In this tip I will show you 5 bracing connections available in ProSteel. They are the following:

1. Flange Brace Connection
2. Web Brace Connection
3. Hollow Shape Bracing
4. Wrap Around Gusset Brace
5. Brace Splice Connection

They can be accessed from the ProSteel Task Bar (MicroStation only)

or from the ConnectionCenter (AutoCAD / MicroStation)

1) Flange Brace Connection

Feature description:

This tool creates a bracing connection at the junction of column/shape1, beam or plate (flat or polyplate)/shape2 and brace/shape3 on the flange of shape1.

Two general basic configurations are available, one for angles and the second for slotted plates, based on those basic rules, one can create many different combinations by turning on/off internal components along with filler/shim pates on web and flange side, bolting and welding.

Weld styles are presently disabled (grayed out), therefore the placement of the weld in the model is not possible for now and will make it available in the future.

Prerequisites:

• All shapes should exist prior to using this connection, they should all exist on the same plane.
• Shapes are limited to SHAPECLASS HE
• Axial rotation of shapes should be as per image below.

• Shape1, 2 and 3 can exist at any inclination see image above.
• Angle shapes can either be equal or unequal
• Gap between shear plate and gusset plate, gap between shear plate and web of brace is calculated:
  2 options are possible space/gap between shear plate and web or shear plate and gusset plate can be left either as a gap or filled with one or more filler/shim plates. The user can specify one or a set of filler plates to fill the empty space, exceptionally they can also specify one or a set of filler plates larger than the empty space, at which point there will be a collision.
  Example of filler plate pattern 1@0.25;2@0.375
• When there is no difference in thickness between the gusset plate and brace web, the user can still specify filler plates, positive thickness places filler plates on the gusset side, negative thickness on the brace side.
• Gap between angles or plates to flange of brace is specified by the user, rules for filler/shim plates are the same as the shear plate.
• The calculation for this connection is based on the distance from the WP (the junction point of shape1 and shape3 centerlines) to the exterior face of gusset plate next to end of shape3.

Usage method:

• Start ConnectionCenter, then select
  
  
• Select shape1 (SHAPECLASS HE)
• Select shape2 (SHAPECLASS HE, Flat shape/Bar or Plate)
• The first time the connection is created using internal defaults.
• From here on one can modify any/all parameters, including assignments and grouping and save them in templates for later use or sharing.

Grouping rules, 4 conditions:

1, main part: brace

if Connect angle weld with Brace

Connect angles will be added to this group

if Shear Plate weld with Brace

Shear Plates will be added to this group

2, main part:Column

if support angle or Flange plate weld with Column

Support angles or Flange Plates will be added to this group

3, main part:Beam

if support angle2 or Flange plate weld with Beam

Support angles or Flange Plates will be added to this group

4, main part : gusset

if Support angles not weld with beam, but weld with gusset

support angles will be added to this group

if Support angles2 not weld with beam, but weld with gusset

support angles2 will be added to this group

if Shear Plate not weld with Brace, but weld with gusset

Shear Plates will be added to this group

if Flange plate not weld with Brace

Flange Plates will be added to this group

if connect angle not weld with brace, but weld with gusset
Connect Angles will be added to this group

2) Web Brace Connection

Feature description:

This tool creates a bracing connection at the junction of column/shape1, beam or plate (flat or polyplate)/shape2 and brace/shape3 on the web of shape1.

Two general basic configurations are available, one for angles and the second for slotted plates, based on those basic rules, one can create many different combinations by turning on/off internal components along with stiffener plates, filler/shim pates on web and flange side, bolting and welding.

Weld styles are presently disabled (grayed out), therefore the placement of the weld in the model is not possible for now and will make it available in the future.

Prerequisites:

• All shapes should exist prior to using this connection, they should all exist on the same plane.
• Shapes are limited to SHAPECLASS HE
• Axial rotation of shapes should be as per image below.
  
• Shape1, 2 and 3 can exist at any inclination as image above.
• Angle shapes can either be equal or unequal
• Gap between shear plate and gusset plate, gap between shear plate and web of brace is calculated:
  2 options are possible space/gap between shear plate and web or shear plate and gusset plate can be left either as a gap or filled with one or more filler/shim plates.
  The user can specify one or a set of filler plates to fill the empty space, exceptionally they can also specify one or a set of filler plates larger than the empty space, at which point there will be a collision.
  Example of filler plate pattern 1@0.25;2@0.375
• When there is no difference in thickness between the gusset plate and brace web, the user can still specify filler plates, positive thickness places filler plates on the gusset side, negative thickness on the brace side.
• Gap between angles or plates to flange of brace is specified by the user, rules for filler/shim plates are the same as the shear plate.
• The calculation for this connection is based on the distance from the WP (the junction point of shape1 and shape3 centerlines) to the exterior face of gusset plate next to end of shape3.

Usage method:

• Start ConnectionCenter, then select
  
  
• Select shape1 (SHAPECLASS HE)
• Select shape2 (SHAPECLASS HE, Flat shape/Bar or Plate)
• The first time the connection is created using internal defaults.
• From here on one can modify any/all parameters, including assignments and grouping and save them in templates for later use or sharing.

