Steel Connection Tool Analyze and Design Steel Connections
What is the Steel Connection Tool?
Structural Central's Steel Connection Tool is structural engineering software that allows you to quickly generate the calculations required to determine the strength of a steel connection.
The calculations evaluate each of the possible limit states for the coped beam, bolts, welds, angles, plates, girder and/or column in order to determine which failure mode will control the load-carrying capacity of the design.
Determine the load-carrying capacity of the following connections: Double-Angle, Single-Angle, Tee, Single-Plate, Shear End-Plate, Unstiffened Seated, and Stiffened Seated. These are all of the standard shear connections discussed in the Steel Construction Manual produced by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).
Double-AngleSingle-Angle
TeeSingle-PlateShear End-Plate
Unstiffened SeatedStiffened Seated
Connection Options
Each connection type comes with many additional options to match your exact needs:
Coped beams (top and/or bottom)
Bolted, welded, or a combination of both
Multiple rows of bolts
Supported by girder, column web, or column flange
Single-sided or double-sided connections
Steel Angle, WT, or Plate seat types
Workable gages
Standard, oversized, or slotted bolt holes
Slip critical bolts
Design Code
Calculate steel connection capacities per the Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 360) which is the Referenced Standard for steel design of the International Building Code (IBC).
Design Criteria
The strength of the connections can be determined using Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) or Allowable Strength Design (ASD).
The strength of the steel shapes, plates, bolts, and welds will use the preferred material specifications by default, or you can select other common specifications, or just set the strengths directly (Fy, Fu, Fnt, Fnv, FEXX).
Factored or Unfactored Loads
The beam reaction can be entered as either a single load or as multiple loads with different load types (Dead, Live, Wind, etc). Multiple loads will be combined automatically using the LRFD or ASD load combinations provided by Chapter 16 of the International Building Code.
What constructability checks are performed?
In addition to determining the capacity for the steel connection you propose, Structural Central's Steel Connection Tool will warn you if it identifies any conditions that do not meet the recommendations found in the Steel Construction Manual.
Connection Constructability Checks
Minimum and maximum bolt spacing
(Sections J3.3 & J3.5)
Minimum bolt edge distance
(Table J3.4)
Minimum entering and tightening clearance
(Tables 7-15 & 7-16)
Minimum and maximum fillet weld size
(Section J2.2b & Table J2.4)
Minimum fillet weld shelf dimension
(Figure 8-13)
Minimum clearances to make welds
(Figures 8-11 & 8-12)
Minimum clearances between beam, connector, and support
(Part 9)
Maximum fillet encroachment
(Figure 10-3)
Minimum connector length
(Part 10)
Minimum rotational ductility
(Part 9)
What do the calculations look like?
(Some pages have been omitted)
Are there other structural engineering calculators available?
It is free to sign up for Structural Central, which will allow you to access all of the tools. In the future, some features will be limited to users with paid licenses such as saving and printing.
How do I get started?
Click the sign up button below, confirm your email address, and then start generating structural engineering calculations!
Minimum and maximum bolt spacing