Did you know that you could use Consteel to calculate rotational stiffness for bolted column/beam moment bearing connections?
Download the example model and try it!
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Try Consteel for freeBolted connection
Bolted connection
Welded connection
Did you know that you could use Consteel to consider connection stiffness for global analysis?
Download the example model and try it!
Download modelIf you haven’t tried Consteel yet, request a trial for free!
Try Consteel for freeAssumed rigid connection without considering connection’s actual rigidity
Considering connection’s actual rigidity 52% increase of deflection!
Considering connection’s actual rigidity 33% increase of deflection!
Consteel 14 is a powerful analysis and design software for structural engineers. Watch our video how to get started with Consteel.
Contents
- Build joint model based on the global model
- Bolted moment end-plate connection design
- Base plate connection design
- Apply connection stiffness in analysis
Read our tips and tricks about Choosing the orientation of a symmetric joint for more information.
Version: CS14.1000
Click the button below to download the model.
gateIntroduction
The effects of the behaviour of the joints on the distribution of internal forces and moments within a structure, and on the overall deformations of the structure, should generally be taken into account, but where these effects are sufficiently small they may be neglected.
Classification
In the case of elastic analysis, joints should be classified according to their rotational stiffness. The joints should have sufficient strength to transmit the forces and moments acting at the joints resulting from the analysis. A joint may be classified as rigid, pinned or semi-rigid, according to its rotational stiffness, by comparing its initial rotational stiffness Sj,ini with the classification boundaries given in EN1993-1-8 5.2.2.5. In the case of a semi-rigid joint, the rotational stiffness Sj corresponding to the bending moment MEd should generally be used in the analysis.
Calculation of joint stiffness
Consteel Joint calculates the Sj,ini initial stiffness of the joint, the Sj,sec secant stiffness for the actual loading and determines the classes of stiffness and strength (last one for plastic analysis).
Sj,sec is equal to Sj,ini when MEd does not exceed 2/3*MjRd (EC3-1-8 5.1.2. (3) ), otherwise it is calculated.
Automatic consideration of connection stiffness
gateIntroduction
Joint orientaion can be chosen by the graphical display of the Place joint on the model function.
How it works
If there is only one option how to place a joint e.g. a single beam connected to a column, the orientation of the joint on the graphical display has no effect on the orientation of the placed joint.
IF:
- There is more than one option on the placement and
- The geometry of the connected members are completely the same
the orientation of the joint on the graphical display will determine the orientaion of the placed joint.
Please see below an example for two different orientations of the same joint. In the first row of pictures the joint is placed in a way that the longer connection plate with the bolts outside the beam flanges is on the right side (‘Right flange’ on the picture). You can see in Consteel Joint that the higher (152 kNm) moment acts on the right side.
In the second row, the same joint is placed with opposite orientation – the long connection plate on the left side. It is visible that the 152 kNm is now on the other side (the one with the shorter plate and bolts inside the flanges).
gateIntroduction
When you create a new joint either manually or by model, certain parameters are set to a default value e.g. weld sizes, method of weld design, bolt material and diameters, stiffener plate properties etc…
When you’re working on a large model, or simply want to design more joints in Consteel Joint, setting these default parameters one by one (e.g. if you have a specified palette of bolts or plate material) at each joints would take a lot of time. In this case, creating a new, user defined default setting can be very helpful, and can save you time.
How it works
The default joint settings can be modified at the Default joint settings dialog. It can be opened either when creating a new joint (manually or by model) or from Joints dialog.
