Connection Definition

Use this option to select the connection type and specify its parameters.

Access the option from the Connections layout or after clicking on the toolbar.

Note: In Robot, the following codes are available, allowing you to calculate steel structure connections: Eurocode (ENV 1993-1-1:1992 and EN 1993-1-8:2005/AC:2009) , French steel code CM66 and Polish steel code PN-90/B-03200. The national versions of the Eurocode 3 code for steel connections: French (NF-EN 1993-1-8:2005/NA:2007/AC:2009) and Polish (PN-EN 1993-1-8:2006/AC:2009) are available.

The screen is divided into 2 basic parts: the Inspector pane used for management of defined connections and the graphical viewer, which consists of several tabs:

• Scheme (a schematic drawing of a connection)
• 3D View (the view of a defined connection with a possibility of rotation, zoom, pan)
• Structure (the view of a whole structure)
• Results (a calculation note with results of connection calculations; available only after performing calculations).

The following connection types are available in Robot by clicking (New Connection):

• beam-beam connection
• frame knee connection
• column-beam connection
• column-beam (two-sided) connection
• column base - column connection: fixed
• column base - column connection: pinned
• column base - column connection: concrete base
• beam splice connection
• column splice connection
• , , , - angle connection
• pipe connection.
• , , - connection with a gusset plate: for a single bar, internal node, and truss chord node.

The following parameters can be defined for subsequent connection types:

• frame knee, beam-beam, and column-beam connection (table designation: KNEE):
  • bar section parameters
  • base parameters
  • stiffener parameters
  • anchorage parameters
  • concrete, weld and wedge parameters
• column-base connection (table designations: fixed base - FIX, pinned base - PINN, concrete base - CONC):
  • bar section parameters
  • reinforcement parameters
  • screw parameters
  • stiffener and plate parameters
  • depth of concrete base
• angle connection (table designation: ANG):
  • bar section parameters
  • angle parameters
  • bolt parameters
  • cut dimensions, distances, etc.
• pipe connection (table designation: PIP):
  • connection type (unilateral, bilateral)
  • parameters of adjoining bars (crosses)
  • bracket parameters
  • weld parameters
• connection - gusset (table designation: BLA):
  • connection type (welded, bolted) and its parameters
  • bar parameters etc.

Note: If a connection is defined, you can click (Connection Type Change) to change the type of connection:

• change to a pinned support
• change to a fixed support
• change to concrete support
• change to beam-to-beam connection
• change to frame knee connection
• change to beam-to-column connection
• change to column-beam (two-sided) connection
• change to beam splice connection
• change to column splice connection
• change to angle connection
• change to pipe connection
• change to connection with a gusset plate (single bar)
• change to connection with a gusset plate (internal node)
• change to connection with a gusset plate (truss chord node)

You can save a defined and calculated connection to a file of the following formats:

• DXF
• DWG
• STP
• WRL
• ANF
• SAT
• PEP

See also:

Directions of Force Action in Individual connection Types