ProtaSteel : IntelliConnect

IntelliConnect

Intelliconnect automatically assesses joints to your preferences, batch creates and designs steel connections. It covers a wide range of simple, moment, splice and weld connections. It considers constructability by intelligently arranging and configuring all the components of the connections without user intervention. This results in huge improvement in productivity as it minimizes time required to manually create & correct these connections.
Users are recommended to study ProtaSteel Basic Training Guide - "Intelliconnect For Fully Automated Steel Connection Design" before proceed to this topic.

IntelliConnect Scope

IntelliConnect can automatically create connections for various types of elements and profiles. IntelliConnect can provide solution for 36 different cases grouped in 11 categories. These categories can be listed as follows: 


  1. Splice connections
  2. Batten plate connections
  3. Sag rod connections
  4. Vertical bracing connections
  5. Truss connections
  6. Purlin connections
  7. Girt connections
  8. Stringer holes connections
  9. Floor beam connections (with horizontal bracing connections if there are any)
  10. Beam – Column connections (with horizontal and vertical bracings if there are any)
  11. Base plate connections (with vertical bracings if there are any)

These includes “simple cases”, e.g. where there are only 2 primary elements and “complex cases” where more elements meet at the same node.  

Cases covered

The following “Simple Cases” are covered by IntelliConnect :
  1. Splice connection (Supports whatever profiles are supported by the Splice macro)
  2. Column Base plate with no incoming vertical bracing. (The column needs to be an I section)
  3. A single beam framing into a main beam. The Beams can be I or channel profiles. The type of beam to beam connection can be any one of the following:
    1. The Stiffened end plate connection.
    2. The Fin plate connection.
    3. The beam to beam end plate connection.
  4. A single beam framing into a column. The profiles may be I or channel profiles. The type of beam to beam connection can be any one of the following:
    1. The Stiffened end plate connection.
    2. The Fin plate connection.
    3. The beam to beam end plate connection.
  5. A single horizontal brace framing into a beam. The horizontal brace may be any profile supported by the Bolted gusset or welded gusset macros)
  6. A single vertical brace framing into a column. The vertical brace may be any profile supported by the bolted gusset or welded gusset macros.
  7. A single purlin sitting on a beam or truss element. The type of connection may be any connection supported by the Purlin/Girt macro
  8. A single girt framing into a column. The type of connection may be any connection supported by the Purlin/Girt macro
  9. Creation of batten plates on twin profiles.
  10. Connection of a single purlin passing continuously over a truss top chord or roof beam
The following complex cases are covered by IntelliConnect :
  1. Two horizontal braces framing into a beam (from any side – web or flange)
  2. Two vertical braces framing into a column (from any side – web or flange)
  3. Truss connecting with more than one truss secondary framing into the truss top or bottom chord.
  4. Two purlins sitting on a truss top chord or a roof beam
  5. Two girts framing into a column (either colinear or one from each orthogonal direction )
  6. Two floor beams framing into a main beam from opposite sides
  7. Combinations of floor beams and horizontal braces framing into each other at the same point from both sides
  8. Up to 4 beams framing into a column (two from flange side and two from the web side)
  9. Combination of beams and vertical braces framing into a column
As far as limitations on profile types and connection types are concerned, the same limitations given in the simple cases apply. 

IntelliConnect Categories

There are 11 options/categories in IntelliConnect as below:


Create Purlin Connections

To create purlin connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the node/joint where purlin and truss located.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Purlin Connections.
  3. Adjust the settings for the purlin connection.
  4. Click Run to create the connection.


Create Girt Connections

To create girt connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the node/joint where location of girt connection to be created.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Girt Connections.
  3. Adjust the settings for the girt connection.
  4. Click Run to create the connection.
In setting, if a specific type of girt connection is selected and not creatable, program will prompt error "Purlins and Girts...could not connected!!!" Therefore, set "Auto" would be recommended. 

Create Sag Rod Connections

To create sag rod connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the node/joint of Sag Rod connecting the girt/purlin.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Sag Rod Connections.

Create Batten Plate

To create batten plate connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the members that has multiple steel profile welded together.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Batten Plate.


Create Splice Connections

To create splice connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the node/joint where location of splice connection to be created.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Splice Connections.
When creating splice, ensure no incoming beam/members connecting to the selected joint.


Create Base Plate Connections

To create base plate connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the node/joint where location of base plate connection to be created.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Base Plate Connections.

Create Bracing Connections

To create bracing connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the node/joint of bracing to bracing connection.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Bracing Connections.
  3. Select bracing type. 


Vertical bracing to beam and column can be done using column/beam connection.
Horizontal bracing to beam can be done using floor beam connection.

Create Truss Connections

To create truss connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the node/joint of trusses.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Truss Connections.
  3. Enter or leave the gusset plate size blank to automatically assign a size. 


Create Floor Beam Connections

To create floor beam connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the node/joint where location of beam to beam connection to be created.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Floor Beam Connections.
  3. Select the preference connection type and click "Run".


To use this IntelliConnect category, ensure that the beam to beam connection is hinged (simply supported/moment released) in ProtaStructure. If the beam is fix ended, the IntelliConnect will not run. In ProtaSteel, set to "Line" view mode, green dot at the member end indicates hinged end.

Create Column/Beam Connections

To create beam to column connection using IntelliConnect:
  1. Highlight the node/joint where location of beam to column connection to be created.
  2. Right click to access IntelliConnect > Create Column/Beam Connections.
  3. Select the preference fix and pin connection type and click "Run".

To use this IntelliConnect connection at intermediate of column,ensure that the column is a single span (modify in ProtaStructure using LEN in the column properties) instead of separating into two columns at the junction/joint.

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