Grouping rules, 4 conditions:

1, main part: Column

Stiffeners will be added to this group.

2, main part: Beam

if support angle or Flange plate weld with Beam

Support angles or Flange Plates will be added to this group

3, main part: Brace

if Connect angle weld with Brace

Connect angles will be added to this group

if Shear Plate weld with Brace

Shear Plates will be added to this group

4, main part: Gusset plate

if Support angles not weld with beam, but weld with gusset

support angles will be added to this group

if connect angle not weld with Brace, but weld with gusset

Connect angles will be added to this group

if Shear Plate not weld with Brace, but weld with gusset

Shear Plates will be added to this group

 3) Hollow Shape Bracing

Feature description:

This tool creates a bracing connection at the junction of support/shape1 and connect/shape2 (i.e. column and a brace or beam and a brace), at the intersection of support/shape1 and connect/shape2 (i.e. at the intersection of 2 braces) or a support/shape1, connect/shape2 and connect/shape3 (i.e. of one continuous brace and 2 diagonal braces sections on the same centerline).

Weld styles are presently disabled (grayed out), therefore the placement of the weld in the model is not possible for now and will make it available in the future.

Prerequisites:

• All shapes should exist prior to using this connection, they should all exist on the same plane.
• Support shape can be SHAPECLASS HE, EDGEPIPE or ROUNDPIPE in a single sided connection, however with a double sided connection with a through plate shapes are limited to EDGEPIPE and ROUNDPIPE
• Connecting shapes can be any mix of SHAPECLASS EDGEPIPE or ROUNDPIPE
• In the case where to connecting shapes exist, both shape2 and shape3 should be on the same centerline.

Usage method:

• Start ConnectionCenter, then select
  
  
• Select shape1 (SHAPECLASS EDGEPIPE or ROUNDPIPE)
• Select shape2 (SHAPECLASS EDGEPIPE or ROUNDPIPE)
• Optional, Select shape3 (SHAPECLASS EDGEPIPE or ROUNDPIPE)
• The first time the connection is created using internal defaults.
• From here on one can modify any/all parameters, including assignments and grouping and save them in templates for later use or sharing.

 4) Wrap Around Gusset Brace

Feature description:

This tool creates a bracing connection at the junction of beam/shape1; beam/shape2 with an optional cutting member/shape3 and one or two brace members; a gusset plate is created with or without clip angles, the connection can be all bolted, welded or partially bolted and welded.

Weld styles are presently not available; therefore the placement of the weld in the model is not possible for now and will make it available in the future.

Prerequisites:

• All shapes should exist prior to using this connection, Shape1, 2 and 3 can exist at any inclination as long as they are on the same plane, brace 1 and 2 should exist on the same projected plane as shape1 and 2 and within the web depth of the smaller shape.
• Braces1, 2 are limited to SHAPECLASS HE, brace shapes can be any combination of wide flange, channel, equal and unequal L, Tee or flat bar.
• Supporting shape1, 2 and 3 axial rotations can be at 90 degrees from the rotation shown in the image above.
• Shape 1 and 2 are not limited to 90 degrees, they can form an acute or obtuse angle.
• The connection can be placed above, below or in between brace shapes, depending on their location and orientation, i.e. if brace(s) are turned upward the gusset is created under, if brace(s) are turned downward the gusset is created over and if braces are a mix of upward and downward with the appropriate space/gap in between then the gusset is created between the braces. 

Usage method:

• Start ConnectionCenter, select
  
  
• Select beam/shape1, beam/shape2,
• Select cutting/shape3 (optional), brace1 and brace2 (optional)
• The first time the connection is created using internal defaults.
• From here on one can modify any/all parameters, including assignments and save them in templates for later use or sharing.

 5) Brace Splice Connection

Feature description:

This tool creates a bracing splice connection at the junction of column/shape1, and 1, 2 or 4 brace shape(s) on the flange(s) of shape1 with plate(s).

Weld styles are presently disabled; therefore the placement of the weld in the model is not possible for now and will make it available in the future.

Prerequisites:

• Shapes1 is limited to W, I or HSS
• Brace shapes are limited to W, C, L and flatbar
• All brace shapes shouldAll shapes should exist prior to using this connection, conditions:

• exist on the same plane
• same be type and size
• same shape orientation/direction/rotatio

• Connection plates are created on the flanges of shape1, if shape1 is a W it can only exist in one direction (flanges in the same direction as braces)
• When braces are centered with shape1, connection is created one both flanges
• When braces exist on one of the flange sides, then there are 2 acceptable scenarios,

1. back of brace is turned inward and flush with outside flange face of shape1
2. back of existing brace is turned outward, there should exist a gap that is equal to the plate thickness

Usage method:

• Start ConnectionCenter, then select
  
  
• Select shape1
• Select 1, 2 or 4 brace shape(s)
• The first time the connection is created using internal defaults.
• From here on one can modify any/all parameters, including assignments and save them in templates for later use or sharing.

Grouping rules, 2 conditions:

• When plate is welded on the column and all braces are bolted, the plate will be grouped with the column (with column as main part)
• When all shape and braces are bolted, the plate will be grouped with the column (with column as main part) 

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