Multisegment Beam - Lap Splices and Openings

On the Lap splices and openings tab of the Contact parameters dialog, you can define parameters of the connection between 2 segments of a multisegment beam.

Lap splices

As you define parameters of the connection between segments of multisegment beams, you can shift the contact of flanges of connected segments with respect to the contact of the segment web. You can define separate shift values for the lower flange and the upper flange. The reference point for the definition of a shift is the plane of contact of segments resulting from the assumed segment lengths. If you enter a positive value, the contact will be shifted in the direction from point P1 to point P2. A negative value shifts the contact from P2 to P1.

Note: Lap splices of segments can be defined only when plates of the flanges are characterized by normal vectors parallel to each other. If the flange of a segment is inclined at a certain angle, a lap splice may not be defined (see the drawing below).

A lap splice may be defined

A lap splice may not be defined

You can also define distances between contacts of segment flanges. The values specified (separately for the upper and lower flange) are distributed symmetrically with respect to the theoretical point of contact between flanges.

Openings

When flanges of both adjacent segments should be welded with a continuous weld along the entire width of flanges, it is necessary to generate additional openings in the beam web in the area of contact between flanges. Specify a radius of an arc whose center is the point of contact between flanges (the point shown in the drawing below).