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Key Publications on Steel Connection Design

Inelastic Analysis for Steel Connection Design

Steel Connection Design by Inelastic Analysis

A comprehensive resource on inelastic analysis methods for designing steel connections. This book explores advanced modeling techniques, material behavior, and practical applications, making it an essential reference for engineers, researchers, and professionals in structural engineering.

Steel Connection Design by Inelastic Analysis – front cover of a technical book on advanced steel joint modeling

Finite Element Analysis for Steel Structures

Component-Based Finite Element Design of Steel Connections

A detailed guide on applying component-based finite element methods to steel connection design. Covering both theoretical principles and practical applications, this resource is essential for engineers, researchers, and students in structural engineering.

Component-Based Finite Element Design of Steel Connections – cover of the official CBFEM book
Articles

Technical Articles/Verifications

Braces with Single-sided Gusset Plates Connections

The report provides a workflow in IDEA StatiCa Member and compares the results to dozens of physical experiments to evaluate the feasibility, precision, and safety of this workflow.​

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Comparison of the Buckling Resistance of SHS and RHS Profiles

RHS and SHS models in IDEA StatiCa Member are compared to the corresponding models in Abaqus and hand calculations according to EN 1993-1-1 and EN 1993-1-5.

Bolts loaded in shear

This tutorial is intended for students. It aims to explain how shear forces are distributed between bolts and what checks are necessary for bolts loaded predominantly in shear.

Lateral torsional buckling of open cross-sections with lateral and torsional restraints

Lateral-torsional buckling (LBA) resistance often governs the design of open-section beams. It can be greatly increased by taking into account restraints provided by a floor or a roof, typically a sandwich panel.

Component based finite element design of steel joints

Experimental evidence and curve fitting procedures were and are
used for safe and economical design of connections. Based on analytical models of resistance of connectors, such as welds, bolts, and plates, and the estimated lever arm of internal forces, the resistance of connection is predicted by analytical models.

Multi-Level Joints and Element Design

This paper describes the principles multi-level joints and element design in steel structures. The 
system response quantity and application features of Component Based Finite Element Method
(CBFEM) for design of eccentric gusset plate connection of a truss steel member.

Bracket Plate Connections (AISC)

This example is part of a series that compares IDEA StatiCa to traditional calculations for US practice. Eccentrically loaded bolt and weld groups that connect the bracket plates to the column flanges are designed using instantaneous center of rotation method and poison bolt method.

Advanced analysis of members with gusset plate joints

The compressive resistance of truss members connected by gusset plates is estimated by taking the buckling length of the member equal to the member length. Usually, no check is provided for the gusset plate, although several design methods were proposed in the past.

Fatigue life by nominal stress method

In this article, verification examples are presented for the Fatigue analysis type in IDEA StatiCa Connection. A nominal stress method has been utilized. CBFEM results are compared to the analytical method and finite element method using solid elements.

Lateral-torsional buckling of a stiffened beam with semi-rigid joints

The paper presents an experiment and a numerical analysis of a steel beam subjected to threepoint bending. The beam was connected to short column stubs by bolted end plates. 

Double-tee Moment Prequalified Connection - AISC

This is part of a series of prequalified seismic moment connections that compare IDEA StatiCa to traditional calculations. The main area of focus is to evaluate the behavior of the connections through IDEA StatiCa, and how it compares against AISC formulas and FEA software ABAQUS.

Comparison of Buckling Resistance of I-shaped cross-sections

The study describes the choice of numerical model, results of linear buckling analysis and geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis with imperfections by two software packages and compares the buckling resistance to Winter curves in Eurocodes.

Chevron Brace Connection in a braced frame (AISC)

This is a second verification example from a series of brace connections. It compares a chevron brace connection according to a procedure from Design Guide 29 and CBFEM method.

Fire design:
Bolted lap joint

The object of this study is verification of component-based finite element method (CBFEM) of a bolted lap joint in fire with analytical model in Eurocode.

Strengthening of longitudinal bracing

Longitudinal bracing is a reliable and widely used element in steel hall structures. Thanks to the accurate calculations provided by IDEA StatiCa Member's simulation, engineers can now reduce their estimates of buckling length and account for the effect of eccentric connections on the overall bracing behavior.

Web in transverse compression

This work prepared at Brno University of Technology compares the results of IDEA StatiCa Member (MNA, LBA, GMNIA), ANSYS (MNA, LBA, GMNIA), Eurocode and AISC 360 for component Web in transverse compression.

Towards establishing a design resistance for hollow section joints

A number of design guides and standards, with considerable international consensus, now exist for the design of welded hollow section joints in onshore and offshore construction. 

Fire design:
Welded lap joint

Component-based finite element method (CBFEM) of a fillet weld in a lap joint during fire is verified with component method (CM).

Verification of IDEA StatiCa calculations for steel connection design (AISC)

Simple, semi-rigid and rigid connection types are investigated. This report shows a comparison of resistances by experiment, AISC traditional design, general FEA software ABAQUS, and IDEA StatiCa (using CBFEM method).

