STAAD.Pro and RAM.

Connection Link

1.0

INTRODUCTION

Bentley's STAAD.Pro V8i and RAM.Connection have joined forces to now provide
STAAD customers design structural steel connections in an integrated environment. Once
the steel structure has been analyzed and designed using STAAD.Pro, member profiles and
design forces can be automatically be exported out to RAM.Connection to design
connections. The user will be able to view connection design results in the STAAD
interface.

RAM.Connection can currently design connections as per the AISC ASD, LRFD and the
new 13th edition unified code. The STAAD.Pro and RAM.Connection link currently only
supports connection design as per the AISC ASD and LRFD code.

2.0 RAM.Connection (ASD)

The user will be able to design families of connections including: beam-to-column flange,
beam-to-column web, beam-to-girder, beam-to-beam, column splices, beam splices,
column-beam-brace gusset connections, chevron brace connections, X brace connections
and brackets.

Figure 1: 3D View of a Building Structure

1. Open the WHBuilding-Bracing.std file in STAAD.pro V8i. This input file is attached at
the end of this article.
2. Run the analysis using the Analyze->Run Analysis menu.
3. Click on the RAM.Connection tab below the row of icons at the top right corner of your
screen.
4. In this exercise, we will try to design a connection for column 334 and beam 197 as
shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Beam 197 and column 334 are selected

5. Press the "New Envelope" button located on the bottom right hand side corner of your
screen. Using this feature, you will be able to specify the loads that are to be used for the
connection design.
6. In this model, we have generated the load combinations using STAAD.pro automatic
AISC load generator. We would like to use all the load combinations for the connection
design. Therefore click on the Show Load Combinations and Select All Load Cases
Shown Below check box.
7. Click on the Ok button. On the right hand side of the screen, Design Envelope 1 tree
item will be created under the Envelope tree item.

Figure 3: Creation of the load envelope

8. Select Beam 197 and column 334 as shown in Figure 2 using the mouse and pressing and
holding the CTRL key on your keyboard.
9. Click on the Create Joints button on the right hand side data area. The Joint dialog box
will appear and will list the column and beam number and set the joint type to BCF. You
need to verify if this information is correct. In our model, we are designing a Beam-tocolumn flange connection so this information is correct. Please refer to section AD.20071001.5.1 RAM Connection Design Mode in the STAAD.Pro help documentation for a list
of connection types that are supported.

Figure 4: Joint dialog box

10. Click on the Ok button. Note that a grey colored triangle will appear in the STAAD.Pro
graphics window indicating that you have created a joint. Please refer to section AD.20071001.5.1 RAM Connection Design Mode in the STAAD.Pro help documentation for joint
color coding scheme. The grey color simply indicates that no Design Brief has been
associated to the joint.

Figure 5: Joint has been created

Note that in the data area, the J1-BCF entry has been created in the Joints tree item.

11. Click on the Create Brief button located in the data area. The Design Brief dialog box
will appear. Note that the user may select any load envelope that he/she has created.
12. Select the AISC-ASD code. Note that the Design Connections Individually button has
been checked off. If this button is check on, STAAD.Pro will assign different connection
configurations to different joints included in the same brief.
13. Select the Basic SP BCF (i.e. Shear Plate, Beam to Column Flange) connection in the
connection selection box. The basic connection allows the user to specify a connection for a
joint or specify a group of connections to a joint. STAAD.Pro and RAM.Connection will
pick the one that is suitable for the group of connections. If the "Smart" connection type is
selected, RAM.Connection will create a connection from scratch and suggest an optimum
connection. In this exercise, the Basic SP BCF will be assigned.

Figure 6: Design brief dialog box

14. Transfer all the connections from the left hand side to the right hand side using the
double arrows pointing towards the right.

Figure 7: Setting up the design brief

15. Press the Ok button. Note the B1: Design Brief 1 tree item is created in the data area.
16. Select the Joints Cursor on the left hand-side of your screen.

Figure 8: Joints Cursor

17. Select the B1: Design Brief 1 in the data area.

18. Select the Assign to Selected Entities option in the data area.
19. Press the Assign button.
20. You have successfully defined the connection design parameters. To design the
connection using RAM.Connection, click on the graphics window in the white area and
then click on Connection Design->Design All Connections menu command. The
connection design dialog box will appear showing you the status of the connection.

