Vertical Brace Connection Failure Messages

General information :

Error messages listed in alphabetical order :

A B C E F G H I L
M N O P S T U V W

page 1 | contents | failure messages | vertical brace review


Where/when/why these error messages appear :

When you open a Vertical Brace Review window after connection design has failed an " Input connection type " connection on the left or right end of the vertical brace, you will find a connection design error message such the following:

Gusset extends past the end of the member 

The message is displayed on the left half of the Vertical Brace Review window if it applies to the connection on the left end of the vertical brace. The message tells you why connection design failed the connection. Understanding the message can help you to determine what steps the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to take in order to create the connection you want.

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Warning 1: Users should enter loads (" Tension load ," " Compression load ," etc.) only under the authority of a qualified engineer. Lowering the load may get you a connection, but it could result in a connection failure under the true loading conditions in the built structure.

Warning 2: Users of a full-featured SDS2 program should make design changes (such as changing the " Section size " or " Steel grade ") only under the authority of a qualified structural designer. Making such design changes may involve extra costs, clearance problems, delays, etc. For many projects, materials may have already been ordered at the time connections are being designed.

Warning 3: Creating graphical connections is another method that users of a full-featured SDS2 program can almost always use to get around connection failures. Each graphical connection should be approved by a qualified designer before its drawings is sent to the fabrication shop.

Warning 4: Fixing connection failures may, in some cases, involve making changes to Job/Fabricator Option files. Caution should be exercised when making any setup change since such changes will be automatically applied to newly added members and, for members that already exist in the model, the user needs to manually select (mark for processing) those members that the user wants connection design to update.

Warning 5: Just because connection design passes a connection without a failure message, you should not assume that the connection is optimal. All connections should be visually inspected in the model. In addition, the Connection Design Calculations or Expanded Connection Design Calculations report should be reviewed by a qualified engineer.

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- A -

Acceptable brace section sizes: W6 thru W30: A wide flange vertical brace must use a " Section size " between W6 and W30. Otherwise the design of the gusset plate will fail.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try changing the " Section size " of the vertical brace.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

All 3 braces must have the same material type: You get this message when connection design fails a shared gusset for three braces because the " Section size " for at least one of the vertical braces is a wide flange or tube or W tee brace with a " Stem orientation " of ' Vertical '.

Connection design can create shared gussets for a combination of angle or channel or W tee braces (stem horizontal), but does not let you mix wide flange or tube or stem vertical W tee braces with other material types.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try changing the " Section size " so that each of the three braces are the same type (wide flange or tube or stem vertical W tee) or so that none of the three braces are wide flanges or tubes or stem vertical W tees.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- B -

Base/Cap plate bolts interfere with brace connection: You can get this connection failure message when a vertical brace frames to a column with an auto base/cap plate and that column plate has a bolt group that is exterior to the column flange that the brace frames to.

This framing condition is very specific but not uncommon. The column must be a wide flange, welded plate wide flange or S shape column whose web is parallel with the beam. The flanges of the column are perpendicular to the beam. The connection design locks for this connection are contained in leaves named " Column Plate " (on the Column Review window) and " Cap Plate " (on the Vertical Brace Review window).

The connection failure message indicates that connection design cannot generate a gusset plate to the auto base/cap plate and flange of the column because locks that are set in the " Column Plate " leaf (on the Column Review window) prevent the program from applying appropriate " Cap Plate " locks (on the Vertical Brace Review window).

To fix this problem, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to set specific locks in the " Column Plate " leaf (on the Column window) to unlocked ( ) so that the bolt group outside of the flange of the column that the vertical brace frames to does not have any rows of bolts. Those bolts that are outside the flange need to be controlled by the " Cap Plate " locks (on the Vertical Brace Review window).

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Base/cap plate net shear strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace frames to a column whose " Input connection type " is ' Auto base/cap plate '. A flanged beam must run continuous over or under the end of the column to which the auto base/cap plate is applied. This message may be generated for any " Connection design method ." The failure message indicates that the net shear strength of the auto base/cap plate is exceeded.

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) fields " Rows of bolts " and/or " Bolt diameter " in the " Cap Plate " leaf.

Assuming that the vertical brace " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, generally the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Rows of bolts " or " Bolt diameter " fields or, alternatively, to adjust the entries made to those locked fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Beam flange is coped at gusset weld: You get this connection failure message when a vertical brace frames to a beam whose flange has been coped. For example, connection design copes the bottom flange of a wide flange beam with a shear tab connection framing to the web of a wide flange column in order to allow the beam to be erectable at the construction site. This message indicates that there is not enough of the flange left on the beam to weld the gusset plate to.

