To make a clip angle connection in Advance Steel, open the Connection Vault (Home tab > Extended Modeling), go to Platform Beams > Clip Angle, select the supporting member and press Enter, then select the beam and press Enter. Advance Steel builds the angles, bolts and cuts and opens a dialog where you adjust them.
A double clip angle is a standard simple shear connection: two angles on the beam web, bolted or welded to the column or girder. Advance Steel can build the whole thing for you with the Clip Angle tool in the Connection Vault. In this tutorial we’ll connect a beam to a column and go through every tab of the dialog box.
Where is the Clip Angle tool?
Open the Connection Vault: Home tab > Extended Modeling > Connection Vault.
How do I make a clip angle connection in Advance Steel?
- In the Connection Vault, go to Platform Beams and click Clip Angle.
- When asked for the main beam, select the column and press Enter.
- When asked for the beam to attach, select the horizontal beam and press Enter.
The clip angle connection is created and the dialog box opens so you can adjust it.
What does each tab in the clip angle dialog do?
Clip Angle
Choose the angle type, how many angles to use, and how far the beam is cut back from the column.
Clip Weld
Choose where the clips are welded:
- none
- main
- secondary
- both
You can also set the weld size and whether it’s a shop or field weld.
Top Cope
Adjust the cope at the top of the beam.
Bottom Cope
Same as the top cope, but for the bottom of the beam.
Bolt Parameters
Bolt diameter, type, grade and assembly.
Horizontal Bolts
Horizontal spacing between the bolts.
Vertical Bolts
Vertical spacing between the bolts.
Slotted Holes
Add slotted holes in the main or secondary member, and set the slot offset and length.
Shim Plates
Check the box to add shims, then set the plate width and height.
Angle size, bolt count and weld sizes come from the connection design. Verify with the engineer of record before you detail it.
Once one connection is right, you don’t have to build the others from scratch. See how to copy a connection in Advance Steel.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Picking the members in the wrong order. The supporting member (column or girder) goes first, then the beam.
- Forgetting the setback. The beam is cut back from the column on the Clip Angle tab. Check it against the connection design.
- Shop vs field welds. Set them right on the Clip Weld tab so the drawings show the right weld symbols.
- Slotted holes where they don’t belong. Only add slots where the design calls for them.
