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Limcon v3.6  is a design aid for steel connections 

CONNECTIONTYPES

For each connection type, aspecific dialog box shows adiagram of the connection andoffers logically grouped datainput. The connection diagram

may be switched between adetail of the connection and aninput parameter key diagram. Allconnection details includingsteel section, plate dimensionsand grade, bolting configuration,and weld details are accessiblethrough the connection dialogbox. A virtual reality view of theconnection may be displayed as

an additional aid for checking input data. Results of capacity checks are displayed in the lower window ofthe dialog box. Thesre are buttons to generate a CAD DXF detail and to print a full report with results of

checks on each limit state included in the model. Section properties are extracted from a library filecontaining standard steel sections. A number of libraries are available for sections. You may change anylibrary or create a new one using the Section Library Manager.

Distributor: COMPUTERS & ENGINEERINGEngineering Software Consulting and Provision Center

Holzmühler Weg 87-89, D-35457 Lollar - GermanyTel: 0049 (0)6406 73667 Fax: 0049 (0)6406 4745E-Mail: baser@comp-engineering.comhttp://www.comp-engineering.com

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Design Codes

Limcon V3 is a design aid for steel connections. Limcon is normally supplied configuredfor one of the following design codes:

•   ANSI/AISC 360-05 (ASD & LRFD)•  CSA-S16-01• 

BS 5950 : 2000•  EN 1993 : 2005 (EC3)•   AS 4100 / NZS 3404

Each connection design model is essentially defined by the cited reference but therelevant provisions of the configured design code take precedence where any differenceoccurs.

The design code can only be changed when Limcon has been supplied validated formore than one design code. When Limcon is validated for ANSI/AISC 360-05 you may

choose either ASD or LRFD.

The File > Configure > General command permits the country and the sectionlibrary to be changed. The country determines which steel grades may be used for platecomponents and the section library determines availability of steel sections and theirgrades.

The Limcon Window

The Limcon window is a multi-cell view with the main menu and toolbar at the top.Each connection in the current job is shown in miniature as a thumbnail in a cell. A datatip appears when the cursor passes over a cell containing a connection. Double-clicking

on a thumbnail displays a dialog box (see below) for editing the connection data. Right-clicking on a thumbnail displays a menu offering commands to show the connection atfull size, edit, copy, or print the connection.

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Printed Output

The report for an MEPC is shown below. The first page of this report shows dimensionsand design actions and the second page shows results of all checks performed. Youmay supply a 1200 x 200 pixel bitmap in order to print your company logo at the top ofeach page.

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The Connection Dialog Box 

There is a dialog box for each connection type that lets you input details and factoredloads for your connection and check it against the design code. The dialog box for the

 AISC MEPC is shown below. Initially, it contains data for a default connection - clickbuttons to change any item of data and as you do, the detail diagram is updated. The

output window at the bottom of the dialog box contains the design check report - clickthe Expand button to see it in a larger window, or Print to print it (see report, below).

Clicking the View button (with the connection image) displays a virtual reality window soyou can check the appearance of the connection. Rotate the connection by dragging theleft mouse button, pan by dragging the right mouse button, and zoom with the mousewheel.

The main menu is the principal command interface. Each main menu item gives accessto a drop-down menu of commands. In general, each toolbar button corresponds to amenu item. Double-clicking on a thumbnail or selecting a command on the Connectionsmenu displays a dialog box for the particular connection. From this dialog box you maycheck or design a connection. 

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Dialog Box for Bolted Moment End Plate Connection

 A detail window on the left of the dialog box shows the current configuration of theconnection. The parameters defining the connection are shown in boxes on the rightand an adjacent Edit or "…" button permits editing of any of the enclosed parameters.The output window at the bottom of the dialog box displays the most recent results of acheck or design operation.

The Go button and the adjacent Check and Design option buttons initiate the selectedcheck or design operation. Clicking the View button displays a virtual reality view of theconnection. The Print button prints a report containing a detail diagram and the currentresults, while the DXF button creates an AutoCAD format drawing exchange file

containing a detail of the current connection.

