In structural steel design, ensuring continuity of beams and columns often requires the use of dedicated joints that can safely transfer forces along a member’s length. This technical article focuses on Steel Connections in Advance Design, with particular attention to the Splice connection workflow—covering how to create, configure, and customize a splice joint to match real project requirements.
Create and customize Splice connection
Splice joint is often used to assure continuity for structural members (beams or columns) along their length. The splice plates can be bolted or welded to the main members.
A welded Splice joint can also be obtained by simply disabling the bolts (the connection between main members and splice plates will be ensured by welds).
Joint elements
You can customize each joint element using the available buttons from the Joint elements panel. All changes made in every window can be viewed in real time. For example, you can define the geometry of the plates, reinforcement, set the configuration of bolts and customize the welds (thickness, type and quality) for each part of the joint
Each parameter is illustrated by a corresponding image in the dialog box.
Another simple way to change the joint elements geometry is by modifying directly the dimension line values available in the views. This way, the joint geometry will be much easier to define by double-clicking on the editable dimension line values (without parentheses).
The dimension lines that contain values between parenthesis cannot be modified and correspond to the grayed-out values that appear in the element dialog. For example, the user can change the bolts positioning directly in the views for values that are not grayed-out in the bolts dialog.
Design assumptions
After defining the joint elements, the users have the possibility to choose the material for each element according to different standards and set the following steel design assumptions: steel corrosion, control of the shear plane for bolts (threaded/ unthreaded), weld design method and give values for the safety factors that will influence the calculation results.
Definition of load cases and combinations
Users have the possibility to define load cases, load combinations and add values for the loads (N – axial force, M – bending moment, V- shear force). The sign convention is displayed in the Loads dialog for each joint type.
It is possible to set manually the combination coefficient or automatically generate combinations according to the Eurocode 0.
The users can add different load cases from the available list. Also, the envelope load case doesn’t require any combination, because it is interpreted as a special load case that has the meaning of a combination which consists only of the maximum value of the efforts. For example, the user can define an envelope case that can provide the maximum axial force, maximum shear force or maximum bending moment.
Calculation results
For the calculation of connections, Advance Design uses Eurocode 3 international design standards, for all the connection components verification: bolts, welds, plates, etc. and parts of the connected elements, beams web, and flanges.
The module can generate a report which contains a range of chapters that describe the calculation theoretical formula, the calculation results and work ratio for each verification.
From a list (left photo), the chapters to be included in the report can be chosen. Here is an example of the main verification chapters that appear in the generated report.
For each verification, the Calculation results tab displays: the work ratio, resistance, effort and combination. Above is an example of calculation results for a splice model.
Errors and warnings may appear in the console during this stage, whenever there are failed verifications, hole distances conditions that are not satisfied, or other joint design problems.
The Generate command available in the ribbon creates the report in .doc or .pdf file. With the Preview command, users can generate a report by selecting one of the available templates, or creating a new report using the Report Designer.
Coloring on views elements exceeding the ratio
If the calculation shows that some connection components (plates, stiffeners, beam, column, weld) have failed verifications (a work ratio >100%), then such elements are colored in red on all views.
This helps identify easily all elements that should be reviewed without checking the report and makes the connection design process much easier.
Generic detail view
The user can obtain a generic connection drawing (elevation and sections), which can further be exported and adjusted in other CAD software.
The Drawing Settings dialog is used for customizing the drawing. Here, the user can set the page layout and the title blocks, disable different views (sections/elevation) in the drawing, change the section symbols and the scale for each view. The print margins can be set when printing the generated drawing
Final Notes for Reliable Steel Connections
A well-designed steel connection is essential for ensuring structural continuity, constructability, and long-term performance—especially when splice joints are required to extend member lengths or accommodate fabrication and transport constraints. By following the workflow outlined in this article, you can confidently define the splice configuration, apply relevant design assumptions, and validate the joint against project requirements. Taking the time to review detailing, checks, and output documentation will help ensure your connection design is both compliant and practical for real-world installation.
