Connection Types

Limcon checks the following connections, producing a report and a detail diagram and optionally, a virtual reality view and a DXF.

Simple (Shear) Connections

WSP Single Plate /Shear Tab / Fin Plate / Web Side Plate

FEP Flexible End Plate

ACLT Angle Cleat

BAS Bolted Angle Seat

WAS Welded Angle Seat

BPAD Bearing Pad

Moment Connections

WBC

Welded Beam-ColumnBeam on one or both sides of column. With or without stiffeners or column web doubler plate.

BMEPA

Bolted Moment End PlateBeam on one or both sides of column. With or without stiffeners or column web doubler plate.

BMEPB

Bolted Moment End PlateBeam on one or both sides of column. With or without stiffeners or column web doubler plate.

BMEPC

Bolted Moment End PlateMatching mitred end plates or apex connection in rigid frame.

HBEP

Haunched Beam End PlateRafter horizontal or inclined. Beam on one or both sides of column. With or without stiffeners or column web doubler plate.

MEPCF

Flush Moment End PlateOne or two rows of bolts inside tension flange. Available for restricted range of I sections. May be used as splice.

MEPCE

Extended Moment End PlateOne, two, or three rows of bolts inside tension flange - stiffeners available with one and three interior rows. May be used as splice. Seismic checking available for 4E and 4ES connections.

WFPWelded Flange PlateShear tab welded or bolted. Seismic checking available for fully welded connection.

BFP Bolted Flange PlateFully bolted. Seismic checking available.

FPC

Flange Plate Connection to Column WebFlange plates welded to column flanges and web. Back-up plate optional. (Available only with maintenance contract.)

Splices

WSPL

Welded SpliceAllocation of bending moment between flanges and web determined by analysis method, either elastic, plastic, or simplified.

BSPL

Bolted SpliceAllocation of bending moment between flanges and web determined by analysis method, either elastic, plastic, or simplified.

BMEPS

Bolted End Plate Splice

Base Plates

BASEBase PlatePinned connection. Member may be rolled or hollow section.

BASEM

Moment Base PlateMoment connection for I section column.

Bracing Connections

BRAC

Single Brace20 types of bracing connection. Bracing member may be single or double angle, rod, flattened CHS, hollow section with cleat or tee plate, or rolled section.

KTG

KT Gusset PlateA compound bracing connection with two or three members connected to a gusset plate, which is welded to a beam, column, or truss chord. Each branch connection may be any one of the available single brace connection types. (Available only with maintenance contract.)

UFBR

Uniform Force Bracing ConnectionA compound bracing connection with one or two bracing members, each of which is connected to a gusset plate welded to a beam and bolted to a column. Each bracing connection may be any one of the available single brace connection types. (Available only with maintenance contract.)

Hollow Structural Section (HSS) Connections

TCAP Cap PlatePinned connection. Design for tension.

KNEEMitred KneeFor RHS or SHS with width of both members the same. With or without stiffening plate.

TYTY/T ConnectionChord may be RHS, SHS, CHS, or rolled section; brace may be RHS, SHS or CHS.

TXX ConnectionChord may be RHS, SHS, CHS, or rolled section; brace may be RHS, SHS or CHS.

TKNGK/N Gap ConnectionChord may be RHS, SHS, CHS, or rolled section; brace may be RHS, SHS or CHS.

TKNOK/N Overlap ConnectionChord may be RHS, SHS, CHS, or rolled section; brace may be RHS, SHS or CHS.

TMEP4

Moment End Plate Connections for RHS/SHSFor compact RHS or SHS only.

TMEP8

Moment End Plate Connections for RHS/SHSFor compact RHS or SHS only.

Miscellaneous Connections

SEATStiff SeatEnd or internal support. With or without seat plate. With or without stiffeners.

BGP

Bolt GroupRectangular array of bolts in gusset of specified grade and thickness. May be analysed by either elastic or instantaneous center method.

WGP

Weld GroupsMany different configurations of fillet weld with in-plane and out of plane loading. Analysed by elastic method.

Web Side Plate (Fin Plate) Connection

You can check or design many variations on the connection shown. There may be one or two columns of bolts in the cleat. The support may be a beam web, a column web or flange, or a hollow section.

Web Side Plate II Connection

This is the new OneSteel/BHP web side plate connection, the principal reference for which is the OneSteel design booklet DB5.1, Design of the Web-Side-Plate Connection. For convenience, the publication is provided as an Acrobat PDF on the Limcon CD.

  

Flexible End Plate Connection

You may check or design the flexible end plate connection for beam web, column flange, or column web support.

 

Angle Cleat Connection

The angle cleat connection comprises angle cleats on one or both sides of the web of the supported member. Each cleat is bolted to both the supported and the support members.

  

Bolted Angle Seat Connection

You can check or design many variations on the connection shown.

Welded Angle Seat Connection

You can check or design many variations on the connection shown.

 

Bearing Pad Connection

You can check or design many variations on the connection shown.

  

Welded Beam/Column Connection

You can check or design many variations on the connection shown. There may be a beam on one or both sides. Where a slope angle is specified it applies to both beams. Single or double web plate doublers are available as an alternative to shear (diagonal) stiffeners.