Figure 9: Connection Design Dialog box

21. Click the Done button.

22. Select the Joints Cursor on the left hand-side of your screen.
23. Double click on the BCF connection.
24. The RAM.Connection Pad interface will open as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10: RAM.Connection Pad

25. The RAM.Connection interface will show the connection design details in the graphics
window. Notice that 2 3/4" bolts are used to carry shear. Click on the rotation controls to
see the connection details in 3D. You may also see a dxf of the connection using the dxf
icon.

Figure 11: RAM.Connection Pad - DXF

26. To view the connection design calculations, click on Results icon.

27. Close the RAM.Connection pad interface by pressing the Ok button. Return back to the
STAAD.pro interface and click on Drawings and Reports control tab on you left. Click on
C1 Conn. No. on the right hand side and you will notice that the graphics window gets
populated with the connection design drawing and the calculation sheet just below it as
shown in Figure 12.

Figure 12: Connection design drawing in STAAD.pro interface.

APPENDIX A
STAAD SPACE
START JOB INFORMATION
ENGINEER DATE 04-Sep-06
END JOB INFORMATION
INPUT WIDTH 79
UNIT FEET KIP
JOINT COORDINATES
1 0 0 0; 2 0 10 0; 3 12 10 0; 4 12 0 0; 5 30 0 0; 6 30 10 0; 7 0 0 15;
8 0 10 15; 9 12 10 15; 10 12 0 15; 11 30 0 15; 12 30 10 15; 13 0 0 30;
14 0 10 30; 15 12 10 30; 16 12 0 30; 17 30 0 30; 18 30 10 30; 19 0 0 45;
20 0 10 45; 21 12 10 45; 22 12 0 45; 23 30 0 45; 24 30 10 45; 25 0 0 60;
26 0 10 60; 27 12 10 60; 28 12 0 60; 29 30 0 60; 30 30 10 60; 31 0 0 75;
32 0 10 75; 33 12 10 75; 34 12 0 75; 35 30 0 75; 36 30 10 75; 37 0 20 0;
38 12 20 0; 39 30 20 0; 40 0 20 15; 41 12 20 15; 42 30 20 15; 43 0 20 30;
44 12 20 30; 45 30 20 30; 46 0 20 45; 47 12 20 45; 48 30 20 45; 49 0 20 60;

50 12 20 60; 51 30 20 60; 52 0 20 75; 53 12 20 75; 54 30 20 75; 55 0 30 0;