This is a problem with the geometry of the connection which requires that you assess the situation in the 3D model.

Before attempting to fix this connection, see the warnings .

Bolt bearing strength on conn./supported member exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type "is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ' and " Gusset to supporting member " is ' Clip angle '. It may also apply to shear plate gusset-to-column connections in vertical brace to beam & column framing situations. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." The failure occurs when the bolt bearing strength is exceeded on the gusset plate or the angle leg or the shear plate.

Framing Situation Leaf Containing Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace to column NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace to beam & column NS/FS Clip Conn2 , Shear Tab
vertical brace 2-point, to a beam NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace 2-point, to a column NS/FS Clip Conn2

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) field " Bolt diameter " or " Rows " (of bolts) or " Columns " (of bolts).

Assuming that the vertical brace's " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, generally the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Bolt diameter " or " Rows or " Column " or, alternatively, to enter more appropriate values to these fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Bolt bearing strength on gusset/connection exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and " Gusset to supporting member " is ' Clip angle '. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." The failure occurs when bearing on either the gusset plate or the clip angle exceeds the limit.

Framing Situation Leaf Containing Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace to column NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace to beam & column NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column NS/FS Clip Conn2

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) fields " Rows " (of bolts) or " Plate thickness " (of gusset) in any of the above-listed leaves.

Assuming that the vertical brace " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, generally the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Rows " or " Plate thickness " fields or to enter a larger values to those fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Bolt bearing strength on OSL/Supporting member exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ' and " Gusset to supporting member " is ' Clip angle '. It may also apply to end plate gusset-to-column connections in vertical brace to beam & column framing situations. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." The failure occurs when the bolt bearing strength is exceeded on the supporting member or the angle leg to the supporting member or on the end plate.

Framing Situation Leaf Containing Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace to column NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace to beam & column NS/FS Clip Conn2 , End Plate
vertical brace 2-point, to a beam NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace 2-point, to a column NS/FS Clip Conn2

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) field " Bolt diameter " or " Rows " (of bolts) or " Columns " (of bolts).

Assuming that the vertical brace's " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, generally the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Bolt diameter " or " Rows" or " Column " or, alternatively, to enter more appropriate values to these fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Bolt dia. too large for member or sprt member flange: This applies to the brace-to-gusset bolts on angle , tee , channel and wide flange vertical braces. Connection design checks the edge distance and the bolt clearance. If it determines that the brace-to-gusset bolts are too large in diameter for the brace, the connection fails, and you get this message.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try entering a smaller " NM bolt diameter or changing the " NM bolt type " to hex bolts (instead of TC bolts). If that doesn't work, the user will probably need to enter a larger brace " Section size ."

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Bolt shear strength exceeded: This connection failure message can apply to any vertical brace " Input connection type " that is bolted. The message may be generated for any " Connection design method ."

The connection failure message may be generated on the Vertical Brace Review window due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any leaf that contains connection design locks related to hole patterns and bolts.

Assuming that the vertical brace's " Tension load " and " Compression load " and other parameters are to engineering specifications, generally the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the offending locked fields or, alternatively, to adjust the entries made to those locked fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Both braces must be either on/off the neutral axis: This message applies to angle and double-angle vertical braces that frame opposite to one another at a brace intersection plate . It indicates that the two braces have different " Locate on neutral axis " settings.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try changing the " Locate on neutral axis " setting for one of the braces so that it matches the setting for the brace that is opposite to it on the intersection plate.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Both braces must be wide flg sections: You get this message when connection design is unable to design a shared gusset for wide flange vertical braces because one of the vertical braces is not made of wide flange material.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could change the " Section size " on one brace to a wide flange , or the user could change the " Section size " on the other brace so that it is not a wide flange.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Both braces must have the same material type: You get this message when connection design is unable to create a shared gusset or intersection plate because the braces are different material types. In the case of an intersection plate, all three braces have to be the same material type.

The user of a full-featured SDS2 program will need to change the " Section Size " of one or all of the braces so that they are made of the same material.

L , C , W , HSS ( rectangular or round ) and WT are acceptable shapes for which connection design is able to generate an " Hbrc Plate " connection on vertical braces.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Brace conn. will not fit in beam web: You get this message for a vertical brace framing into a beam web. If the beam is not deep enough, connection design cannot generate a gusset plate on this end of the brace.

