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Steel Connection Design Manual
Everything About Licensing
Buy a License / How to Login
Change Login Name and Password
Quick Start - New User
CivilBay Engineering Services
Collapse Connection LibraryConnection Library
Moment Connection Type
Moment Connection-Extended End Plate Type
Moment Connection - Tutorial
Shear Connection
Shear Connection - Tutorial
Brace Connection Type
Brace Hor Member Connection Type
Brace Hor Strut Connection Type
Ver Brace Connection - Tutorial
Hor Brace Connection - Tutorial
Splice Connection
Splice Connection Type
Splice Connection - Tutorial
Base Plate and Anchor Bolt Connection
Hollow Section Steel Connection
Slip Critical Bolt Connection and Slotted Bolt Hole
Collapse Concrete Anchorage DesignConcrete Anchorage Design
Conc Anchorage Design Manual
Base Plate Anchor Bolt Pattern
Anchor Bolt Design Seismic Provisions - ACI 318-19
Anchor Bolt Design Seismic Provisions - CSA A23.3-19
Vertical Vessel Anchorage Design - Skirt Support and Leg Support
Collapse Sample CalculationSample Calculation
Collapse Moment ConnectionMoment Connection
MC-4 Bolt Extend End Plate
MC at Column Top - Column Siffener Plate
MC at Both Sides of Column - Column Siffener and Doubler Plate
MC-2 Bolts Top Flush End Plate
MC-12 Bolts Extend End Plate MRE 1/3-4W/2W
MC-Flange Plate to Column Flange
MC-Flange Plate to Column Web
Collapse Moment Connection-SeismicMoment Connection-Seismic
OMF MC-4 Bolt 4E Extend End Plate
OMF MC-8 Bolt 8ES Extend End Plate
SMF BFP Bolted Flange Plate
Collapse Shear ConnectionShear Connection
End Plate-Beam to Column Flange
End Plate-Beam to Column Web
End Plate-Beam to Girder
End Plate-Beam to Girder with Stiffened Coped Beam
Clip Angle-Beam to Column Flange
Clip Angle-Beam to Column Web
Clip Angle-Beam to Girder
Clip Angle-Beam to Girder with Stiffened Coped Beam
Shear Tab-Beam to Column Flange
Shear Tab-Beam to Column Web
Shear Tab-Beam to Girder
Shear Tab-Beam to Girder with Stiffened Coped Beam
Collapse Vertical Brace ConnectionVertical Brace Connection
W Shape Brace to Column Web
W Shape Brace to Column Flange
Collapse Vertical Brace - SeismicVertical Brace - Seismic
SCBF HSS Ver Brace
SCBF HSS Chevron Brace-Top
SCBF HSS Chevron Brace-Bottom
Collapse Horizontal Brace ConnectionHorizontal Brace Connection
Horizontal Brace-End Plate
Horizontal Brace-Wrap Around Gusset Plate-Clip Angle
Horizontal Brace-Wrap Around Gusset Plate-Shear Tab
Collapse Chevron Brace ConnectionChevron Brace Connection
Chevron Brace
Collapse Knee Brace ConnectionKnee Brace Connection
Knee Brace
Collapse Base Plate Ver Brace ConnectionBase Plate Ver Brace Connection
Base Plate Ver Brace-Column Flange
Base Plate Ver Brace-Column Web
Collapse Splice ConnectionSplice Connection
Splice-Exterior Flange Plate
Splice-Exterior/Interior Flange Plate
Splice-Top & Bottom Extended End Plate
Splice-Top Flushed & Bottom Extended End Plate
CivilBay AISC Steel Connection Design Manual
Quick Start
 
How to Use
 
Steel Connection Design Tips
 

1. Why this program is the best steel connection design program ?         Back to Top
 
Civilbay steel connection design program is one of the most comprehensive steel connection design software based on AISC 360-16 and
AISC 360-10 code, CSA S16-14 code, and all AISC Steel Design Guides.
1. It's a pure AISC solution which covers 90~95% of steel connection design in most projects, with specific strength on brace connection design
    including vertical brace, horizontal brace, chevron brace, knee brace, ver. brace to base plate , and wrap around gusset plate design in horizontal
    brace design.
2. It provides detailed sketches and textbook style step by step calculation showing formulas and parameters. In every step it shows the design
    code reference source for the user to trace how the result is derived so that the user has full control on the calculation.

2. Where can I buy a license and how much is the cost ?         Back to Top
 
User can click on this link  Buy Now  to buy a license online.
When user navigate through the Buy Now  link , user will find license pricing info.