56 12 30 0; 57 30 30 0; 58 0 30 15; 59 12 30 15; 60 30 30 15; 61 0 30 30;
62 12 30 30; 63 30 30 30; 64 0 30 45; 65 12 30 45; 66 30 30 45; 67 0 30 60;
68 12 30 60; 69 30 30 60; 70 0 30 75; 71 12 30 75; 72 30 30 75; 73 0 40 0;
74 12 40 0; 75 30 40 0; 76 0 40 15; 77 12 40 15; 78 30 40 15; 79 0 40 30;
80 12 40 30; 81 30 40 30; 82 0 40 45; 83 12 40 45; 84 30 40 45; 85 0 40 60;
86 12 40 60; 87 30 40 60; 88 0 40 75; 89 12 40 75; 90 30 40 75; 91 0 50 0;
92 12 50 0; 93 30 50 0; 94 0 50 15; 95 12 50 15; 96 30 50 15; 97 0 50 30;
98 12 50 30; 99 30 50 30; 100 0 50 45; 101 12 50 45; 102 30 50 45; 103 0 50 60;
104 12 50 60; 105 30 50 60; 106 0 50 75; 107 12 50 75; 108 30 50 75;
109 0 2.5 0; 110 12 2.5 0; 111 30 2.5 0; 112 0 2.5 15; 113 12 2.5 15;
114 30 2.5 15; 115 0 2.5 30; 116 12 2.5 30; 117 30 2.5 30; 118 0 2.5 45;
119 12 2.5 45; 120 30 2.5 45; 121 0 2.5 60; 122 12 2.5 60; 123 30 2.5 60;
124 0 2.5 75; 125 12 2.5 75; 126 30 2.5 75; 127 0 12.5 0; 128 12 12.5 0;
129 30 12.5 0; 130 0 12.5 15; 131 12 12.5 15; 132 30 12.5 15; 133 0 12.5 30;
134 12 12.5 30; 135 30 12.5 30; 136 0 12.5 45; 137 12 12.5 45; 138 30 12.5 45;
139 0 12.5 60; 140 12 12.5 60; 141 30 12.5 60; 142 0 12.5 75; 143 12 12.5 75;
144 30 12.5 75; 145 0 22.5 0; 146 12 22.5 0; 147 30 22.5 0; 148 0 22.5 15;
149 12 22.5 15; 150 30 22.5 15; 151 0 22.5 30; 152 12 22.5 30; 153 30 22.5 30;
154 0 22.5 45; 155 12 22.5 45; 156 30 22.5 45; 157 0 22.5 60; 158 12 22.5 60;
159 30 22.5 60; 160 0 22.5 75; 161 12 22.5 75; 162 30 22.5 75; 163 0 32.5 0;
164 12 32.5 0; 165 30 32.5 0; 166 0 32.5 15; 167 12 32.5 15; 168 30 32.5 15;
169 0 32.5 30; 170 12 32.5 30; 171 30 32.5 30; 172 0 32.5 45; 173 12 32.5 45;
174 30 32.5 45; 175 0 32.5 60; 176 12 32.5 60; 177 30 32.5 60; 178 0 32.5 75;
179 12 32.5 75; 180 30 32.5 75; 181 0 42.5 0; 182 12 42.5 0; 183 30 42.5 0;
184 0 42.5 15; 185 12 42.5 15; 186 30 42.5 15; 187 0 42.5 30; 188 12 42.5 30;
189 30 42.5 30; 190 0 42.5 45; 191 12 42.5 45; 192 30 42.5 45; 193 0 42.5 60;
194 12 42.5 60; 195 30 42.5 60; 196 0 42.5 75; 197 12 42.5 75; 198 30 42.5 75;
MEMBER INCIDENCES
1 1 109; 2 2 3; 3 4 110; 4 5 111; 5 6 3; 7 2 8; 8 3 9; 11 6 12; 12 7 112;
13 8 9; 14 10 113; 15 11 114; 16 12 9; 18 8 14; 19 9 15; 22 12 18; 23 13 115;
24 14 15; 25 16 116; 26 17 117; 27 18 15; 29 14 20; 30 15 21; 33 18 24;
34 19 118; 35 20 21; 36 22 119; 37 23 120; 38 24 21; 40 20 26; 41 21 27;
44 24 30; 45 25 121; 46 26 27; 47 28 122; 48 29 123; 49 30 27; 51 26 32;
52 27 33; 55 30 36; 56 31 124; 57 32 33; 58 34 125; 59 35 126; 60 36 33;
61 2 127; 62 37 38; 63 3 128; 64 6 129; 65 39 38; 66 37 40; 67 38 41; 68 39 42;
69 8 130; 70 40 41; 71 9 131; 72 12 132; 73 42 41; 74 40 43; 75 41 44;
76 42 45; 77 14 133; 78 43 44; 79 15 134; 80 18 135; 81 45 44; 82 43 46;
83 44 47; 84 45 48; 85 20 136; 86 46 47; 87 21 137; 88 24 138; 89 48 47;
90 46 49; 91 47 50; 92 48 51; 93 26 139; 94 49 50; 95 27 140; 96 30 141;
97 51 50; 98 49 52; 99 50 53; 100 51 54; 101 32 142; 102 52 53; 103 33 143;
104 36 144; 105 54 53; 106 37 145; 107 55 56; 108 38 146; 109 39 147;
110 57 56; 111 55 58; 112 56 59; 113 57 60; 114 40 148; 115 58 59; 116 41 149;
117 42 150; 118 60 59; 119 58 61; 120 59 62; 121 60 63; 122 43 151; 123 61 62;
124 44 152; 125 45 153; 126 63 62; 127 61 64; 128 62 65; 129 63 66; 130 46 154;
131 64 65; 132 47 155; 133 48 156; 134 66 65; 135 64 67; 136 65 68; 137 66 69;
138 49 157; 139 67 68; 140 50 158; 141 51 159; 142 69 68; 143 67 70; 144 68 71;

