Project: HiCAD Steel Engineering

Column Connection, Frame Corner

"Civil Engineering functions" docking window > Steel Engineering > Connections > Front side to web/flange side > Front plate > Column connection, Frame corner (2203)

With this variant two I-beams are connected with a bolted or welded beam frame corner. You can create the frame corner with or without stiffeners, haunched plates or other components, e.g. haunched flanges, web reinforcements and reinforcement plates or filler plates. It is also possible to insert stiffeners at the column and ribs at the girder, and also weld seams as well as to apply galvanization holes.

Requirements for the creation of frame corners are as follows:

Both beams must be the type I-beam.
The webs of the beams must lie in one plane.
The beam axes must not be parallel and must not lie in one straight line.

Example - (1) girder, (2) column, Left: with front plate, right: with front plate and tension plate

(1) Front plate, (2) haunch, (3) haunched flange, (4) web reinforcement, (5) stiffeners at column,
(6) diagonal reinforcement stiffener, (7) stiffener at girder, (8) bolting, (9) filler plates (not pre-planned),
(10) galvanization holes, (11) reinforcement plates

Identify the beam (girder) in the vicinity of the reference end.
Identify the beam to which the first one should be connected (column).

The Column connection, frame corner (2203) dialogue window will be displayed.

By clicking on the Preview button you receive a preview of the connection - based on the currently entered data. If you wish to modify the data make the respective changes and once again press Preview to update the image. With OK the connection with the updated data will be installed and the dialogue window closes. If you leave the dialogue window with Cancel the function will be terminated without installing or changing the connection.

By clicking on the information regarding the previously identified beams will be displayed, e.g. the type of beam, the material, the dimensions etc. Insertions and modifications are not possible at this point.

Please note:

The front plate, the haunch, the haunched flange as well as the stiffeners and weld seams of the girder that is to be installed will be assigned to the assembly of said beam (first beam).
The tension plate, the web reinforcement as well as the stiffeners and weld seams on the column to which the first beam will be connected (second beam) will be assigned to the assembly of the second beam.
The bolting, reinforcement plates and filler plates will be summarised in a structure assembly called Loose parts. The boltings will be installed as Bolting assembly.
The weld seam tags will be redefined in the dialogue, but will not be automatically added to the drawing. In order to insert the tags right-click on the tag afterwards, select the Insert weld seam tag function from the context menu and define the tag's starting point by identifying a point or an edge.

While entering the required data the left and right side as well as what is the top and what is the bottom side will be marked in the drawing. The info texts are aligned in Z-direction.

Important:

If not all options are available due to the position of the identified beams this will be shown in the dialogue window with the symbol at the OK button. Moving the cursor over the symbol will display a respective explanation.

Manage configurations

Configurations for frame corners can be saved so as to enable you to access your personal configurations at any time.

More about the configuration

Configure frame corners

The configuration of frame corners can be made via the tabs of the dialogue window:

Plates,
Stiffeners ,
Boltings,
Bore grid,
Galvanization,
Weld seams and
Filler plate.

Plates

In this tab you can set the parameters for the following components:

Front plate,
Tension plate / Top plate,
Haunch,
Haunched flange and
Web reinforcement.

To do so click on the respective button.

Front plate

In this area you can determine the type, appearance and size of the plate on the girder (1st beam) as well as the direction of the plate in relation to the beam.

Semi-finished product	By clicking on the symbol you can select the plate type and material directly in the respective standard part catalogue.
The values for Vertical and Horizontal define the height and width of the plate as well as the projection. The following procedures are available:
Vertical	Height, projection top Specification of plate height and projection at top Height, projection bottom Specification of plate height and projection at bottom Height, centred Specification of plate height. The plate will be vertically centred at the end of the beam to be connected. Projections will be calculated automatically. Projections beyond 1st beam Specification of projection to the first beam - top and bottom. The plate height will be calculated automatically. Height, projection beyond end of haunch Specification of plate height and space between the lower edge of the plate and the end of the haunch Projections upper beam and end of haunch below
Horizontal	Width, projection left Specification of plate width and projection to the first beam on the left side Width, projection right, Specification of plate width and projection to the first beam on the right side Width, centred Specification of plate width. The plate will be horizontally centred a the end of the beam to be connected. Projections will be calculated automatically. Projections beyond beam Specification of projection on the left and right side. The plate width will be calculated automatically.
Clearance to beam	If desired, enter a value for the clearance, i.e. the distance between the plate and the beam to be connected.
Fillet corners	You have the option to fillet the corners of the front plate by activating the checkbox and entering the fillet radius.

Tension plate / Top plate

The definition of the tension plate /top plate (at the column) essentially happens analogous to the definition of the front plate at the girder. Moreover, via Type of insertion you can decide whether the plate should be inserted (top plate), front-mounted /tension plate) or not be fitted.

Via Process beam it can be determined how the column should be treated when inserting the plate.

