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Joint Template Library for Bracing Connections
When you click on the +Add button in the Briefs section of the top toolbar to add a another connection to your file, the Joint Template Library will open up, from which you can select moment, simple or bracing initial connection layouts.
From the Bracing Connections, you can select Vertical Bracing to a Column, Vertical Bracing to a Baseplate, Vertical Bracing to a Beam and Horizontal Bracing to a Beam. Under each type of connection there are sub-types already set up in the library. Click one of the snapshots to add that connection to your file.
You can add your own connections to the library as 'User' defaults, to be used in the future. This will be particularly useful if you have standard set-ups that you wish to use often.
To save your own connection to the library, first set up your typical layout (sections, dimensions, thickness and bolt sizes, etc). Then go to the top menu to 'Utilities - Save Joint as Template'. Give your connection a relevant name.
Click on the Preview Thumbnail icon to open up a display of the connection graphics. Window around the part of the connection you want to represent it as a thumbnail and click on the camera to save it. Then save the full connection details.
The next time you wish to add this particular connection set-up to your file, select to +Add a brief and in the Joint Template Library, go to the User section where your connection will appear under the appropriate section type. Click on the thumbnail to add it to your file.
The design of the Bracing Connections are based on the design model and methodology of the SCI Green Book SCI P 358. The range of connections covered by the bracing connections module are:-
Bracing connections to a vertical column. Bracing may be double sided, with up to 3 bracing connections each side connected to a common gusset plate. It is also possible to specify a beam on one side of the column in place of bracing. The connection can be made to either the column major or minor axis. For columns with bracing on both major and minor axes, the bracing connections are designed as two separate design briefs.
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Bracing connections to a column base. Bracing may be double sided with a single brace and gusset plate each side of the column. Bracing may be connection to the column about the major or minor axis, but connections with bracing to both axes are designed using separate design briefs. The gusset plate may be connected to the column only, or connected to both the column and baseplate.
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Vertically aligned bracing connecting to a horizontal beam. The bracing can be arranged with up to 3 bracing members and a single gusset plate and above and/or below the beam. In place of the bracing, a vertical column member can also be specified.
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Horizontal bracing to a beam. The beam can be aligned with it's web vertical or horizontal. The bracing arrangement can be up to 3 bracing elements connecting to a common gusset plate on side of the beam.
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In general, bracing members may be flats, channels, angles (including double angles) and hollow sections. The connection between the brace and gusset plate is a bolted connection with multiple bolts per column and multiple bolt rows. In the case of flat, channel and angle sections, the brace is bolted directly to the gusset. In all other connection types, the bracing member is connected to a connector which is in turn bolted to the gusset plate.