3. Which web browser is the best one to run this program ?         Back to Top
 
Use Google Chrome as your web browser


4. Where can I find the online tutorial video ?         Back to Top
 
  Tutorial 01  Quick Start      Tutorial 02 - Design Examples   Part 1      Part 2      Part 3       Working Sheet
 
  Tutorial 03  Moment Connection           Tutorial 04  Splice Connection  
 
  Tutorial 05  Shear Connection  
 
  Tutorial 06  Vertical Brace Connection          Tutorial 07  Horizontal Brace Connection  
 
  Tutorial 11  HSS Connection - Moment & Shear Connection  
  Tutorial 12  HSS Connection - Brace Connection  
 
  Tutorial 21  Brace Connection - Transfer or Pass Through Force  
  Tutorial 22  Slip Critical Bolt Connection and Slotted Bolt Hole  
 
To view online user manual ,  visit    User Manual
To start online program ,       visit    Start Program
 

5. How to start the program ?         Back to Top
 
To run the concrete anchorage design program online, visit Start Program


6. Quick introduction on the user interface         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
See screenshot below for the user interface input and display areas
Area-1 : sketch area,    sketch is shown in this area. Users can change different views of same connection by clicking on radio button in Area-5
Area-2 : status area,    showing license status and calculation result summary in this area
Area-3 : input area,      users key in inputs in this area, by clicking on different tabs in Area-4, the input fields will change to serve different part
                                 of inputs for the connection
Area-4 : input tabs,      clicking on different tabs in this area it will change the input contents shown in Area-3
Area-5 : sketch view tabs,    clicking on different tabs in this area it will change the sketch view shown in Area-1  
Area-6 : file/login area,    user can save/load input file, update input and login/logout in this area  



7. How to login as a licensed user ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
For licensed user, you will get an email from me after you pruchased the license. That email will give you login user name and password.
Key in your login user name and password as shown below


After login please verify that your user name appears on the status area and the license is shown as activated.
 


8. How to change my login user name and password ?         Back to Top
 
Click on this link  Change Login  to change login user name and password.


9. How to navigate between different design modules ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
There are Steel Connection and Concrete Anchorage two design modules.
User has purchased Steel Connection license , but Concrete Anchorage design module needs separate license. We encourage Steel Connection
user to have a free trila on Concrete Anchorage module.
For Steel Connection user, follow two setps below to select Steel Connection design module.
Step 1 : Click on General tab as shown below
Step 2 : Select Steel Connection design module from the pull down as shown below



10. How to choose design code and set up design unit ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
Step 1 : Click on Setting tab as shown below
Step 2 : On the pop-up dialog box, select Design Code, Design Unit and Display Precision

Design Code :  There are three design codes available as shown below
Design Unit :    It will set the Imperial or Metric unit for input and calculation presentation
                      User can design ACI 318-19 Imperial code using metric design unit
                      User can also design A23.3-19 Metric code using imperial design unit
Display Precision :  It sets how the number is presented on the sketch, for example half an inch display as 0.500 or 1/2";
                            This setting applies to sketch presentation only and does not apply to calculation report presentation



11. Load input and load sign convention         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
For axial load input, negative value denotes tensile load and positive value denotes compression load
 


12. User input and update         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
To save time and avoid page refreshing after user keys in every input, for many input fileds the page remains not updated after user keys in a new value.
User can click on the Update button to refresh the page after finish all inputs in the panel.


13. User input and highlighted text in sketch         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
See screenshot below, hover your mouse over an input field and it's value in sketch will be highlighted in yellow
 


14. How to use tooltip and turn tooltip On/Off ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
The program provides Tooltip for almost every input fields. It is an online user manual for user's convenience.
User needs to turn the Tooltip On first before viewing the tooltip and user can turn it Off after user is familiar with the program.
User can hover the mouse over input filed and it will pop up the tooltip
User can also click on the question mark and it will also pop up the tooltip


15. What is suggest values and how to use them ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
See screenshot below, there are suggest values, many are from standard drawings, which will give user a good start for design
User can click on Copy button to copy all suggest values to input fields on the left


16. How to view and get calculation report         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
User can click on Design Calc to view calculation report as shown on screenshot below.
Refer to next FAQ for details on how to navigate/organize calculation report for printout.