145 69 72; 146 52 160; 147 70 71; 148 53 161; 149 54 162; 150 72 71;
151 55 163; 152 73 74; 153 56 164; 154 57 165; 155 75 74; 156 73 76; 157 74 77;
158 75 78; 159 58 166; 160 76 77; 161 59 167; 162 60 168; 163 78 77; 164 76 79;
165 77 80; 166 78 81; 167 61 169; 168 79 80; 169 62 170; 170 63 171; 171 81 80;
172 79 82; 173 80 83; 174 81 84; 175 64 172; 176 82 83; 177 65 173; 178 66 174;
179 84 83; 180 82 85; 181 83 86; 182 84 87; 183 67 175; 184 85 86; 185 68 176;
186 69 177; 187 87 86; 188 85 88; 189 86 89; 190 87 90; 191 70 178; 192 88 89;
193 71 179; 194 72 180; 195 90 89; 196 73 181; 197 91 92; 198 74 182;
199 75 183; 200 93 92; 201 91 94; 202 92 95; 203 93 96; 204 76 184; 205 94 95;
206 77 185; 207 78 186; 208 96 95; 209 94 97; 210 95 98; 211 96 99; 212 79 187;
213 97 98; 214 80 188; 215 81 189; 216 99 98; 217 97 100; 218 98 101;
219 99 102; 220 82 190; 221 100 101; 222 83 191; 223 84 192; 224 102 101;
225 100 103; 226 101 104; 227 102 105; 228 85 193; 229 103 104; 230 86 194;
231 87 195; 232 105 104; 233 103 106; 234 104 107; 235 105 108; 236 88 196;
237 106 107; 238 89 197; 239 90 198; 240 108 107; 241 31 33; 242 32 53;
243 52 71; 244 70 89; 245 88 107; 246 11 18; 247 12 45; 248 42 63; 249 60 81;
250 78 99; 251 17 12; 252 18 42; 253 45 60; 254 63 78; 255 81 96; 256 34 32;
257 33 52; 258 53 70; 259 71 88; 260 89 106; 261 109 2; 262 110 3; 263 111 6;
264 112 8; 265 113 9; 266 114 12; 267 115 14; 268 116 15; 269 117 18;
270 118 20; 271 119 21; 272 120 24; 273 121 26; 274 122 27; 275 123 30;
276 124 32; 277 125 33; 278 126 36; 279 127 37; 280 128 38; 281 129 39;
282 130 40; 283 131 41; 284 132 42; 285 133 43; 286 134 44; 287 135 45;
288 136 46; 289 137 47; 290 138 48; 291 139 49; 292 140 50; 293 141 51;
294 142 52; 295 143 53; 296 144 54; 297 145 55; 298 146 56; 299 147 57;
300 148 58; 301 149 59; 302 150 60; 303 151 61; 304 152 62; 305 153 63;
306 154 64; 307 155 65; 308 156 66; 309 157 67; 310 158 68; 311 159 69;
312 160 70; 313 161 71; 314 162 72; 315 163 73; 316 164 74; 317 165 75;
318 166 76; 319 167 77; 320 168 78; 321 169 79; 322 170 80; 323 171 81;
324 172 82; 325 173 83; 326 174 84; 327 175 85; 328 176 86; 329 177 87;
330 178 88; 331 179 89; 332 180 90; 333 181 91; 334 182 92; 335 183 93;
336 184 94; 337 185 95; 338 186 96; 339 187 97; 340 188 98; 341 189 99;
342 190 100; 343 191 101; 344 192 102; 345 193 103; 346 194 104; 347 195 105;
348 196 106; 349 197 107; 350 198 108;
DEFINE MATERIAL START
ISOTROPIC STEEL
E 4.176e+006
POISSON 0.3
DENSITY 0.489024
ALPHA 6.5e-006
DAMP 0.03
END DEFINE MATERIAL
MEMBER PROPERTY AMERICAN
1 3 4 12 14 15 23 25 26 34 36 37 45 47 48 56 58 59 61 63 64 69 71 72 77 79 80 85 87 88 93 95 96 101 103 104 106 108 109 114 116 117 122 124 125 130 132 133 138 140 141 146 148 149 151 153 154 159 161 162 167 169 170 175 177 178 183 185 186 191 193 194 196 198 199 204 206 207 212 214 215 220 222 223 228 230 231 236 238 239 261 TO 350 TABLE ST W21X101