The program will have already determined that it is unable to design a ' Welded ' connection for the " Gusset to supporting member ," so that is not a solution.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could change the beam " Section size " to give the brace more room or, in some cases, the user may be able to relocate the brace with respect to the beam.

Another possible solution is to lower the governing " Load " so that connection design creates a smaller and weaker gusset plate that will fit.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Brace gross compression strength fails: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a connection because compression causes failure of the brace.

The problem here is not with the connection, but rather with the vertical brace itself. Possible ways for the user of a full-featured SDS2 program to get an " Input connection type " connection are to input a stronger brace " Section Size ," or to lower the " Compression load " on the brace.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Brace gross tension strength fails: You get this message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate because the brace material itself is not strong enough to not stand up to the tension that is applied to the brace.

One way for the user of a full-featured SDS2 program to get an " Input connection type " connection is to change to a different brace material (e.g. if it's a brace of single angle material, the user might change to " Double Material "; if it's made of W tee material, the user might use a heavier tee " Section size "). Another way is to lower the " Tension load " and thus allow the brace to be as weak as it currently is.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Brace net tension strength fails: You get this message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate because the brace material, including the holes, is not strong enough to stand up to the tension that is applied to the brace.

One way for the user of a full-featured SDS2 program to get an " Input connection type " connection is to change to a different brace material (e.g. if it's a brace of single angle material, the user might change to " Double material "; if it's made of W tee material, the user might use a heavier tee " Section size "). Another way is to lower the " Tension load " and thus allow the brace to be as weak as it currently is.

On an HSS brace with a small " Section size ," the size of the gusset-insertion slot may cause net tension failure. You can make the slot more narrow by decreasing the " Minimum gusset thickness ."

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Braces must be colinear: You get this message for angle and double-angle and HSS vertical braces that frame opposite to one another at a brace intersection plate . It indicates that the work lines (stick form lines) of the two braces are not in alignment.

To evaluate the misalignment of the two braces, use EXPT to locate a construction line that passes through the work points of one of the opposing vertical brace. Then do the same for the opposite vertical brace. You will see that the construction lines (and therefore the two vertical braces) do not line up (are not coliner).

To fix this problem, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program may be able to change the " End elevation " of one of the vertical braces so that it is colinear with the opposite vertical brace. If that doesn't work, the user could use Move/Stretch Member to repair the problem. Or the user may have to Erase the member then Add a new vertical brace.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Braces must have same HSS column reinforcement type: This connection failure message applies to vertical braces with 2-point or 3-point shared gusset plates.

The message indicates that the ends of the braces that share the gusset plate have different settings for the connection specification " Use HSS column reinforcement plate ."

To clear this failure message and get a connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program must make the same choice needs to " Use HSS column reinforcement plate " on each of the braces that share the gusset plate.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- C -

Calculated minus dim larger than member length: This connection failure message indicates that an entry made to a connection design lock on the brace would result in the " Automatic minus dimension " being larger than the member length, which is a physical impossibility that cannot be accurately modeled.

In a full-featured SDS2 program , a possible fix would be to unlock ( ) the connection design lock whose entry caused the failure message. This would likely result in connection design populating that field with an automatically calculated, reasonable value that is compatible with member setbacks and with entries made to other, related connection design locks.

Another possible fix would be for the user to keep the lock ( ) on the connection design lock that caused this failure message, but to enter to that field a smaller, more reasonable value.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Cannot complete connection design: This connection failure message may apply to many different situations.

Ways to diagnose the problem are to review the 3D model , or to generate a Connection Design Calculations or Expanded Connection Design Calculations report and evaluate which formulas on the Connection Design Calculations Cover Sheet apply to the situation.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Cannot have a moment web setback with both flanges coped: This connection failure message indicates that both the " Top flange operation " and the " Bottom flange operation " on the same member end are cope operations and a non-zero " Moment connection web setback " has been set. Various cope operations may be specified under the " End preparations " leaf on a member review window.

' Cope plain '
' Cope shop weld #3 (Standard) '
' Cope field weld #3 (Standard) '
' Cope field weld #1 (FEMA) '
' Cope shop weld #1 (FEMA) '
' Seismic cope field weld '
' Seismic cope shop weld '
cope operations

To clear this failure message, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program can clear the cope operation on either the top flange or the bottom flange or enter ' 0 ' to " Moment connection web setback " or unlock ( ) that field. The user can clear a cope operation and keep the weld preparation by entering ' 0 ' as the " Cope length " and ' 0 ' as the " Cope depth ."