Do not process: The column will not be lengthened or shortened.
Trim oblique: The column will be lengthened or shortened and - depending on the connected beam - trimmed oblique.
Trim straight: The column will be lengthened or shortened.

When trimming the column the extension determines the projection of the column beyond the connected girder.

Haunch

Here you define the parameters for the haunch. These are the semi-finished product, the length and height as well as the processing of the third corner. Under Type of insertion you determine whether the haunch should be inserted at the bottom, on top or not at all.

The haunch can also be divided into several (max. 3) segments, i.e. consist of three haunch plates. To do so, please enter the desired number of segments and select the desired semi-finished products.

Haunched flange

After clicking on the button Haunched flange you can select the desired semi-finished product for the haunched flange, its width as well as the corner processing. If no haunched flange shall be created deactivate the Create checkbox.

Web reinforcement

Here you can define the parameter for web reinforcement. Under Type of insertion you can select whether the web reinforcement should be fitted on the left, on the right, double-sided or not at all.

Stiffeners

The frame corner can either be inserted with stiffeners or without. Possible stiffeners are:

three stiffeners at the column,
a diagonal reinforcement stiffener at the column,
a stiffener at the girder
additional stiffeners at the column, as well as
ribs at the girder.

The settings can be modified separately for each stiffener. To do so click on the respective graphic and make the desired changes.

If a stiffener is to be inserted, firstly activate the Create checkbox and select the type of stiffener from the catalogue by clicking on the symbol.

If the same settings should be applied to all three stiffeners at the column

click on All equal .

Further parameters for stiffeners:

Type	By activating the respective radio button you can determine whether a full or partial stiffener will be inserted.
Dimensions	Full stiffener Determine the width of the stiffener or activate the Auto checkbox instead if HiCAD should determine the width automatically. In this case the width which fills the area between the front edge of the flange and the web will be determined (rounded off to whole millimetres). (2) Clearance, (1) automatic width Partial stiffener Determine the width of the stiffener or activate the Auto checkbox instead if HiCAD should determine the width automatically. In this case the width which fills the area between the front edge of the flange and the web will be determined (rounded off to whole millimetres) - while taking into account the determined clearance. Determine the height of the stiffener.
Internal corner	In this area you define the data for the internal corner. Depending on the selected corner options, these refer to the chamfer length or the fillet radius. If you want HiCAD to automatically determine the value, activate the Auto checkbox.
External chamfer	For partial stiffeners choose this option to regulate the external chamfer and then determine the values for the chamfer length or radius, depending on the selected option.
Others	Here you can enter a value for the clearance. For the stiffeners at the column you can moreover define the positioning and alignment of the stiffener. The stiffeners can be perpendicular or aligned - depending on the connected beam (girder). Under Positioning you can determine which edge should be relevant for the insertion - the front side, middle or back side. For stiffeners at the girder you can only select the positioning. They are always perpendicular. The upper stiffener has been aligned, the other two stiffeners are perpendicular. The following image shows the connection with three perpendicularly aligned stiffeners. For the first stiffener (1) the positioning Front side has been selected, for the middle stiffener (2) Middleand for stiffener (3) Back side. Please note: If the middle stiffener of the column is not inserted, the diagonal stiffener runs to the lower edge of the haunch. If the upper and middle stiffener of the column are not inserted, it is not possible to insert a diagonal stiffener. If a web reinforcement is fitted which exceeds the stiffener, the stiffener will be shortened by the thickness of the web reinforcement and welded to the web reinforcement. An example: The image shows a frame corner with three stiffeners on the left. If a web reinforcement of thickness 50 / length 10000 / distance 400 is fitted, the depth of the middle and lower stiffener will be reduced by 50 and the stiffeners will be welded to the web reinforcement.

In order to insert additional stiffeners at the column click on the following symbol:

Subsequently, you can set the parameters for the additional stiffeners.

The stiffeners can either be installed perpendicular to the second beam or flush to the first beam. If no stiffeners should be installed, select the installation option Do not fit.

In the second selection box you can choose whether ribs should be installed at the girder as additional stiffeners. If you select Stiffeners + Ribs, you can determine the parameters for ribs after clicking on the

symbol.

Please note that the choice of installation for stiffeners and the installation of ribs is interdependent, i.e. selected options in the stiffeners' selection boxes will be applied to the ribs and vice versa. Example: You have selected the options Flush to 1st beam and Stiffeners + Ribs for the stiffeners. In the ribs parameters you select the Do not fit option, and it will be applied to the stiffeners, too.

A maximum of 7 ribs is possible. The automatic quantity determination refers to the boltings. Depending on the other parameters the ribs are always positioned in between two bolting rows.

Automatic determination of rib quantity (here: 3) - left: perpendicular to 2nd beam, right: aligned to 1st beam

For the manual determination you enter the rib quantity and determine the distance between the first rib and the beam edge. This distance can refer to the upper or lower edge. Enter the distance between the first and the second rib under 1:; under 2: you enter the distance between the second and third rib and so forth.

