Joint

MetaStructure proposes several assemblies for each extremity of a beam :

Type	Description
Fixed	Rigid joint (transmission of moments)
Detailed	User can specify the 3 translation stiffnesses and 3 rotation stiffnesses
Bolted	User can define a bolted joint
Welded	User can define a welded joint

1. Definition

All joint types are at least defined by 6 stiffnesses :

Property	Description	Unit Metric	Unit USA
Kx	Translation stiffness X	kN/mm	kips/in
Ky	Translation stiffness Y	kN/mm	kips/in
Kz	Translation stiffness Z	kN/mm	kips/in
Krx	Rotation stiffness X	kN.m/rad	kips.ft/rad
Kry	Rotation stiffness Y	kN.m/rad	kips.ft/rad
Krz	Rotation stiffness Z	kN.m/rad	kips.ft/rad

1.1 Fixed joint

This is the default rigid connection.

Example of fixed joint on extremity 1 (black side)

Property	Value (MKS units)
Kx, Ky, Kz	1.75e13
Krx, Kry, Krz	1.13e12

If user wants to define other stiffnesses, he has to set the joint to detailed.

1.2 Detailed joint

This is the simplest joint where user can define the stiffnesses :

Press the Edit button and disable the transmission of the moments (stiffness = 0) around X and Y axis :

To see the local axis, press the Show/Hide button of Local X-axis direction :

Z-axis is always the axis of the beam in MetaStructure and X-axis is the weak axis.

1.3 Bolted joint

The assembly of a beam to another beam can be defined by a bolted plate :

Press the Edit button and set the plate properties :

Press OK to validate the bolted plate and press Modify to validate the beam :

Stiffnesses :

Property	Description	Unit Metric	Unit USA
Kx	Translation stiffness X	kN/mm	kips/in
Ky	Translation stiffness Y	kN/mm	kips/in
Kz	Translation stiffness Z	kN/mm	kips/in
Krx	Rotation stiffness X	kN.m/rad	kips.ft/rad
Kry	Rotation stiffness Y	kN.m/rad	kips.ft/rad
Krz	Rotation stiffness Z	kN.m/rad	kips.ft/rad

See §1.2 for more information.

Plate :

Explanation of the fields on the picture :

The plate receives the dimensions of the beam when created.

Property	Description	Unit Metric	Unit USA
Width	Width of the plate	mm	in
Height	Height of the plate	mm	in
Thickness	Thickness of the plate	mm	in
Center X	Distance along X between center of plate and center of beam	mm	in
Center Y	Distance along Y between center of plate and center of beam	mm	in

Click on the … button to select a Structure material :

Click here for more information about database of materials.

Bolt arrangement :

Explanation of the fields on the pictures :

Property	Unit Metric	Unit USA
Spacing	mm	in
Shift	mm	in

Bolt :

Click on the … button to select a Bolt :

All properties are automatically filled.

Click here for more information about database of bolts.

Property	Unit Metric	Unit USA
Diameter	mm	in
Pitch	mm	in
Resistant are	mm²	in²

Click on the … button to select a Bolting material :

Click here for more information about database of materials.

1.4 Welded joint

The assembly of a beam on another beam can be defined by welding :

Press the Edit button and set the weld properties :

Press OK to validate the welding and press Modify to validate the beam :

Stiffnesses :

Property	Description	Unit Metric	Unit USA
Kx	Translation stiffness X	kN/mm	kips/in
Ky	Translation stiffness Y	kN/mm	kips/in
Kz	Translation stiffness Z	kN/mm	kips/in
Krx	Rotation stiffness X	kN.m/rad	kips.ft/rad
Kry	Rotation stiffness Y	kN.m/rad	kips.ft/rad
Krz	Rotation stiffness Z	kN.m/rad	kips.ft/rad

See §1.2 for more information.

Weld :

Property	Description	Unit Metric	Unit USA
Flange throat	Apothem of the bead	mm	in

Click on the … button to select a Welding material :

Click here for more information about database of materials.

1.5 Duplicate joint

The definition of a joint (fixed, detailed, bolted or welded) can be copied and pasted to the extremity of any beams :

Don’t forget to click to the Modify button to validate the duplication and see the result in 3D !

---

Click here to return to beam page.