Block Shear Rupture in Bolted Connections (AISC)

This example is part of a series that compares IDEA StatiCa to traditional calculations for US practice. The study focuses on the limit state of block shear for plates in tension and coped beams loaded in shear.

End Plate Moment (EPM) Prequalified Connection - AISC

This is part of a series of prequalified seismic moment connections that compare IDEA StatiCa to traditional calculations. The main area of focus is to evaluate the behavior of the connections through IDEA StatiCa, and how it compares against AISC formulas and FEA software ABAQUS.

Welded Unreinforced Flange-Bolted Web (WUF-B) Prequalified Connection - AISC

Differently from the other moment connections covered in this study, welded unreinforced flange-bolted web (WUF-B) moment connection is permitted to be used only in ordinary moment frame (OMF) system. 

Welded Unreinforced Flange-Welded Web (WUF-W) Prequalified Connection - AISC

The third prequalified connection covered in this verification study is welded unreinforced flange-welded web (WUF-W) moment connection.

Reduced Beam Section (RBS) Prequalified Connection - AISC

RBS is one of the prequalified moment connections permitted to be used in seismic region by AISC as a part of intermediate moment frame (IMF) and special moment frame (SMF) systems if the requirements listed in AISC 358 Chapter 5 are satisfied.

Brace Connection at beam-column connection in a braced frame (AISC)

This is a third verification example from a series of brace connections. It compares a beam-column connection in a braced frame according to a procedure from Design Guide 29 and CBFEM method.

Base Plate Connections (AISC)

A comparison between results from the component-based finite element method (CBFEM) and traditional calculation methods used in US practice for base plate connections is presented in this article.

T-stub connections (AISC)

A comparison between results from the component-based finite element method (CBFEM) and traditional calculation methods used in US practice for T-stub connections is presented in this study. 

Beam-over-column Connections (AISC)

A comparison between results from the component-based finite element method (CBFEM) and traditional calculation methods used in US practice for beam-over-column connections is presented in this section.

Single Plate Shear Connections (AISC)

A comparison between results from the component-based finite element method (CBFEM) and traditional calculation methods used in US practice for single plate shear connections is presented in this section.

Extended End-Plate Moment Connections (AISC)

A comparison between results from the component-based finite element method (CBFEM) and traditional calculation methods used in US practice for extended end-plate moment connections is presented in this study.

Influence of joint stiffness on design of steel members

The paper explains the types of joints classified according to stiffness in a steel structure. Applying the joint stiffness to the structural model brings a number of problems and inaccuracies. The article shows possibilities for solving entire member, including the joints.

Brace Connection at beam-column connection in a braced frame – Double Angle Brace (AISC)

This is the first verification example from a series of brace connections. It compares a beam-column connection in a braced frame according to a procedure from Design Guide 29 and CBFEM method.

Bolted Wide Flange Splice Connections (AISC)

This example is part of a series that compares IDEA StatiCa to traditional calculations for US practice. This study investigates various loading effects on bolted spliced connections of wide-flange members.

Temporary Splice Connection (AISC)

This example is part of a series that compares IDEA StatiCa to traditional calculations for US practice. This connection includes a variety of complicated effects that can only be handled in traditional methods with rough simplifying assumptions.

Benchmark study of a bolted flange plate moment connection (AISC)

This study performed at the University of Chile presents the results of the verification of a Bolted Flange Plate (BFP) fully restrained moment connection.

Bearing stiffeners (AISC)

This example is part of a series that compares IDEA StatiCa to traditional calculations for US practice. First, comparison of CBFEM to traditional calculation is done for multiple cases. 

Verification study: Shear connections with coped beams (AISC)

This example is part of a series that compares IDEA StatiCa to traditional calculations for US practice. The study presents the design of coped beams and focuses on the limit states of the beam with reduced cross-section including shear and buckling.

Welded beam-to-column steel joints: Assessment of European design rules

Properly validated high-quality Finite Element (FE) models with experimental tests permit an accurate description of the load-deformation path and stress state of steel joints and are nowadays accepted as “experimental results”.

Component based finite element method for steel joints at ambient and elevated temperatures

This paper introduces Component Based Finite Element Model (CBFEM) which is a numerical design model to analyze and design connections of steel structures with features demonstrated here on a portal frame eaves bolted connection.

Decision tree for local global imperfection combinations in double‐symmetric prismatic members

Better and simpler possibilities of structural optimization due 
to increasing computational power but also for reasons of 
environmental sustainability, the use of materials and their reusability lead to greater acceptance towards more advanced 
numerically intensive.

Stress range in the welded cruciform joint in the shell model using the Hot Spot Stress Method

This paper focuses on the linear extrapolation procedure for the Hot Spot Stress Method on a plate´s surface using shell models.  

Optimisation of fatigue solution for welded T-stub joints by grading of FAT classes

In this study, the fatigue strengths of the welded T-stub sections prepared from Strenx 700MC Plus and S355 steel were determined.

Numerical design calculation of the high-strength steel welds

This study focused on the design of fillet welds fabricated using high-strength steel (HSS). Herein, we present a numerical design calculation (NDC) method for assessing weld strength using the regular inclined shell element model (RISEM) in the finite element method (FEM).