The check operation reports the capacity of the current connection configuration for allfailure modes specified in the connection model. The design function uses an iterativemethod, changing some connection parameters, in an attempt to achieve an optimum

connection configuration for the design load. Some connection parameters (e.g. boltdiameter) are not changed during design. The connection parameters that may changeduring design are displayed in red when design mode is selected.

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 Virtual Reality

 Virtual Reality Viewer

Clicking the View button in a connection dialogbox displays a new window containing a virtualreality view of the connection. This view is not

available on displays with less than 16-bit color.Initially, the connection is shown rotating in thewindow. You may drag the mouse to rotate theview to any convenient orientation and zoom bypressing the PageUp / Page Down or + / - keys.Keyboard arrow keys also rotate the view. Thepop-up menu shown appears when you right-clickin the window. On this you may select an optionso that dragging the mouse pans the displayinstead of rotating it. You may also select various

fixed views, including a plan and elevation.

Limcon Configuration

The File > Configure > General command allowsyou to set the default library file, edit library files,set text size, and set OpenGL parameters.Configuration settings are saved from run to run,for each user.

File > Configure > General Dialog Box  

 Analysis Methods for Splices & Moment Connections

The distribution of forces between the flanges and web in BSPL, WSPL, BMEP, HBEP, and WBCconnections is determined by the analysis method set with the File > Configure > General command. There are three different methods - these are elastic, plastic, and simplified analysismethods.

The elastic method is recommended in Ref. 4 and the AASHTO 1999 Interim. Plastic analysisgives a more rational force distribution when the factored loads are sufficient to cause yield.Other analysis methods may then produce flange forces that exceed the capacity of the flange.The elastic method is the default for checking to AS 4100. The simplified method is a traditionalapproach in which the flange plates are assumed to resist all the moment and axial force whilethe web plates resist the shear (and the resulting eccentricity moment). Choosing the simplifiedmethod gives designs with stronger flange plates and weaker web plates. It is the defaultmethod when Limcon is configured for BS 5950 or AISC LRFD.

 All three analysis methods give safe, lower bound, designs but the simplified method leads tomore yielding and redistribution of forces as the connection conforms to the applied loading.

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SECTION LIBRARY MANAGER

SECTION LIBRARY MANAGER WINDOW

 After you have selected a destination library Microstran's Section Library Managerdisplays the dialog box shown above. There is a tree view of the destination library onthe right while all available library source files are shown on the left. Each library maybe expanded to show the section categories and each of these may be expanded toshow the sections contained in the category. You may select any library, category, orsection on the left and click the arrow button to send it to the destination library on theright.

Double-clicking a section on the right will display a section property dialog box in whichyou may alter any value.

I SECTION PROPERTY DIALOG BOX

During the compilation of the output library source file the properties of all sections arechecked and a warning is displayed for each value that differs by more than 1% from

the check value. This is a powerful tool in eliminating errors in section libraries.

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Web Update

Check Version Dialog Box

 You may use the web update facility in Limcon to determine when an update is required. Whileyour computer is connected to the internet, clicking the Check Version button in the Help Aboutdialog box will display the dialog box above. This shows the dates of your Limcon software and

dates of the current web downloads so you can see whether an update is required.

LIMCON is easy to use with many advanced Windows features, such as HTML Help, pop-upHelp, tooltips and data tips. The full manual is available on-line with table of contents, index,and a text-search facility.

Clicking the DXF button in a connection dialog box creates an AutoCAD DXF with a detail of thecurrent connection. The print button generates an analysis reort with a dimensional detaildiagram.

Moment End Plate Connections for RHS/SHS

4-Bolt Moment End Plate Connection forRHS/SHS

8-Bolt Moment End Plate Connection forRHS/SHS

These connections are available for RHS and SHS compact sections only. The design models,based on 2-dimensional yield line analysis, were developed in recent Sydney University researchprojects that included full-scale testing (see R745 and R827).

