Steel connection formation rules

The following rules relate to connection formation in Tekla Structural Designer.

beam to column connection
1. beam connections to the column base are ignored
2. column must be a symmetric section
3. more then 1 beam attached to the same column face prevents any connection
4. a continuous beam connected to the column flanges prevents any connection
5. a beam with a fully fixed or moment end condition connected to the column web prevents any connection
beam to beam - for a particular construction point (node)
1. any column at the node prevents the connection
2. only two beam ends can be connected, a 3rd beam at the same node prevents any connection.
3. connections cannot be formed at beam internal nodes
4. the beams being connected must be symmetric and of the same section size
5. connected beam ends cannot be free or pinned
6. top flange haunches prevent the connection
7. beam ends being connected must have no end plates specified, or both have the same end plate
8. beam ends being connected must have no bottom haunch specified, or both have the same bottom haunch
any member with a "Material type" other than "Steel" at the node prevents any connection
column brace (CBC)
1. connection is formed where brace member/members are connected to column flange or web
2. valid positions are any point along the column length, but not column base or top.
beam brace (BBC)
1. connection is formed where brace member/members are connected to beam flange or web
2. valid positions are any point along the beam length, but not the end of span.
X brace (XBC)
1. connection is formed where two X brace pair members intersect each other