Spreadsheet Design for Gusset Plate Design 1

[alumpkin]

Looking for knowledge of an existing Excel spreadsheet that designs the gusset plates in a typical OCBF. This spreadsheet would need to check both tension and compression loads for a BOLTED connection per AISC 360-10. For compression, this means a check of the Whitmore section and for tension a block shear check.

Alan L. Lumpkin, MS, PE
Greenville, SC

 

[JoshPlumSE]

I don't know of an Excel type spreadsheet that does this. But, you might want to take a look at the demo version of RISAConnection. Certainly it's a bit overkill for what you describe. But, at the very least it's a good way to validate any Excel spreadsheet that you do end up finding.

Caveat: while I no longer work for RISA/Nemetschek, I was the project lead for RISAConnection for a number of years. So, I'm not exactly an unbiased source.

 

[JAE]

My humble opinion: it is best to write your own.

This helps you:
1) better internalize/learn the design process and
2) provide your own quality assurance over your design process.

Using someone else's spreadsheet would necessitate, in my view, a complete review of the forumlae and logic flow to be able to adequately satisfy your duties as an engineer in taking responsibility for your designs and ensuring public safety and welfare.


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[alumpkin]

Thanks guys. Our firm is now engaged to review calculations performed by a German engineering firm for steel structures in an industrial environment in the USA. After meeting them in Germany I was quite impressed with their technical skills and our discussions were very productive. I am having to learn a new software package called Dlubal Software in order to review their models, loads, unbraced lengths, etc. However, while their program does perform AISC 360-10 design checks there is no calculation package for the connections. They have submitted calcs performed by StatiCA which is a stand alone connection package developed in Europe and recommended by Dlubal. It too is a good program but lacking in several areas........the Eurocode and this program do more FEA analysis with limitation of buckling defined by limiting stresses and calculating buckling factors. Having said all this, I was looking for a very simple spreadsheet that would address the Whitmore section and block shear ....neither one is difficult. I was trying to simplify the review and help them get this analysis accomplished with something I can can check easily.

Just a comment about writing your own programs. I would not do that simply because I don't have that as part of my scope. Second, I am not a gifted programmer and time spent on this effort is neither productive nor profitable. That's why I've not written FEA programs but instead buy them from software companies that have legitimate and very useful software....think RAM products or SAP 2000 or RISA. As an owner of a business, I don't want my guys expending effort and budget for this work when you can secure a tool to make work profitable and efficient. So, we let guys like Mr. Alex Tomanovich, a good friend and colleague who has written dozens of very useful spreadsheets....some he was paid to do and others mostly because he loved doing it on his own time. He has been very gracious over the years to share those spreadsheets with engineers around the world and for me I am very grateful. I don't about you guys but structural engineers are just a commodity these days......lowest price gets the work. We turn down a lot due to insufficient fees.

Alan L. Lumpkin, MS, PE
Greenville, SC

 

[JAE]

So I'm just a bit confused now but that's OK I guess.

I was looking for a very simple spreadsheet that would address the Whitmore section and block shear ....neither one is difficult.

You are correct - it is not that difficult. We have several in-house that only took a few hours to develop.
That's why I suggested you simply write one which can be used over and over - paying for itself in a short time.

I wasn't suggesting that you write something like RAM or RISA Connection - your original post was about spreadsheets - so not sure why FEA programs are being discussed.




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[Acing]

A good starting point for developing your own excel sheet is the AISC DG29 examples. It provides you with all the calculations required for gusset design along with the rest of connection design.

 

[alumpkin]

Guys, thanks very much for your comments. I do appreciate the time you took to respond. I have RAM connection that will perform all of the needed calculations and that may be the path forward for me......even if it is just for checking the the two limit states of buckling and block shear. See the pdf below for a configuration of the chevron joint.

This effort to locate an existing spreadsheet was to help and assist the engineering company in Germany so they would not have to generate a spreadsheet or some other check from scratch. It is their responsibility to provide me all of the necessary documentation to satisfy US codes so I can provide a thorough review.

Acing: Yes....DG 29 is quite robust and gives all of the information needed for the design of these joints. Interestingly enough, we had a recent seminar by Cives Steel from Atlanta concerning the issues with Chevron braces. I have attached the documents they gave us for your use and review.

JAE: Sorry you were confused. I was simply saying that for me (and mostly for our entire firm) writing programs be they complicated (FEA) or simple (spreadsheets like Alex Tomanovich) is not a good idea. Speaking only for me and our firm, my preference and direction to our guys is do not spend the time, effort or budget unless no other avenue exists to accomplish our tasks at hand. It the program is already written and vetted....buy it.

Alan L. Lumpkin, MS, PE
Greenville, SC

 

[alumpkin]

Papers from above post .

Alan L. Lumpkin, MS, PE
Greenville, SC

 

[alumpkin]

2nd paper.

Alan L. Lumpkin, MS, PE
Greenville, SC

 

[ash060]

There is an spreadsheet that I got from AISC a while back and it is pretty good, think it is a little dated, but it works

 

[alumpkin]

ash060: Many thanks for sharing.....I'll give it a go!

Alan L. Lumpkin, MS, PE
Greenville, SC

 

[bhiggins]

Here's a great free online connection designer (props to the designer):

http://asp.civilbay.com/17-connection/start.aspx

 

[atrizzy]

For some time now I've been doing all of my calculations in Excel for this very reason.
You don't have to waste the day away repeating the same calculation with pen/paper. You can simply copy a sheet, plug in new values, re-name it and, voila.

 

[canwesteng]

Real easy to use Smath studio or the free version of mathcad to set up a calc, and easier to check than excel.