2 5 7 8 11 13 16 18 19 22 24 27 29 30 33 35 38 40 41 44 46 49 51 52 55 57 60 62 65 TO 68 70 73 TO 76 78 81 TO 84 86 89 TO 92 94 97 TO 100 102 105 107 110 TO 113 115 118 TO 121 123 126 TO 129 131 134 TO 137 139 142 TO 145 147 150 152 155 TO 158 160 163 TO 166 168 171 TO 174 176 179 TO 182 184 187 TO 190 192 195 197 200 TO 203 205 208 TO 211 213 216 TO 219 221 224 TO 227 229 232 TO 235 237 240 TABLE ST W21X44
246 TO 255 TABLE LD L30308 SP 0.1
241 TO 245 256 TO 260 TABLE ST HSST9X3X0.25
CONSTANTS
MATERIAL STEEL ALL
SUPPORTS
1 4 5 7 10 11 13 16 17 19 22 23 25 28 29 31 34 35 PINNED
MEMBER RELEASE
7 8 11 TO 16 18 19 22 TO 27 29 30 33 TO 38 40 41 44 TO 49 51 52 55 TO 60 66 67 TO 105 111 TO 150 156 TO 195 201 TO 240 START MPX 0.99 MPY 0.99 MPZ 0.99
7 8 11 13 16 18 19 22 24 27 29 30 33 35 38 40 41 44 46 49 51 52 55 57 60 66 67 TO 68 70 73 TO 76 78 81 TO 84 86 89 TO 92 94 97 TO 100 102 105 111 TO 113 115 118 TO 121 123 126 TO 129 131 134 TO 137 139 142 TO 145 147 150 156 TO 158 160 163 TO 166 168 171 TO 174 176 179 TO 182 184 187 TO 190 192 195 201 TO 203 205 208 TO 211 213 216 TO 219 221 224 TO 227 229 232 TO 235 237 240 264 TO 278 282 TO 296 300 TO 314 318 TO 332 336 TO 349 350 END MPX 0.99 MPY 0.99 MPZ 0.99
MEMBER TRUSS
241 TO 260
DEFINE WIND LOAD
TYPE 1
<! STAAD PRO GENERATED DATA DO NOT MODIFY !!!
ASCE-7-2002:PARAMS 85.000 MPH 0 1 1 0 0.000 FT 0.000 FT 0.000 FT 1 1 40.000 FT 30.000 FT 25.000 FT 2.000 0.010 0 0 0 0 0 0.761 1.000 1.000 0.850 0 0 0 0 0.644 0.800 0.550
!> END GENERATED DATA BLOCK
INT 0.0112289 0.0112289 0.011392 0.0115424 0.0116822 0.011813 0.0119361 0.0120525 0.0121631 0.0122684 0.0123691 0.0124656 0.0125582 0.0126475 0.0127335 HEIG 0 15 16.9231 18.8461 20.7692 22.6923 24.6154 26.5385 28.4615 30.3846 32.3077 34.2308 36.1538 38.0769 40
LOAD 1 LOADTYPE Dead TITLE DEAD LOAD
SELFWEIGHT Y -1
LOAD 2 LOADTYPE Live TITLE LIVE LOAD
FLOOR LOAD
YRANGE 0 60 FLOAD -0.1 GY
LOAD 3 LOADTYPE Wind TITLE WIND LOAD
WIND LOAD X 1 TYPE 1
LOAD COMB 4 GENERATED AISC GENERAL 1
1 1.0
LOAD COMB 5 GENERATED AISC GENERAL 2
1 1.0 2 1.0

LOAD COMB 6 GENERATED AISC GENERAL 3

1 1.0 2 0.75
LOAD COMB 7 GENERATED AISC GENERAL 4
1 1.0 3 1.0
LOAD COMB 8 GENERATED AISC GENERAL 5
1 1.0 2 0.75 3 0.75
LOAD COMB 9 GENERATED AISC GENERAL 6
1 0.6 3 1.0
LOAD COMB 10 GENERATED AISC GENERAL 7
1 0.6
PERFORM ANALYSIS PRINT ALL
*PARAMETER 1
*CODE AISC
*CHECK CODE ALL
PARAMETER 1
CODE AISC
FYLD 5184 MEMB 1 TO 5 7 8 11 TO 16 18 19 22 TO 27 29 30 33 TO 38 40 41 44 45 TO 49 51 52 55 TO 240 261 TO 350
CHECK CODE MEMB 1 TO 5 7 8 11 TO 16 18 19 22 TO 27 29 30 33 TO 38 40 41 44 45 TO 49 51 52 55 TO 240 261 TO 350
FINISH