Design connections in another application
This topic relates to the design of connections using either Tekla Connection Designer, or IDEA StatiCa; it does not cover checking of simple connection resistance, or checking of AISC/Eurocode base plates, which are separate topics.
Overview
Before connections can be designed in another application, valid connection objects have to be created in the Tekla Structural Designer model. This is achieved by running Update connections from the Connections tree in the Project Workspace. This applies a set of rules to create and organize connections into the following types:
- Base plate connections (BP) - BS regional code only Note: Base plates to AISC or Eurocode regional codes are handled differently, see: Column base plate design
- Beam to Beam Moment Connections (MBC)
- Beam to Beam Simple Connections (SBC)
- Beam to Column Moment Connections (MCC)
- Beam to Column Simple Connections (SCC)
- Beam Brace Connections (BBC)
- Column Beam Brace Connections (CBBC)
- Column Brace Connections (CBC)
- X Brace Connections (XPC)
- Column Splices (CSC)
- General Connections (GC)
Valid connections are then displayed in the scene views and are also listed in the Connections tree.
If you have a license of IDEA StatiCa you can export most connection types to that application for design. If you have a license of Tekla Connection Designer it can be used to design certain types also. The range of options that are available for each type of connection are described in the following table.
| Type | Connection Design Options |
|---|---|
| Base plate connections |
|
| Beam to beam moment connections |
|
| Beam to beam simple connections |
|
| Beam to column moment connections |
|
| Beam to column simple connections |
|
| Beam brace connections (beams to which one or more brace members also connect) |
|
| Column beam brace connections (beam/ column junctions to which one or more brace members also connect) |
|
| Column brace connections (columns to which one or more brace members also connect) |
|
| X brace connections (connection between two X brace pair members) |
|
| Column splices |
|
| General Connections |
|
Design connections using IDEA StatiCa
Design using IDEA StatiCa is initiated by exporting the connection(s) to IDEA StatiCa in one of two ways:
- From the Project Workspace:
- Expand the appropriate branch in the Connections tree
- Right click on the required connection group, or reference and
choose Export Connection to IDEA StatiCa from the context
menu.The method of export adopted will depend on the version of IDEA StatiCa installed. For further details, see:
- Design the connections and print the reports.
- From a scene view:
- Select one or more connection
- Right click and choose Export Connections to IDEA StatiCa from the context
menu.The method of export adopted will depend on the version of IDEA StatiCa installed. For further details, see:
- Design the connections and print the reports.
Design connections using Tekla Connection Designer
Design using Tekla Connection Designer is initiated in one of two ways:
- From the Project Workspace:
- Expand the appropriate branch in the Connections tree
- Right click on the required reference and choose one of the
following options from the context menu.
-
Design <connection reference> using Tekla Connection Designer
This will design the connection in the background using Tekla Connection Designer and display the results in a dialog.
- Export <connection reference> using Tekla
Connection Designer
This will open the Tekla Connection Designer application to allow the connection to be edited and designed. The connection report should also be generated and printed in Tekla Connection Designer.
-
- From a scene view:
- Right click on the required reference and choose one of the following options from the
context menu.
-
Design <connection reference> using Tekla Connection Designer
This will design the connection in the background using Tekla Connection Designer and display the results in a dialog.
- Export <connection reference> using Tekla
Connection Designer
This will open the Tekla Connection Designer application to allow the connection to be edited and designed. The connection report should also be generated and printed in Tekla Connection Designer.
-
- Right click on the required reference and choose one of the following options from the
context menu.
Note:
After designing the connection, while the “Return Connection to Tekla Structural Designer” command can be used, this does not currently return all connection data to Tekla Structural Designer (principally the data derived from the connected elements). Hence, if changes are made in Tekla Structural Designer and the analysis and/ or design processes re-run, if the connection is exported again for checking, you should review the connection data as you may need to re-enter some of the data previously selected.