Connection Design

Integrated. Automated. Intelligent.

SDS2 is the Ultimate Solution for Steel Connection Design

Unlike any other software on the market, SDS2's 3D steel detailing software comes fully integrated with automated connection design. This has led to unparalleled intelligence and automation that works as you model, maximizing your connection output with minimum input and giving you a huge advantage over other leading solutions in connection design.

Minimum Effort, Maximum Payoff

Connections Designed As You Model

Simply put, SDS2 connection intelligence is designed to minimize your input and maximize your output.

What you put into the software for each connection are the details: your model, your loads, your fabrication and design standards. What you get, in a matter of seconds, are fully designed steel connections that satisfy the framing conditions of the entire node or joint.

Unrivaled Intelligence with Complete Node Analysis

SDS2 provides a design reality check above and beyond any other connection design software available. As you input your model, SDS2 analyzes the complete node or joint of each unique framing condition, looking at every member coming in, as well as connections on the other angles, and adjusting for potential conflicts that would impact fabrication and field fit-up.

Structural Integrity

Meet your load requirements, as well as AISC and CISC standards. SDS2 will back them up with extended design calculations that you can deliver to the engineer to simplify the RFI process.

Constructability

Your 3D model is designed as it will be fabricated and with a high level of detail, minimizing issues on the shop floor such as bolt clashes.

Erectability

SDS2 examines the complete joint and automatically adjusts for potential field issues, such as insufficient bolt, framing, or connection clearance; OSHA safety connections; shank out; tool clearance, and more.

SDS2 supports more steel connections than any other solution. Connections can be automatically generated based on the framing conditions you build in your model, as well as manually controlled through locked-variable design, fabrication preferences, optimization settings, user-defined connections, and more. The connections below offer a brief overview of the thousands of connections supported in SDS2.

Auto Standard
Plain End
Clip Angle
- Bolted or welded to supporting or supported member
- Single or double
- Safety configurations
- Moment connection with flange welds, flange plates, or flange angles
Bent plate
- Bolted or welded to supporting or supported member
- Single or double
- Moment connection with flange welds, flange plates, or flange angles
End Plate
- Extended to flanges for axial load
- Coped for safety connection
- Moment end plates
  - Four-bolt pattern, top only or top and bottom
  - Eight-bolt pattern, top only or top and bottom
- MBMA moment end plates
  - Two-bolt
  - Four-bolt unstiffened and extended unstiffened
  - Four-bolt gusset plate between tension bolts
  - Four-bolt extended stiffened
  - Multiple-row, 1/2 or 1/3 stiffened or unstiffened

Shear Plate (single plate connection)
- Moment connection with flange welds, flange plates, or flange angles
Through plate
- Shared wtih opposite member
Shear Tee
- Bolted or welded to supporting member
Seats
- Plate seat
- Tee seat
- Angle seat
  - Bolted or welded to supporting member
  - Stiffened
Splice with web plates
- Moment connection with flange plates

Auto Standard
Plain End
Auto Base/Cap Plate
User Base/Cap Plate
Column Splice
- Spliced with plates
- Directly welded
  - Butt plate or erection web channel
- Flange splice plates, bolted or welded
- Web plates

Vertical Brace Connections

Plain End
Gusset Connections
- Tension-only rod braces
- Tension and/or compression for other material types
Directly Welded HSS Connections
Directly Welded Angle to Tee Stem Connections

Horizontal Brace End Connections

Plain End
Gusset Connections

No more guess and check

Design that Begins with Your End Goal

In other solutions, you define your connection specifications and dimensions and check to see if you’re meeting the load requirements. In SDS2, you start with the load requirements—your end goal—and SDS2 provides the supporting variables.

How does it work? When you begin a project, you’re given the option to control various setup options to define things like angle sizes, plate thicknesses, a schedule of minimums for bolt rows, and numerous other specifications meant to optimize fabrication for the designated shop.

Then, as you are inputting your model and setting up various framing conditions, SDS2 runs its back-end calculations—factoring in your setup preferences—to automatically add a passing connection to your model.

Automated Connection Design Features	Steel Detailing Software			Third-Party Connection Design Software
Automated Connection Design Features	SDS2	Software A	Software B	Software 1	Software 2
Design Codes
AISC (ASC/LRFD)	✔	3RD PARTY	✔	✔	✔
CISC	✔	3RD PARTY	✘	✘	✘
AUS	✔	3RD PARTY	✘	✘	✘
INDIAN	✔	3RD PARTY	✘	✘	✘
Eurocode	✔	3RD PARTY	✔	✘	✘
Batch Connection Application	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Batch Connection Design	✔	3RD PARTY	✘	✔	✘
Full Joint Analysis	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘
Structural Integrity Checks	✔	✔	✔	✘	✘
Constructability Checks	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘
Erectability Checks	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘
Pass/Fail Notification	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Provides Design Alternatives	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘
Design Calcs	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔
Locked-Variable Connection Design	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘
Incorporates Fabrication Standards	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘
Connection Optimization	✔	3RD PARTY	✘	✔	✔
Labor Optimization	✔	✘	✘	✘	✘
Delivers Connected Model	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

User-Defined Connections

Save custom connections for easy application in other framing conditions or projects.

Connection Optimization

Use SDS2's automated tools and work within AISC's schedule of minimums to eliminate redunancies and reduce labor and material costs in your designs.

Auto Standard Connections

Skip the tables and speed up your process with connections that adapt to framing situations based on your preferences.