Connection Design Forces

[msboobathi]

Dear All
I request to share valuable experience about "How to provide Connection design forces on Drawing ". This takes long time
OR is it acceptable practice the structural model

Regards
M.S.Boobathi

 

[DrZoidberWoop]

It depends on the job you are doing. If you are the EOR and contracting a fabricator or other firm to do the connection design, you have to provide the forces in a clear manner. Otherwise, you'll end up with a mountain of RFIs. These days, you can be flexible with your delivery. You should consult your client and deliver information in a manner that aligns with your contract.

 

[skeletron]

Search "Eliminating the Guesswork in Connection Design" by William Thornton.
Definitely consult with the fabricator on format. If the software works out, it will be easier bookkeeping to swap the model. But you may also take on additional liability because your model needs to be correct and, also, solved correctly.
I think part of a designer's job is to forecast how their choices will affect the downstream activities. So if you are just providing the model to cut down time, I think there may be a missing step or one that may be overlooked. For example, are there pass through forces. I'm not sure a model will tell you this unless you do some digging.
I'm a fan of reactions specified at the end of beams or in tables to envelope the design of certain sizes. That makes the shop drawing review straightforward.
I'm not a huge fan of 1/2 UDL or 50% shear specifications.