This type of connection allows the engineer to specify a zone at each end of the beam in which the beam's stiffness is modified by specified Stiffness Multipliers. Distance indicates the length of the zone at the beam end. Design check is performed at the location defined by Distance, rather than at the face of column or center line of column.

When a custom connection is applied to a beam, the program internally inserts one element at the end of the beam where the custom connection defined. If one can turn the All Node Numbers option on, internally created nodes for custom connection are shown on screen.

Custom Connection Zone Elements

Member Forces and Modal data report provide more information about elements created for custom connection zone (element length, stiffness properties, etc…)