Join us to learn about how IDEA StatiCa can help you to enhance the connection design process. This session is for all the involved stakeholders: Engineers of record, Connection designers, Detailers, and Fabricators.
Create a basic account and get immediate access to our online tools at no cost
Sharing analysis models through Checkbot
Enhance Deliverables: Online viewer
Connection IDEAS for everyone
During the one-hour session, we will show you what is possible with a basic IDEA StatiCa account:
Checkbot: Checkbot Free offers unification and simplification of the workflow for users across various regions. It simplifies structural engineering workflows in communication through design data management and sharing between different tools.
Online viewer: Whether you have or do not have a paid license, this tool can help you view an IDEA StatiCa Connection project, generate a 3D DWG, IFC or ideacon file, or even share your connection using URL link.
Connection library: the website that provides you with 400,000+ ideas for your connection designs from all around the world. It is by far the world's largest database of steel connections.
Learn how to create a basic account and start using all the complimentary tools
Connection design methods
For connection design, the AISC Code of Standard Practice has three options for the Engineer of record to select:
Option 1: The complete connection design is shown in the structural design documents – Which means the engineer of record does the whole structural design.
Option 2: The connection design is done by an experienced steel detailer - In this case, the detailer selects connections from the AISC manual tables.
Option 3: The connection design is done by a licensed engineer working for the fabricator. – The EOR delegates the connection design to a professional engineer representing the fabricator.
The following diagram explained in this video, explains the communication process between the different parties.
EoR provides design criteria like the loads and any different connection type constraints to the connection designer, the connection designer prepares connection design calculations.
The detailer incorporates the connection design into the shop drawings. The connection designer must then review the approval documents to ensure that the connections are incorporated properly.
Meanwhile, the engineer of record still reviews and approves the design as they have the overall knowledge of the building or structure as a whole.
Challenges of delegated steel connection design
The communication of design loads between the EoR and connection designer: This challenge is repeatedly highlighted in those AISC presentations and from IDEA StatiCa user’s feedback. A quick example is when a node has more than two members and the connection designer gets only the envelope forces. That means the worst-case force for every member is used, then the connection designer ends with an overload joint, which is unrealistic.
Shear loads: Shear schedule, % of UDL
Moment loads: Full flexural capacity, moment directionality
The following is a list of proposed solutions and the tool that can be used to achieve them.
How IDEA StatiCa can help?
Well, usually, the connection designer is the only one with the IDEA Statica license. However, now we have these three open tools for everyone: engineers of record, connection designers, detailers and fabricators. The solutions I talked about are based on the use of these apps; let's review the different proposed workflows.
EoR shares Analysis Model via Checkbot
EoR creates a basic account
Install IDEA StatiCa and get Checkbot free
Uses Checkbot from the analysis app
Creates a Checkbot file with the whole structure
Sends the Checkbot file to connection designer
Connection designer uses Checkbot and designs connections in IDEA StatiCa and gets the geometry and load combinations.
EoR looks up for Design concepts in Connection Library
Go to the Connection library
Open the connection in the Online viewer
Share the link with the Connection designer
Connection designer can download the IDEA Connection File. The connection can be modified and loaded using a commercial license of IDEA StatiCa
Connection Designer creates Online Viewer link
Connection designer multi-selects finished connections from Checkbot and select Online viewer
Creates a link from an Online viewer with multiple connections
Now exports the connections to a single file to create multiple reports at once
Add the link to the calculation package
EoR uses Online Viewer to review the Connections dynamically
EoR review the calculation package together with the online viewer link
EoR reviews the model and the forces in the Online viewer
Connection Designer provides 3D Model to Detailer
Connection designer can create the IFC model from Checkbot:
One IFC per connection
All the connections in one single IFC file, including the relative position
Connection designer can share the online viewer link, and the detailer can download the IFC file
Detailer Provides IDEA StatiCa file to the Connection Designer
Detailer creates a basic account
Installs IDEA StatiCa and get Checkbot Free
Uses Checkbot from the Detailing app
Creates a connection file from Checkbot
Review it in Online viewer
Sends the connection file to the connection designer. The connection designer uses IDEA StatiCa to design the connection.