17. How to arrange calculation report in Summary / Condensed / Detailed / Sketch format ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
See screenshot below. User can review/organize which section of calculation to be displayed and click on any check item's title bar to
expand/collapse that item to review detail calculation.
Step 1: User can select which section of calculation to be displayed by checking items in this checkbox. If only Summary is checked
            then it will only display result summary, or Sketches is checked, it will display sketches.
Step 2: User can click on any check item's title bar to unfold this check item to show detail calculation
Step 3: User can also click on the Expand All / Collapse All to expand/collapse all check items' calculation details in one single shot


18. How to add company name and project name in calc report title ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
See Step 3 and Step 4 in next FAQ-19   on how to add company name and project name in the calculation report


19. How to print calculation report ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
Before printing a calculation report , user may follow FAQ-16   above to arrange the report in user expected format by checking the
checkboxes and expand/collapse required sections.
Step 1: In Design Calc tab, click on Print button and it will pop up a new window as shown in screenshot below, maximize the new window

Step

Step 2: Maximize the new window
          a) Point mouse on the right margin      b) Click on mouse right button      c) Select Print menu item in the pop up menu

Step 3:
In the new print window, the two checkbox under bottom-left Options area are checked by default, if not please check these two options
See next screenshot in Step 4 to understand how the inputs of Company Name, Project Name and Connection ID under General tab are captured here as calculation report title



Step 4:
Compare to screenshot above to understand how the inputs of Company Name, Project Name and Connection ID under General tab are captured as calculation report title




20. How to save and load input file ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
Follow instructions below to open/save an input file. It's exactly the same as how you save a download file in the web browser.
How to save an input file




How to open an input file


21. How to select the steel connection type ?         Back to Top
 
User can view Youtube video on this Tutorial      
 


22. I got an error message when I run the program         Back to Top
 
This program may have bugs which will casue error. When you get the error message similar to the one shown below, don't be panic.
Follow these steps to report the bug to me.
Step 1 : Take a screenshot of the error message similar to the one below, and email the screenshot to me as attachment of your email
Step 2 : Check this page How to Reset Program  on how to reset the program. After reset, click on this link Start Program   to start the program again.
Step 3 : After restart the program, repeat previous steps to reach the step just before you getting error message, save your input file and email it to me.
             Tell me for this file on which input you click causes the error. I will fix the bug if I can repeat your error message here.
Below is a sample error message screenshot. Your error message may not be the same but shall be similar



25. How to handle transfer force or pass through force in brace connection         Back to Top
 
User can refer to this  tutorial video  and tutorial page  for detail explanation on how to handle brace transfer/pass through force input in this program.
The transfer force or pass through force in brace connection is handled as per schematic chart shown below.
User can split the brace connection into two sides of brace connection and design them separately. The relationship between the two sides is the transfer force TF.
 

Transfer Force or Pass-through Force Load Input
Transfer force or pass-through force input field takes both +/- value. Positive value denotes tensile transfer force , negative value denotes compressive transfer force.
 
The author suggests to input positive transfer force all the time for both load input cases . Positive transfer force will add axial tensile force to beam-column interface
axial force so that it will produce conservative result for the brace connection design.
 


Beam End Beam Axial Load Input

In one sentence, beam end beam axial load Pbm , which is taken from structural analysis member force output, is NOT required for brace connection beam-column design.
 
Refer to Gusset Plate Interface Forces Calculation - Uniform Force Method chart below.
Pbm - beam member axial force, which is taken from structural analysis member force output,  is NOT needed for brace connection beam-column design
Pb-c - beam to column interface axial force, which is calculated from user's input of brace axial force P and trasnfer force Ab  using uniform force method.
         It is Pb-c , not  Pbm , that is used in the brace connection beam-column design
       
 
For brace connection load inputs, we expect brace axial force P , beam end shear load Vb-c  and trasnfer force Ab  for load input, but beam end axial load Pbm  is not required.
 
Q1. Steel frame engineer gives out beam axial load Pbm  and asks connection enginner to use it for brace connection design
 
      Connection enginner shall request trasnfer force Ab instead of beam end axial load Pbm . When there is no choice, connection enginner can take beam axial load Pbm 
      and input it as positive value of transfer force Ab
 
 
Q2. Steel frame engineer gives out both beam end axial load Pbm  and transfer force Ab  and asks connection enginner to use them for brace connection design
 
      Brace axial force P , trasnfer force Ab , and beam axial load Pbm  can NOT be all from input values at the same time as one of the three can be derived from the other two.

The author suggests to input positive transfer force all the time for both load input cases . Positive transfer force will add axial tensile force to beam-column interface
axial force so that it will produce conservative result for the brace connection design.

Below is the load input panel for brace connection
 



26. Adding column web stiffener to bypass Column Web Axial Yielding check         Back to Top
 
In brace or shear connection where beam connects to column web using End Plate, Shear Tab or Gusset Plate as connector, when beam's
axial force imposed on column web is large, Column Web Axial Yielding check is very easy to fail.
User can add vertical stiffener plate to column web to waive the Column Web Axial Yielding check