Numerical design calculation of structural steel welds

The paper focuses on the design of fllet welds of regular structural steel. It presents a numerical design calculation (NDC) method for assessing weld resistance using the regular inclined shell element model (RISEM) in the fnite element method (FEM).

Linear buckling analysis in the design of bracket plates

Brackets are used to transfer loads in steel structures where the load is offset from the support. This paper will focus on T-shaped brackets.

Modelling of bolted joints in fire using the component‐based finite element method

This paper presents a study using the component-based finite element method to analyze the behavior bolted joints in fire. The model was verified and validated on analytical and experimental results at elevated temperature.

Bolted joints in fire by the component-based finite element method

This paper presents a study using the component-based finite element method (CBFEM) to analyse the behaviour bolted joints in fire. The model was verified and validated on analytical and experimental results at elevated temperature.

Strengthening of Steel Beam by Inclined Stiffeners

There are several ways how to increase the bending resistance of a beam. The simplest method is 
to increase the cross-section size. But this method may not be the most efficient or feasible, 
especially in the case of an existing building in need of strengthening.

On the Choice of Eigenmode Shapes for Interactive Cases of Local and Global Buckling of RHS SHS

The main motivation for this paper is providing practical recommendation for design of steel members by geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis with imperfections (GMNIA).

Numerical analysis of influence of axial force on resistance of column webs in transverse compression

Steel members of double-symmetrical open cross-sections are often used in engineering structures and structures of buildings as columns and beams. 

Slender compressed plate in component based finite element model

This contribution shows the current trends in advanced modelling of connections and differences of the research oriented and design oriented models.

Design finite element model of a bolted T-stub connection component

The paper is focused on a design approach to a T-stub component, which is key part in an analytical/numerical prediction of behaviour of the bolted end plate connections, by the Component Based Finite Element Method (CBFEM).

Two simplified models of column web panel in shear

The paper presents behaviour of the column web panel in shear.

The finite element method 
is employed to examine the resistance of a joint with an extended end plate connection.

Advanced procedures for design of bolted connections

Design of bolted slip resistant connection are integral part of design of steel bridges. 
In recent years, Component Based Finite Element Method (CBFEM) has been increasingly expanding in modelling of structural joints.

Multi level member and connection design

This article describes the advanced design of joints and their validation and verification is shown. The influence of joints on the design of members is described, and the possibility to design the whole joint-member-joint substructure is outlined.

Component based finite element design of steel joints

This paper describes the principles of multi-level Finite Element modeling for design of structural steel joints. The integral part of the design by Finite Elements is the Validation and Verification of the model and its results.

Joint stiffness and its influence on design of steel structural 
elements

The article explains the individual types of joint stiffness in a steel construction. Applying the joint stiffness to the structural model brings a number of problems and inaccuracies. 

Simple and Advanced Models for Connection Design in Steel Structures

The paper refers to current development in the design of structural steel and steel and concrete composite connections. The internal part of the design procedure is validation and verification including its hierarchy.

To design of stiffeners in structural steel joints

The paper presents research into the advanced stability analysis of stiffeners in structural steel 
joints. Stiffeners are investigated by component based finite element method (CBFEM). 

Prediction of the Connection deformation capacity

This paper introduces the prediction of the deformation capacity of structural steel connections by the component-based finite element method (CBFEM).

Slender Compressed Plate in Component Based Finite Element Model 

The paper presents an advance design model of a slender plate in the structural steel joint. Finite element methods and material models are described and design procedure for slender plates in numerical models of steel joints is proposed.

Future design procedure for structural connections

This paper introduces Component-based Finite Element Method for a design of structural steel joints. Its features are demonstrated on an example of portal eaves frame joint.

Structural Analysis and Design of Steel Connections Using Component-Based Finite Element Model

This paper introduces CBFEM (component based finite element model) which is a new method to analyze and design connections of steel structures.

Bolts and Compressed Plates Modelling

The paper is focused on modeling of the bolts in tension and plate in bending and of a compressed plate in structural steel connection by analytical and finite element models.

Component based finite element model of structural connections

This paper refers to component based finite element model (CBFEM). Design focussed component model (CM) is compared to design finite element (DFEM) and research finite elements models (RSFEM). 

Validation and verification procedures for connection design in steel structures

This paper introduces CBFEM (component based finite element model) which is a new method to analyze and design connections of steel structures.

Compressed Stiffeners in Structural Connections

The effect of stiffener on a beam-to-column connection is investigated. It is proposed to use the reduced stress method for verification of gusset plate and haunch. The verification shows good results and will be validated on planned experiments of stiffeners with different types of support.

Advanced Modelling of End Plate Joints

The paper describes various approaches to design end plate joints including the finite element method. Several methods are compared to each other and experimental results of T-stub.

Influence of selected parameters on design optimisation of anchor joint

The main topic of this article is a description of the real behavior of selected statically loaded anchor joints — design of individual anchor joint components in context of determination of selected parameters used during the anchor joint optimization process.

©2025 CBFEM team

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