Automated Steel Connection Design Retriving Data from Tekla Structures Model

AUTOMATED STEEL CONNECTION DESIGN RETRIVING DATA FROM TEKLA STRUCTURES MODEL

A Thesis

Presented to the

Faculty of the Graduate School of Engineering

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

(University of the City of Manila)

Intramuros, Manila

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Master of Engineering (MEng)

with Specialization in Structural Engineering

By:

DANICA LYN V. ALMORO

18 January 2014

Chapter I. INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the Study

Most of the Engineering of Records particularly of Steel Structures does not include the design of its connections. The fabricator/erector of the structure is the one sub-contracting the detailing of drawings together with its connection design. In a structure there are many various types of connection and numerous connections shall be designed depending on the structure’s load distribution and frame analysis. Most of these detailing firms are having a difficult time finding engineers which specialized in designing of connection, thus lack of man power happen. This study will help the sub-contracting company be increase in productivity and cancellation of transactions from the detailing and engineers, which will be resulting in meeting the project’s scheduled deadlines.

1. Statement of the Problem

The objective of the study is to prove that having an automation of connection design will help improve the productivity of a company. Transaction of shop drawing due to the provision of the connection capacity from the connection design engineer to the detailer will be trimmed down.  

1. Significance of the Study

This will lessen the responsibility of connection design engineers since there will be a minimal supervision in some of the usual connection design of the structure. Detailers who are using TEKLA structure for their model will seamlessly transfer data on the automated design connection software which will produce the connection capacity of the beam shop drawing requirements.

1. Scope and Limitations

Most of the limit states are based on AISC manual, limitation of the code will also be the limitation of the software. Assumption will be minimized, to have a more accurate result that will specifically follow what the codes are advising. Basic connection types which have an example on AISC are the priority to be developed.

Chapter II. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

There are different kinds of connection design soft wares like RAM from Bentley, Descon WIN/BRACE, Rexconn etc. Most of this software are difficult to use and only engineers can. The study will help develop the transaction inside a company be minimized or probably cancelled it out, making the connection design engineer have a lesser responsibility in providing connection capacity box for usual connections of beams and braces. Detailers will be the one to design the connection and engineers will have a minimal supervision on checking the accuracy and possible optimization of the connection design. Flow chart below shows the difference between transaction between detailer and engineer with the idea of having the connection design being automated and not.