Applying connections

In this chapter we learn the application of a connection from the library.

The connections from the library were subdivided in groups so that choosing the correct connection from the large offer can be chosen rapidly. There are also some filter capabilities to reduce the number of connections to choose from.

The division in groups ensures the first disposal of irrelevant connections. Some examples of groups are Haunch connections, apex connections, end plates, base plates, gusset plates, etc…

Each group has its own icon. After you click on the icon you will be asked to select the base profiles. A logical and intentional consequence is therefore that all connections of the same group must have the same amount of base profiles.

The order in which you select the profiles is important! For a haunch connection you are asked to first select the column and then the beam. If you select in the wrong order, the orientation of the resulting connection will be wrong.

The base profiles that you select are checked with the purpose of knowing which connections are applicable and which not. This is a filter that happens automatically for you. The connections that do not apply to the chosen profiles will not be visible.

Extra information:

This automatic filter compares the profiles that you have selected against the base profiles of each macro. If the section type differs from the base profiles (U <-> Tube), the macro cannot be applied (for each type of section there exists a separate connection).

Also the orientation of the base profiles plays a role.

For example a haunch connection with reinforcement: For the traditional application it is expected that the beam is oriented with the flange horizontal so that the reinforcement can be welded against the flange. In the event that the beam that was selected doesn’t have this orientation, then you are not able to use this haunch connection.

After the selection of the base profiles a dialog box appears in which you must select a connection (one of the images).

On top of the dialog box there is a table with which you can filter the offered connections.

With this you can reduce the number of available connections by clicking the properties you need.

The properties have been split up by module. One row represents a module. The first field in a row is the name of the module itself. All the following properties are the properties of that module.

Some typical examples of properties:

Module: Bolts   Properties: One row of bolts, several rows

Module: Reinforcement   Properties: Reinforcement plates, Reinforcement profile

Module: Column endplate   Properties: Inclined placement, Horizontal placement

If you want to see only the haunch connections that have inclining column endplates, then activate the check box for the property Inclined placement. The connections that do not have this property will disappear from the list.

You can activate as many properties as you wish.

After you have chosen a connection and clicked on OK the connection is drawn and a dialog box will be opened that allows you to adapt the dimensions of the connection. The next chapter discusses this dialog box.

You are free to remove a part of the connection (components such as plates, profiles or bolts). The macro will never redraw the elements that you have removed: they are permanently gone. All other elements of the macro will possibly continue to work normally after this, depending on the situation:

For example you can remove the stiffeners of an apex connection without any impact for the end plates or the reinforcement.

But if you would remove an end plate, then this has consequences on other components in the connection. As it happens, the reinforcement and the cut of the beam are based on the end plate of the beam.

The consequence would be that these components can only be adapted partially or can no longer be adapted at all. This can cause undesirable results.

You are free to remove just the macro sphere. The components of that macro will stay intact, but they will no longer be automatically adapted because the macro sphere takes care of that. Also the dimensions of the connection can no longer be adapted. The connection’s elements become loose elements as if they were drawn manually.