If this failure message is not cleared, the program still copes the top and bottom flanges. However, the " Moment connection web setback " that has been entered is not applied. That entry is shown on the member window, accompanied by this failure message as an indication that the entered value has not been applied. On the Rolled Section Material window, the " Moment connection web setback " is ' 0 ' since zero is the actual, applied value.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Cannot have a moment web setback without a cope weld end operation: This failure message applies to all member types that have a valid " Section size " to which the user of a full-featured SDS2 program can apply a cope weld end operation.

' Cope shop weld #3 (Standard) '
' Cope field weld #3 (Standard) '
' Cope field weld #1 (FEMA) '
' Cope shop weld #1 (FEMA) '
' Seismic cope field weld '
' Seismic cope shop weld '
cope weld operations

To clear this failure message, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to enter ' 0 ' to " Moment connection web setback " or unlock ( ) that field or apply one of the above-listed cope weld end operations as the " Top/bottom flange operation ."

If this failure message is not cleared, the " Top/bottom flange operation " is still applied. The entry made to " Moment connection web setback " is shown on the member review window, accompanied by this failure message as an indication that the entered value has not been applied. On the Rolled Section Material window, the " Moment connection web setback " is ' 0 ' since zero is the actual, applied value.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Clevis/turnbuckle/clevis pin capacity failure: See the failure message " Clevis/turnbuckle/clevis pin size failure " (below).

This failure message appears only infrequently since the program automatically attempts to select a different clevis or turnbuckle or it attempts to use a larger-diameter pin whenever it calculates a potential rod brace connection capacity failure.

The fixes that can potentially clear this connection failure message are essentially the same as the steps you might take to clear the " Clevis/turnbuckle/clevis pin size failure " message described below.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Clevis/turnbuckle/clevis pin size failure: This connection failure message applies to tension-only rod bracing .

Basis for Capacity Calculations
Clevis " Capacity " in the local shape file.
Turnbuckle " Capacity " in the local shape file.
Clevis pin " Clevis pin grade " (a connection design lock)

The message indicates that, in order to compensate for the applied " Tension load ," the program was forced to increase the size of the connection, but could not find a clevis or turnbuckle that was large enough. The message might also be caused by a user entering a " Pin diameter " for which there is no available clevis in the local shape file.

For a user of a full-featured SDS2 program to clear this failure message and get a connection, a stronger " Clevis pin grade " could be applied, thus giving the connection the capacity to stand up to the applied load without requiring a larger clevis that is not available. If the " Pin diameter " is locked ( ), that user could try unlocking ( ) the " Pin diameter " so that the program is allowed to use a different clevis. Unlocking ( ) the " Clevis index " or " Turnbuckle index " may also be a way to clear this message. If other remedies don't work, a new clevis definition or turnbuckle definition could be added to the local shape file, thus giving the program another, presumably larger, clevis or turnbuckle that could be used for the connection. The " Tension load " could be lowered, thus allowing a connection of less capacity.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Clip angle/plate weld strength to gusset exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined '. The vertical brace gusset may weld directly to the supporting member or it may connect to the supporting member with a clip angle. This message may be generated for any " Connection design method " and applies to virtually all vertical brace framing situations.

Framing situations: Vertical brace to a beam
Vertical brace to a column
Vertical brace to a beam & column
2 & 3 point vertical brace gusset to a beam
2 & 3 point, to a column
Vertical brace to a column & base/cap plate

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) fields " Plate thickness " in a gusset leaf and/or " Rows " of bolts in a clip angle leaf and/or "Weld size" in a welded connection leaf.

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications and that the " Gusset plate grade " is what you want it to be, probably the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Plate thickness " and/or " Rows " and/or " Weld size " fields, or to enter a larger gusset plate thickness or larger weld size or a larger number of rows.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Clip angle with adequate thickness not available: You get this failure message when connection design is unable to create a gusset plate because it cannot find a heavy enough angle section in the local shape file .

The program will have already determined that it is unable to design a ' Welded ' connection for the " Gusset to supporting member ," so that is not a solution.

