Connecting steel beam and column using cap plate

[Anonymous]

Hello,

i have just started to use steel connections so i dont know how simple or complicated this task is. however i am looking to connect a beam to a column using end plates and bolts. when i use the "end plate with bolts" connection it works fine as long as the beam is connecting to the Flange of the column. what i cannot work out is how to connect the beam to other side of the of the column. i dont want the beam to connect to the WEB but use an end plate attached to the 2 flanges of the column.

i have attached a screen shot to better describe what i mean.

Thanks 

[mihai.sandu]

Hello Coilin,

From what I understand, you want to have 2 end-plates, one on each flange of the column and the bolts should protrude both end-plates.

Unfortunately in Revit 2019 you are not able to model this situation, there is not standard connection that creates this geometry. You could achieve a part of the geometry modeling individual parts (plates, welds, cuts, and bolts), but you can't extend the bolts to both flanges of the column. The bolt length calculation will stop at the first gap, so the bolts will always connect only one end-plate to the flange. 

We plan to add a "Finish calculation at gap" option to the Bolts, when this will be available you could model the situation.

If you have access to Autodesk Advance Steel, you could send the model through the smlx format from Revit to Advance Steel and finish the detailing work there. You can model this situation in Advance Steel.

Hope this was of help,

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply!

So what you are saying is to put an end plate on the end of the beam and 1 on the Column (attached to the 2 Flanges) then bolt together? do i have to manually draw the plates on to each steel element? and if so how does revit pick up that these to elements are connected?

[mihai.sandu]

Hello Coilin,

I am not saying that the connection should be model in this way, I don't know what forces you want to transfer from the beam to the column, this is a steel connection designers job. I looked at your attachment and this is what I understood that you want to achieve. 

I tried to model the steel connection that you want to achieve, in Revit 2019 and you won't be able to achieve it, if you want to have the bolts going through both column flanges. 

The only way in which you can model this is to export the model from Revit 2019 to Advance Steel 2019 and finish this steel connection in that software.

Please see the movie from the following link:

https://autode.sk/2OhY2Zb

In the movie I modeled the connection that you want to achieve in Revit 2019 and Advance Steel 2019. 

Regards,

[Anonymous]

thanks again for reply.

i think i have explained what i am trying to achieve wrong. i have attached another sketch i think will better show the connection i am looking for.

Basically,

i want to know if there is a connection available in the steel tab of revit that can achieve the sketch or do i have to manually draw the plates and bolts.

if i do need to draw the connection manually how does revit pick up that there is a connection there?

[Rob_Merriman]

The connection you need to use is what i as a detailer would call a Tie Plate connection.

In Revit it is called a platform plate connection, it is found under the Platform Beams group

This connection will allow you to put a plate on either the outside of the column or inside the column flanges, you can also have stiffeners within the column if required.

[andrew.snowball]

Hi,

So having just encountered this situation today, I saw this post and was disappointed to read it was not possible.

I got to thinking about how the connections work and the End Plate is a Beam to Beam or Beam to Column joint. I thought that if i used the Plate family from the Structural Framing library and modelled it to the depth and dimensions I needed then I should be able to get a connection to work. Once I had my Flange Plate modelled I was able to then apply an End Plate connection with no problems in Revit 2018 (see screen shot below).

1. Model the Flange Plate using the Structural Framing/Plate family
   1. Set the h value to the desired plate depth (in my case 480mm)
   2. Set the b value to the desired thickness (in my case 15mm)
   3. Draw detail lines or Ref Planes to the extents of the plate - I  needed to allow for a min 8mm fillet weld between the column Toe & Flange Plate (307.9-(2x8)=292mm), so my Length is 292mm
   4. Set the desired Level & any Offset required - this should be set so the plate is centrally located on the incoming beam
2. Then use the Single Side End Plate Connection between the Beam & PlateColumn Flange Plate & Beam End Plate Connection