2. Define Connection Rules

The second step is to define Connection Rules. These rules allow you to specify which types of connections you want to design in your model. You must have a rule for each type of connection you want considered.

You may also want to create two separate rules for the same connection Type, so you can manipulate these groups separately.

To open the Connection Rules spreadsheet:

  1. Click on Connection Rules in the ‘Explorer’ panel, as shown in the following image.

    Choose Connection Rules from the Explorer panel

    Click on image to enlarge it

    The Connection Rules spreadsheet opens.

    Connection Rules spreadsheet, Hot Rolled, define connection

    Click on image to enlarge it

  2. Create rules for each type of connection that you want to be designed through RISAConnection.

    The spreadsheet entries are explained in the following table.

    Connection Rules Spreadsheet Columns

    Column

    Description

    Label

    Allows you to identify your Connection Rule in other areas in the program. Each Connection Rule must have a unique 'Label'.

    Conn Type

    Allows you to filter the list of ‘Types’ based on the a specific connection type. Available Connection Types are Shear, Moment, Brace, Baseplate or Truss.

    Type

    Allows you to choose the Type of connection from a list of available types currently considered in RISAConnection.

    You need to set up at least one connection rule for each connection type in your project. When you solve the connections in RISAConnection, the member ends assigned to an individual Connection Rule are grouped together.

    Note: You may have many double angle shear connections in your project. However, some are bolted with A325 bolts and some use A490 bolts. You should define these as separate Connection Rules.

    Beam Conn

    Allows you to define how the beam is connected to the supporting pieces (plate, clip angle, etc.). When you go to RISAConnection, all connections grouped in this Connection Rule default to this type of connection.

    Note: Many connections do not have options for these, so "N/A" is shown instead.

    Col/Girder Conn

    Allows you to define how the supporting member (column or girder) is connected to the supporting pieces (plate, clip angle, etc.). When you go to RISAConnection, all connections grouped in this Connection Rule default to this type of connection.

    Note: Many connections do not have options for these, so "N/A" is shown instead.

    Eccentricity

    This value has no effect on the RISAConnection integration. Instead, it is used only for analysis purposes.

    In models integrated with RISAFloor, beam/column shear connections add an automatic eccentricity equal to half the column's depth automatically (see the Model Settings - Solution tab for more information on this). However an additional eccentricity away from the column face may be entered in the Connection Rules spreadsheet. This column allows you to enter that value here. The value entered should be equal to the distance between the face of column and the resultant beam end reaction (i.e. centroid of bolt/weld group on beam web).

    • This column is only available in RISAFloor and in RISA-3D if you came in from RISAFloor.
    • This eccentricity is only applied to beams which connect to columns and which have the Connection Rule specified in the Connections tab of the Beams spreadsheet in RISAFloor.

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Return to: Integrated Connection Design Procedure