ETABS removed connection design and detailing capabilities

[thejonster]

I have downloaded the trial version of ETABS and I've been using it for the last few weeks. I was excited to find a software that is not subscription-based and that did so much. I'm starting my own firm and like the idea of having software I own rather than rent. I was particularly excited to find that it designed steel connections and output the plans and details, but it looks like they removed that a couple years ago.

I see that they offer the detailing package for $3,000 now, but does anybody know if they have an official connection design software? And I'd like to ask the group, what you use for connection design now?

https://www.ideastatica.com/pricing

looks like a good connection design package for $3k.

I appreciate that they sell license as standalone, I will always support that. And they had their reasons to remove this so that the features are better supported, but don't you hate it that they listed the removal as an 'enhancement'?

I don't have a real question other than that, just ranting because this was a disappointment.

from

http://installs.csiamerica.com/software/ETABS/17/ReleaseNotesETABSv1700.pdf

I have used RAM and RISA for my career and am happy to learn this program as well, kudos to CSI for a great program kept at a reasonable price.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

It's called CSiDetail....

https://www.csiamerica.com/products/csidetail

 

[thejonster]

Thank you Josh, the csidetail page you linked doesn't say anything about steel connections, is this part of csidetail?

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Steel detailing is part of this new program.

Most of the steel "connection design" is still done in ETABS. I'm talking about code checks to AISC 341 or 358, panel zone, stiffener checks et cetera.

 

[thejonster]

If prequalified connection design per AISC 358 is a part of ETABS, that's a big deal, but I couldn't find that either.

It seems that connection design (other than limited checks per AISC 341 & 358) has been removed from the program and 3rd party programs (or SCM table lookups or other methods) need to be used for typical shear connections and moment connection design. Saying 'most' isn't really acknowledging that this was removed, I do appreciate the quick response.

I'm stressing this point because I couldn't find another post on this in eng-tips and was confused until finding the 'enhancements' listed in v17 and want anyone trying to figure out the same thing looking on eng-tips to find this too, since it was a feature / selling point that no longer exists.

I also want to make sure there isn't something still available that I'm missing here,
Here's my question: does csi offer a connection design program other than the limited seismic provisions you mentioned?

The menu used to look like this

Now looks like this without steel connection design, and there are no connection design options under 'steel frame design'

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Keep in mind that (for the most part) I only came to ETABS after these items were removed. Therefore, the only portions of steel connection design that I've seen in ETABS are those various 341 / 358 checks that you mentioned.

I haven't been involved in CSiDetail very much since it's initial release in late 2019 / early 2020. If those items (which used to be part of ETABS) are not included in CSiDetail, then I'd suspect that they're in the process of being added.

However, you should probably contact CSI directly, they'll probably give you better information than I can.... Especially since I'm unfamiliar with what existed before. In addition, if you've got a license for the current version of ETABS, I'd suspect they'd be willing to give you some sort of "trial" license for CSiDetail so that you can see exactly how it works, what it has and what it doesn't have.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

I try to help where I can, but I'm still learning all the intricate details of the CSI programs.... There's so much to learn.