📺MasterSeries Connections - An Introduction Pt 1

Posted on June 12th, 2020 in Getting Started

Summary

This document summarises the introductory guide to evaluating and using the Master Series Moment and Simple Connections software, detailing the steps for creating, designing, and saving a thin plate beam-to-beam simple connection as a template.

Software Access and Setup

The introduction is intended to teach users how to open the Master Series software, create and design a connection, and save it as a template.

1. Starting the Software: The process begins by starting the software in free trial mode.
2. Navigation: The front screen displays programs and resources, including videos, manuals, and tutorials. Users can also check for updates and license information. To begin a design, the user selects 'connections' under the programs section and opts for a standalone connection.
3. File Creation and Connection Type: The user navigates the directory of existing files or creates a brand new file, named 'intro1' in the example. Default basic settings are accepted. The specific connection type chosen from the joints library is a simple connection, selecting the thin plate beam to beam option.

Interface and Design Settings

The software interface displays results on the left and graphics on the right. Users can zoom, pan (using the middle mouse), and adjust the split-screen view based on their screen resolution.

1. Design Options: The design is confirmed to be compliant with the Eurocode 318 and the UK National Annex under the options and design options menus.

2. Modifying Members and Forces: The demonstration involves changing the forces and section sizes for the component members. These members are described as single notched members:

   • Left Member: The shearing force is set to 200, and the section size is dropped to a 406 and 46.
   • Right Member: The section size is increased slightly to a 457 (82 kilogram), and the shearing force is later changed to 400.
   • Supporting Member: This member is 355 grade and is increased slightly up to a 533210 by ninety-two section.
   • Results update automatically as soon as the user moves away from a cell.

Troubleshooting and Achieving Satisfactory Design

The initial modifications resulted in a problem concerning bolt shear, bearing, and connected elements. The user adjusted several parameters to resolve design failures:

1. Bolt Configuration: To address the initial failure (which resulted in a high usage ratio of 1.3), the number of rows of bolts was increased, first attempting 4, then 5 rows. Although this improved the usage, a slight issue remained with the supported beam group.

2. Geometry Adjustments (Bolts and Beam): The right-hand beam's bolts/shear needed improvement.

   • Initial adjustments to geometry involved changing the plate width from 150 to 100, and widening the beam itself to 150, which made the joint "working".
   • To further improve strength, the cross centers of the bolts were widened. Changing the geometry to 120 resulted in the edge distance failing dimension checks because it was too close.
   • The recommended edge distance is 2D. The bolt geometry was subsequently changed to 110.
3. Final Satisfactory Design: After the geometry adjustment to 110, everything in the joint became satisfactory.
4. Weld Checks: The user demonstrated checking and adjusting welds by attempting to reduce the weld size from 8 mill to 6 mill. This caused the design to be "unhappy under welds". Scrolling down in the results showed the failure was due to the standard rule of size of weld to material, necessitating an 8mm weld to complete the design.

Saving the Joint as a Template

Once the joint is designed, it can be saved for future use.

1. Saving Process: The graphics are turned off to capture a clear, large picture.
2. Template Creation: Under Utilities, the option save joint as a template is selected.
3. Naming and Tagging: The joint is named (e.g., 'Intro one') and descriptive tags are added (e.g., 'Double').
4. Thumbnail Capture: A thumbnail image is captured after zooming and centering the graphic.
5. Usage: Saving with tags enables users to filter the joints library when adding a new joint. For example, searching for the tag 'double' only shows relevant connections. This feature allows users to quickly build a library specific to their types of sections and construction methods.

The next instructional video will cover Eve's connection design, including moments and reversal of moments.

Summary with Timestamps