Are Steel Connections Easy? 1

[Abuh001]

I have been thinking about purchasing some steel connection software of late to speed up my design process. However, I recently spoke to an engineer who claimed that most software is not really that good, and all it takes is a few minutes and a few calculations to design a connection. I usually follow the "Green Books" (

https://www.steelconstruction.info/index.php?title=Special:ImagePage&t=SCI+P358.pdf).

The calculations take a while, so am I missing something?

 

[P205]

In the past I have done a lot of connection templates in Excel, now I gradually change these programs to be web based online version.

- Can you expand on this? What do you change to make them web based?
- By web based, do you mean that you can use them with Office Online?

 

[JoshPlumSE]

I'd like to give a positive recommendation for RISAConnection. Though for full disclosure, I used to work for RISA and was the project lead for RISAConnection through version 5. I no longer work for RISA, so I have no financial interest in promoting the product.

One of my pet peeves about my education and my early career was how unprepared I felt for dealing with connections. Sure, I could open up AISC's steel manual and pick something out of a table. However, I didn't understand what worked or why.... Therefore, when I was involved in the development of the program, we made sure to make the program the opposite of a "black box". We wanted the calculations and limit states to be laid out very clearly to the user. In this way, the program is (in my opinion at least) an excellent learning tool for younger engineers or anyone who wishes to better understand connection design.

Someone already pointed out, the program doesn't yet do ALL the more complex connections that trouble a lot of engineers. However, I still think it is a good productivity tool for experienced engineers who may not have their own spreadsheets or such to design these connections. Or, who don't want to put in the hours to update these spreadsheet for new codes or such.

 

[CANPRO]

Josh, after reading your post I feel like I should expand on my review of RISAConnection. Like other RISA products, it was intuitive and user friendly. The output was detailed and clear. And if we're comparing apples to apples, RISAConnection is much more powerful and versatile than my basic spreadsheets. Considering the trial version is free and its easy to learn, its definitely worth a try.

When I tried the program, I was hoping for something that could handle more complex connections that I couldn't handle easily with hand calcs. Since I've already established spreadsheets and a design process for 90% of the connections I do, it wouldn't have been worth the investment. It wasn't fair to say I wasn't impressed, it seemed like a great program for what it offers.

 

[amec2004]

Can you expand on this? What do you change to make them web based?

Click on this link AISC Steel Connection Design you will see how this online web base steel connection design works.

It's a steel connection design to AISC code and all latest AISC design guides. It provides the text book detail step by step showing how the result is derived.

It provide details sketches and every step shows the code reference source. It also provides horizontal brace and wrap around gusset plate design which is not commonly seen in other programs.

Attached PDF is a sample calculation print out. For a brace connection the output is 82 pages.

I also cast a vote for RISA Connection. When I write steel connection program and try to find a second program to verify the result, RISA Connection ends up to be the only program qualified.


AISC Steel Connection Design Software

http://asp.civilbay.com/connect

 

[Mjkkb2]

DESCON does it all based on the AISC spec and AISC design guides. It's quite a time saver and does a good job overall....