: If you have previously created connections from the basic group, erase all connections with
the same procedure described previously.

First, select the whole structure. Press .

Select the Design each connection individually option from the Assign button.

24
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Then press the Smart Connections button group and select the Smart SP (Single Plate)
connection.

As you may notice the different Single Plate connections have been assigned to the model. To view

the main designed parameters, press the Edit button in the Connections group on the Modules
tab. If you review the results of the design you can see that they are similar to the results obtained
with the basic connections in the first part of the example. Notice however that the result for a design
by group will not be the same because the program will design an optimum connection for each
subgroup (same family and member sections).

8) Assign base plate connections to the model

The program allows the creation of column – base plate connections using predefined templates. The
base plate templates are defines as 'Smart', as they allow the program to determine the main design
parameters as the base plate dimensions, weld sizes, anchor embedment length and diameter based on
the acting forces.
In order to assign a base plate connection, select the Design each connection individually option
pressing the Assign button.

Select all the support joints at the model base:

25
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Next, from the available template list, select from the Base Plate Connection group the template as it
is show in the next figure.

Choose Smart Fixed Uniaxial Base Plate as the template for the connections.
If there are braces connected to the joint then choose the Smart Gusset Base Plate template.

Choose Smart Gusset Base Plate as the template for the base plate with braces connection.

Press the Edit button in the Connections group on the Modules tab to check the main design
parameters from the selected connections. In this window select the Analysis tab to review the results
of the base plate analysis.

26
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

Choose the Concrete stresses option to display the bearing stresses at the concrete support.
This Analysis tab has the following options:

Concrete stress : Display the bearing stresses at the concrete support for the Condition and Axis
selected.

Anchor tension : Display the tension at the anchors for the Condition and Axis selected.

Print graphic : Opens a dialog to print the stress graphic

Print to file: Opens a dialog to print to a file the stress graphic.

For a detailed connection report, select the Extruded view tab and choose the Results option.
The report shows all the verifications performed for the connection.

27
Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

The report of the Base plate connection include detailed information of the analysis and design of the
base plat

28
 Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA

The critical groups of anchors considered in the design are reported at the end of the report for the
design axis.
Remark: The anchors are designed for the code ACI 318-08 and due method compatibility only are
available when the design method selected is AISC 360-05 LRFD.

29