In the following image five ribs have been installed without automatism.

Left: a = distance to top, right: a = distance from below

Boltings

Here you determine the boltings of the front plate , separately for tension and front plate, e.g. type of bolting, bolting diameter etc. To do so, click on the symbol and put together the components of the boltings. The ISD default setting is DIN EN ISO 4014-M16-5.6 / M16 (⌀ 17,5). The settings are determined analogous to the Steel Engineering bolting function.

The bolting will only be inserted if the Fit checkbox is active.

If the bolting direction shall be reversed activate the Invert checkbox.

In case reinforcement plates shall be inserted activate the Create checkbox. If the reinforcement plates should be connected, if possible, activate the respective checkbox. Connected reinforcement plates can also be filleted. To do so, activate the checkbox and enter the fillet radius.

Insert the distance between the boltings and the edges of the reinforcement plates and select the type of plate from the catalogue by clicking on the symbol.

Bore grid

The bore grid determines the order of the boltings or rather the bore pattern on the front plate. The settings can be changed separately for the front plate and for the tension plate.

Galvanization

Here you can determine whether the front plates, tension plates / top plates and beams should be provided with galvanization holes. Click the respective button to do so.

1st / 2nd beam

Here you first of all select the desired processing. You can choose from the following:

no processing
Web cut
Choose whether the processing should be on top or on the bottom and enter the radius.
Holes
Choose whether the processing should be on top or on the bottom. Enter the hole diameter and the distance in X- direction and in Y-direction.

Front plate, Tension plate/Top plate

Determine which holes should be created by activating the checkboxes and enter the hole diameter as well as the minimum distance to web and flange.

Weld seams

In this tab you determine which weld seams should be created. A distinction is made between weld seams

on the front plate,
on the tension plate / top plate ,
on the stiffeners,
on the haunch as well as
on the reinforcement plates and web reinforcement (Others).

Click on the desired button in the tab on top and determine on which edges the weld seams should be produced by activating the respective checkboxes. The settings for stiffeners are always available.

For front plates you can choose whether

a circumferential seam,
weld seams on specific edged or
all weld seams

should be created. For each edge you can select a type of thickness designation, a weld seam thickness, a weld seam type and an inspection category. If you want to use the same settings for the other edges, click the Equate symbol.

Filler plate

If filler plates shall be inserted on the front plate between the front plate and the tension plate, you can determine the quantity, type and size in the Filler plate tab.

The following geometry types are available for filler plates:

One-piece, insert left,
One-piece, insert right,
One-piece, insert at top,
One-piece, insert at bottom,
One-piece, drilled,
Two-piece, insert horizontal and
Two-piece, insert vertical.

Enter the required distances and the size of the hole clearance, depending on the selected geometry type. The hole clearance always refers to the bolt.

(1) Bolting diameter, (2) two-piece filler plate (3) hole clearance

Under Manage you can determine the quantity of filler plates.

Select the desired plate type for each filler plate in the catalogue and determine whether the filler plate should be pre-planned or not by activating the checkbox. If the filler plate is pre-planned the beam will be shortened by the thickness of the filler plate. If they are not pre-planned they will be inserted next to the plate.

Via the symbol you have the option to apply the settings of one filler plate to all other filler plates.

By activating the All checkbox you can define all filler plates as pre-planned in one step.

Please note that filler plates that are not pre-planned will be displayed as transparent in the drawing, i.e. assigned to the layer 40.

Filler plates will not be assigned to the assembly of the beam but to the structure assembly Loose Parts. Moreover, filler plates are assigned the usage type Filler plate.

If the bore grid is too narrow for filler plates to be inserted the plate will not be created. A feature log will be created nonetheless.

By double-clicking on the feature name you have the option to correct the settings.

Connections + Variants (3-D SE) • Dialogue Window for Connections - Type II (3-D SE) • The Catalogue System for Connections + Variants (3-D SE)

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Reference Horizontal	Entries
Distance to plate edge	Quantity of bores to the left of the web Quantity of bores to the right of the web Distance of the bores to the left plate edge Distance of the bores to the right plate edge Distance between bores
Inner Distance	Quantity of bores to the left of the web Quantity of bores to the right of the web Inner distance of bores Offset referring to the web Distance between bores
Distances to web	Quantity of bores to the left of the web Quantity of bores to the right of the web Distance of the bores left of the web Distance of the bores right of the web Distance between bores

Reference Vertical	Entries
Centred (Front plate)	Quantity of bores Distance between bolts Vertical
Top edge 1st beam	Distance to top edge of reference beam Quantity of bores Distance between bolts Vertical
Front plate, top	Distance to top edge of reference beam Quantity of bores Distance between bolts Vertical
Bottom edge 1st beam	Distance to bottom edge of reference beam Quantity of bores Distance between bolts Vertical
Front plate, bottom	Distance to bottom edge of plate Quantity of bores Distance between bolts Vertical