Connection Check Tables
When the command in the RAM Steel Beam Design module is invoked, the maximum reaction at each end of each gravity steel beam (except those with cantilevers) is compared with the capacity for that beam size of the typical connection as defined by the user in a Connection Check Table. If the reaction exceeds the allowable reaction listed in the Connection Check Table, the beam, its reaction and its connection capacity is listed on the report.
Since there is no "standard" typical connection detail, no tables are supplied with the program. If the command is to be used, Connection Check Tables must be created by the user, based on the capacity of the connections used on the project. Any number of tables may be created corresponding to different types of connections. When the command is invoked the user may then select the connection table appropriate for the current model. In order to better remember the connection associated with a given tables, it is recommended that the tables be given names which identify the connection. For example, SPA325N.CON would indicate a shear plate connection using A325N bolts, EPA307.CON would indicate an end plate connection using A307 bolts, etc. The tables must have the extension .CON.
Connection Check tables may be available from third-party vendors of proprietary connections. These files will have the extension .COX. They are encrypted files and cannot be edited by the user, but they can be selected for use in the Connection Check feature.
The Connection Check can use either factored or unfactored reactions, as specified within the table itself. The values in the table should list the most conservative value of the connection capacity for any condition to be encountered in the model. The program does not take into account the possible differences in the connection capacity, for example, of a beam with a yield strength Fy of 36 ksi versus one with a yield strength of 50 ksi. It merely compares the actual beam reaction with the value listed in the Connection Check table. If a model contains beams with a mix of yield strengths, you can conservatively use the table based on lower strength, or invoke the command twice, using different connection tables. The command can be invoked any number of times, each time using a different connection table. The listing of beams on the output that do not apply to a particular connection type can then be ignored.
The connection tables have the following format:
An optional Description section is at the beginning of the file. It begins with a line containing the text [Start] and ends with a line containing the text [End]. Since these comments are optional, if the first line is not [Start], the program will assume that there is no Description Text. The Description text can include a description of the connections upon which the table was based. The Description text will be printed at the beginning of the report. A virtually unlimited number of lines of text is permitted.
The first line of the file (or the first line after the Description section) contains an E or S, indicating English (US Imperial) or SI units.
The next line of the file contains a U or F, indicating Unfactored or Factored capacity values.
Each subsequent line has the following format:
Label Capacity Comment
where:
- Label
- a beam label or group label, and
- Capacity
- the associated connection capacity. The capacities should be in kips for English units and kN for SI units.
- Comment
- an optional text string that can be used to describe the particular connection. It may contain up to 50 characters, but should generally be brief. It will be included on the report.
The entries should be separated by spaces, not by tabs.
Shown below is an example of part of a table:
[Start] Shear tab connection capacities using 3/4" A325 bolts. Shear tabs: A36 Beams: A992 Fy=50 [End] E U W8 9.6 2 bolts W10 9.6 2 bolts W12 18.5 3 bolts W14 18.5 3 bolts W16 28.8 4 bolts
In this case, for example, all W16 beams would be compared against an unfactored reaction of 28.8 kips. Those beams whose reaction exceeded this value would be listed on the output.
Individual beam sizes may also be included in the table:
[Start] Shear tab connection capacities using 3/4" A325 bolts. Beams: A992 Fy=50 Shear tabs: A36 [End] E U W8 9.6 2 bolts W10 9.6 2 bolts W12X14 16.3 3 bolts W12X16 16.8 3 bolts W12 18.5 3 bolts W14 18.5 3 bolts
In this case, for a W12x14 the capacity is 16.3 kips, for a W12x16 it is 16.8 kips, and for all other W12's it is 18.5 kips. Note that the order is important. For example, if "W12" was listed before "W12X14", all W12’s —even the W12X14’s— would use the value listed for "W12"; the value subsequently listed for "W12X14" would be ignored. Also be aware that if an entry is made for "W4" and then subsequently an entry is made for "W40" and/or "W44", all W40’s and W44’s will be checked against the value listed for "W4" since that is the first entry that matched a portion of the member label. Instead of listing "W4", list "W4X".
The designations in the connection table must match exactly the designations in the beam design table. For example, if the sizes in the beam design table use upper case letters, the connection table must also use upper case letters. The beam design tables supplied by Bentley Systems, Incorporated use upper case letters.
If there is no corresponding capacity in the Connection Check table for a particular beam size, that size will be listed at the end of the report with a note indicating that there was no capacity given.
The units in the table do not need to match the units in the model. The program will automatically make the appropriate conversions if necessary.
The capacities may be listed as either factored or unfactored capacities. If the table indicates factored capacities, the program will compare those values against the factored reactions, where the factors used are those associated with the current Beam Design Code selection (as specified in in the RAM Steel Beam Design module).
Files must be in the Tables subdirectory.