Bolted Moment End Plate Connection

From the dialog box for the bolted moment end plate connection you can check or design any of the types shown below. There may be a beam on one or both sides.

There may be either two or four bolts at the top and bottom flanges. For the Type A and B connections column flange doubler plates may be specified at the top, bottom, or full height. Single or double web plate doublers are available as an alternative to shear (diagonal) stiffeners.

TYPE A - END PLATE SQUARE TO BEAM

TYPE B - END PLATE NOT SQUARE TO BEAM

 

TYPE C - MATCHING MITRED END PLATES

   

TYPE C2 - APEX CONNECTION IN PORTAL FRAME

Haunched Beam End Plate Connection

From the dialog box for the haunched beam end plate connection you can check or design either of the types shown below. The haunch tee is cut from the same section as the parent beam. There may be two or four bolts at each flange but at least one flange must have four bolts. For the knee connection there may be a beam on one or

both sides. Single or double web plate doublers are available as an alternative to shear (diagonal) stiffeners.

TYPE A - APEX CONNECTION IN PORTAL FRAME

    

TYPE K - EAVES CONNECTION IN PORTAL FRAME

AISC Flush Moment End Plate Connection

This connection is available for a limited range of WF and UB sections. There may be either 2 or 4 bolts at the tension flange. Click here for more information on the design model.

AISC Extended Moment End Plate Connection

This connection is available for WF and UB sections. Unstiffened connections are available with 4, 6, or 8 bolts at the tension flange. Those with 4 and 8 bolts at the tension flange are also available with a triangular stiffener outside the flange. Click here for more information on the design model.

(d) Multiple Row 1/3 Unstiffened

 

(e) Multiple Row 1/3 Stiffened

Moment End Plate Connections for RHS/SHS

4-Bolt Moment End Plate Connection for RHS/SHS

 

8-Bolt Moment End Plate Connection for RHS/SHS

These connections are available for RHS and SHS compact sections only. The design models, based on 2-dimensional yield line analysis, were developed in recent Sydney University research projects that included full-scale testing (see R745 and R827).

Bolts must be high-strength tensioned bolts, such as 8.8/TB or A325PT. The design models are only valid for a combination butt/fillet weld of specified leg dimension all around the section.

Bolted Splice

From the dialog box for the bolted splice you can check or design many variations on the basic connection type. Inner flange plates may be specified. The web splice may have one or two columns of bolts. When the gap between the members is zero it is assumed that the ends are prepared for full contact and compressive actions are carried in bearing on the contact surfaces.

FLANGE SPLICES BOLTED BOTH SIDES

    

COMBINATION BOLTED AND WELDED FLANGE SPLICES

Welded Splice

Each flange splice for this connection comprises a full penetration butt weld while the web splice consists of web doubler plates on each side, welded all around with a continuous fillet weld.

Base Plate

Limcon checks many kinds of base plate connection. The view below shows the base plate for a UB column - you can also check base plates for other I sections, channels, and hollow sections. Holding-down bolts may have an ordinary bolt head or a hook. There is no design function for the base plate connection.

HSS Cap Plate Connection

The design model for this connection permits a tension load on a column, which may be RHS, SHS, or CHS. The design model does not include compression because the connection components are minimally loaded by the bearing action of the column.

 

HSS Mitred Knee Connection

This design model is available for SHS members RHS members whose widths are the same. The capacity of the connection is greater with the optional stiffening plate.

 

HSS Y/T Connection

There are many possible configurations of this connection, one of which are shown below. The chord may be RHS, SHS, CHS, or an I section. The brace may be RHS, SHS, or CHS. Not all combinations of section types are permitted.

HSS X Connection

There are many possible configurations of this connection, one of which are shown below. The chord may be RHS, SHS, CHS, or an I section. The brace may be RHS, SHS, or CHS. Not all combinations of section types are permitted.

HSS K/N Gap Connection

There are many possible configurations of this connection, some of which are shown below. The chord may be RHS, SHS, CHS, or an I section. The braces may be RHS, SHS, or CHS. Not all combinations of section types are permitted.

K/N Gap Connection with CHS Chord and Braces

K/N Gap Connection with RHS Chord and SHS Braces

    

K/N Gap Connection with I Section Chord and SHS Braces

HSS K/N Overlap Connection

There are many possible configurations of this connection, some of which are shown below. The chord may be RHS, SHS, CHS, or an I section. The braces may be RHS, SHS, or CHS. Not all combinations of section types are permitted.

K/N Overlap Connection with CHS Chord and Braces

K/N Overlap Connection with SHS Chord and Braces

    

K/N Overlap Connection with SHS Chord and Braces

Web Side Plate (Fin Plate) Connection

You can check or design many variations on the connection shown. There may be one or two columns of bolts in the cleat. The support may be a beam web, a column web or flange, or a hollow section.

Web Side Plate II Connection

This is the new OneSteel/BHP web side plate connection, the principal reference for which is the OneSteel design booklet DB5.1, Design of the Web-Side-Plate Connection. For convenience, the publication is provided as an Acrobat PDF on the Limcon CD.

Flexible End Plate Connection

You may check or design the flexible end plate connection for beam web, column flange, or column web support.