Bolts must be high-strength tensioned bolts, such as 8.8/TB or A325PT. The design models are

only valid for a combination butt/fillet weld of specified leg dimension all around the section.

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Hollow Structural Section (HSS) Connections

Limcon V3 checks common connections in steel hollow structural sections (HSS). The principalreference for these connections is the ASI publication, Design of Structural Steel Hollow SectionConnections . The book, which uses CIDECT design models, covers these connections:

Base Plate

Limcon checks many kinds of base plate connection.The view below shows the base plate for a UB column- you can also check base plates for other I sections,channels, and hollow sections. Holding-down boltsmay have an ordinary bolt head or a hook. There is no

design function for the base plate connection.

HSS Cap Plate Connection

The design model for this connection permits atension load on a column, which may be RHS, SHS, orCHS. The design model does not include compressionbecause the connection components are minimallyloaded by the bearing action of the column.

Web Side Plate (Fin Plate) Connection

 You can check or design many variations on theconnection shown. There may be one or two columns

of bolts in the cleat. The support may be a beam web,a column web or flange, or a hollow section.

 AISC Flush & Extended MEPCs

The recent AISC Steel Design Guide No. 16 Flush andExtended Multiple Row Moment End Plate Connections  

sets out design models for both flush and extended endplate moment connections with multiple bolt rows. Themodels, which rely on 2-dimensional yield-line analysis,were verified by full-scale tests. Limcon implements theunstiffened flush end plate and stiffened and unstiffenedextended end plate models. The extended end plateMEPCs have greater plate bending capacity than theBMEP. This is largely because the MEPC model uses 2-dimensional yield line analysis while that used in the BMEPmodel is 1-dimensional. Also, significant increases incapacity result when increasing the number of bolt rowsinside the flanges of the MEPC or adding a stiffener. Thestiffened flush end plate models may be included inLimcon in the future.

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Bracing Connection

 You can check or design many types of simple bracing cleat. Bracing member typespermitted are:

•  Single angle, cleat on long leg.•  Single angle, cleat on short leg.• 

Back-to-back double angles, cleat between long legs.•  Back-to-back double angles, cleat between short legs.•  Rod with end plate.•  Flattened tube.•  Cleated hollow section.•  Hollow section with tee plate.•  Rolled section with cleat plate.

Single Angle, Cleat on Long Leg Single Angle, Cleat on Short Leg

Back-to-Back Double Angles,

Cleat Between Long Legs

Back-to-Back Double Angles,

Cleat Between Short Legs

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Rod with Attached Plate Flattened Tube

Slotted Hollow Section Hollow Section with Tee Plate

Rolled Section

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HSS Mitred Knee Connection

This design model is available for SHSmembers RHS members whose widthsare the same. The capacity of the

connection is greater with the optionalstiffening plate.

HSS Y/T Connection

There are many possible configurationsof this connection, one of which are

shown below. The chord may be RHS,SHS, CHS, or an I section. The bracemay be RHS, SHS, or CHS. Not allcombinations of section types arepermitted.

HSS X Connection

There are many possible configurationsof this connection, one of which areshown below. The chord may be RHS,SHS, CHS, or an I section. The bracemay be RHS, SHS, or CHS. Not allcombinations of section types arepermitted.

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HSS K/N Gap Connection with CHSChord and Braces

There are many possible configurationsof this connection, some of which areshown below. The chord may be RHS,SHS, CHS, or an I section. The braces

may be RHS, SHS, or CHS. Not allcombinations of section types arepermitted.

K/N Gap Connection with RHS Chord andSHS Braces

K/N Gap Connection with I Section Chordand SHS Braces

HSS K/N Overlap Connection withCHS Chord and Braces

There are many possible configurations ofthis connection, some of which are shownbelow. The chord may be RHS, SHS, CHS,or an I section. The braces may be RHS,SHS, or CHS. Not all combinations ofsection types are permitted.

K/N Overlap Connection with SHS Chordand Braces

K/N Overlap Connection with SHS Chordand Braces