11/12/2018 Tekla Structures link | IDEA StatiCa

IDEA StatiCa tutorial – Tekla Structures link (EN)

Welcome to IDEA StatiCa tutorial. This tutorial will show how to activate and use the link
between Tekla Structures and IDEA StatiCa Connection.

Activate the link Use the link Update the project Known limitations

1 How to activate the link

Install the latest version of IDEA StatiCa, get it in the Downloads

Make sure you are using a supported version of Tekla Structures – updates are
published in the BIM section.

IDEA StatiCa automatically integrates the BIM link into your CAD/CAE software during its
installation. You can check the status and activate more BIM links for later installed
software in the BIM link installer.

Open IDEA StatiCa and navigate to the panel BIM and open the BIM link installer. A
notification "Run as administrator" may appear, please confirm with the Yes button.

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Select the software to integrate the IDEA StatiCa BIM link into, click the Install button and
check the Installed status.

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2 How to use the link

Open the attached project in Tekla Structures. Then choose IDEA Connection in the
upper ribbon, button Connections and choose design code.

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We select the point which represents the node. Then we choose all the structural
members of the joint, the first chosen member will be set as bearing one. And confirm
with spacebar.

In the end we select all the remaining entities of the connection such as plates, bolts,
and welds.e. And confirm with spacebar.

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Automatic data transfer is finished and IDEA StatiCa Connection with the generated
project is launched. We imported the geometry, cross-sections and all needed data from
Tekla Structures.

3 Load effects
When we import a model from CAD program like Tekla, we need to input the internal
forces to load the members. In this example where we have many members, we can
easily import the forces from the enclosed Excel sheet .

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For import the forces, you can check workflow in FAQ: How to import load effects from
Excel sheet.

4 Design
Before the analysis, we add the manufacturing operation Cut for all members in the joint
which are connected to the bearing member.

We will add the first Cut.

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We set it for Member 2 and define the type of welds and other properties.

Then we will use operation Copy from the ribbon to replicate CUT4 and create CUT5.

And we modify properties for CUT5.

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Then we will use operation Copy from the ribbon to replicate CUT5 and create CUT6.
And we modify properties for CUT6.

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In the next step we create notch in the main beam and connect the plate by welds to
bearing member.

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5 Check
We start the analysis by clicking Calculate in the ribbon. Analysis model is automatically
generated, calculation is performed and we can see the Overall check displayed together
with basic values of check results.

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We go to the display tab Check and there we activate Equivalent stress, Mesh and
Deformed from the ribbon to get a full picture of what is happening in the joint. We open
the tab Bolts to see the results for these items.

6 Report
Next we go to the tab Report. IDEA StatiCa offers a fully customizable report to print out
or save in editable format.

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7 Synchronize models

Code-check manager is a BIM tool to export and synchronize connections from other
programs. It is launched directly in the 3rd party applications via a command/icon.

Synchronize

IDEA StatiCa detects changes in connection topology in the 3rd party application and
update respective IDEA StatiCa Connection project.

Modify

Open a connection imported from a 3rd party application and modify it – add/delete a
member, add missing welds etc.

Calculate

Synchronize and calculate current item and provide a new set of results.

Calculate all

Synchronize and calculate all items and provide new set of results.

Note

Kindly be aware that IDEA StatiCa syncs with a model of the 3rd party application, not the
other way around. If we add operations in IDEA StatiCa and then use the options
described above (Synchronize; Modify; Calculate; Calculate all), the additionally added
operations will be deleted.

Let’s show an example of managing changes in the models.

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Then we again open project in Tekla Structures and redefine what we need. Let´s
remove 2 rows of bolts for plate, which connect Member 2.

Then choose IDEA Connection in the upper ribbon, button Connections and choose
possibility Synchronize.

Automatic data transfer is finished and IDEA StatiCa Connection with the changed
project is launched. You can notice only two rows of bolts for the each side (instead of
original three rows).

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8 Known limitations
Link now works for a wide variety of connections / joints. However, please take into
account yet unsupported functionality:

Holes in members and plates

Openings in plates are supported.

Openings in members are not supported.

Workaround: Import the whole joint and manually add these in IDEA StatiCa
Connection.
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Welds

Option AROUND is supported.

We are not able to detect some welds.

Workaround: Generate a weld for each plate in Tekla. Always check imported
welds.

Supported / unsupported profiles

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I Par/Lib
U Lib

L Par/Lib

Circular hollow Par/Lib

Rectangular hollow Par/Lib
Rectangular plate Par
Cold formed C Par/Lib

Par - dimensions are set by users

Lib - profiles are taken from Tekla Structures library

Welded and composite cross-sections are not supported.

Be aware that there is not a proper description of rounding of hot-rolled sections in

Tekla Structures, IDEA StatiCa Connection defines missing values by itself.

Stub

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Import of stubs is supported.

Note: The import has to be done in the third step together with all joint elements
(plates, bolts, welds) - "Select parts of connection".

Anchoring

Currently not supported

Workaround: Can be added after import as "Base Plate" operation for any uncut
member.

Notch

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Notches in members and plates are supported.

Requirements:

Solid to cut by must be geometrically identical as solid of plate / member.

General polygon is not supported.

Welds on notches are not imported.

Workaround: Add welds manually in IDEA StatiCa Connection.

Keywords:

connection, joint, EN, Eurocode, analysis, end plate, connecting plate, cut, Tekla
Structures, BIM, BIM link, bolt, update, link

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