One possible way for the user of a full-featured SDS2 program to get an " Input connection type " connection is to add the angle to the local shape file using Shapes Properties . Another possible solution is to use a different section size for the brace or supporting member.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Column plate dimension too small for gusset weld: You get this failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on a vertical brace gusset plate to column base plate because the base plate does not stick out far enough to enable welding of the gusset to the base plate.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could apply a larger base plate to the column, probably a User Base/Cap Plate . To determine what size of User Base/Cap Plate is needed, the user might " Force " the connection then view the situation in Modeling . Once the ' User Base/Cap Plate ' has been specified as the " Input connection type " on the Column window, the user should be sure to uncheck " Force " on the Vertical Brace window.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Column web yield/crippling strength fails: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace frames to a column and base/cap plate. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ."

Vertical Brace to a Column & Base/Cap Plate
brace material / connection leaf
angle, tee, channel Gusset Column Cap Square
HSS, pipe or tube Gusset Column Cap
stem-vertical tee / web plates Gusset Column Cap
wide flange / standard Gusset Column Cap
wide flange / paddle plates Gusset Column Cap
web-horizontal wide flange / claw angles Gusset Column Cap

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) " Length " (of gusset) field in any of the above-listed leaves.

Assuming that the vertical brace " Tension load " and " Compression load " and the column " Section size " are to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Length " (of gusset) or to enter a larger " Length " in order to increase the distribution of the load along the column.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Combined bolt shear and tension strength exceeded: This connection failure message applies when the vertical brace " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined '. It applies to a vertical brace to a beam & column when the beam connects to the column with a clip angle or an end plate. It may also apply when the column connects to the beam with an auto base/cap plate. It indicates that the combined force of the " Shear load " (from the beam) and the " Compression load " and/or " Tension load " (from the vertical brace) exceed the bolt shear and tension strength of the connection.

Vertical Brace to a Beam & Column
framing situation leaf (gusset connection)
Beam connects to column with a clip angle. NS/FS Clip Conn1
Beam connects to column with an end plate. End Plate
Column to beam with an auto base/cap plate. Cap Plate

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) field " Plate thickness " (of end plate), " Rows of bolts " (in end plate, clip angle or column plate) and " Bolt diameter ."

Assuming that the vertical brace's " Tension load " and " Compression load " and the beam's " Shear load " are to engineering specifications, generally the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Plate thickness " or " Rows of bolts " or " Bolt diameter " or, alternatively, to enter more appropriate values to these fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Combined gusset stress limit exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace gusset plate connects to a beam. For example, it may apply to the framing situations listed below. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." The failure message indicates that combined forces from the beam and/or braces exceed the gusset plate stress limit.

Vertical brace to a beam
Vertical brace to a beam & column
2 & 3 point vertical brace gusset to a beam
Vertical brace to a column & cap plate to a beam

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) " Plate thickness " (of gusset) field in any gusset-related leaves in the above-listed framing situations.

Assuming that the " Shear load " on the beam and the " Tension load " and " Compression load " on the vertical brace are to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Plate thickness " field, or to enter larger thickness to that field.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Combined gusset weld stress exceeds limit: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and two or three braces share the same gusset plate. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the strength of the gusset plate weld is exceeded due to the combined loads of the two or three vertical braces.

2- or 3-Point Vertical Brace Gusset Plate Locks
framing sit leaves (brace material)
To a beam: Gusset 2 Point Square , Weld Conn2 (angle, tee, channel)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (HSS, pipe, tube)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (stem-vertical tee)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (wide flange, standard)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (wide flange, paddle plates)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (web-horizontal wide flange, claw angles)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (web-horizontal W, flange gussets)
To a column:

Gusset 2 Point Square, Weld Conn2 (angle, tee, channel)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (HSS, pipe, tube)
Gusset Column Cap , Weld Conn2 (stem-vertical tee)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (wide flange, standard)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (wide flange, paddle plates)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (web-horizontal wide flange, claw angles)
Gusset 2 Point , Weld Conn2 (web-horizontal W, flange gussets)

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) " Plate thickness " or " Weld size " or " Length " fields in any of the above-listed leaves. " Weld size " is found in the " Weld Conn2 " leaf.

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " on the two or three braces are to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Plate thickness " or " Length " or " Weld size " fields or, alternatively, to adjust the entries made to those locked fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Connecting beam has failed connection: This applies when a vertical brace connects to a beam and column . For such a framing situation, connection design applies the same type of connection (shear plate or end plate or clip angle) to the brace to column that is used for the beam to column. Since the beam has a failed connection, connection design cannot determine what type of connection to use for the vertical brace to the column.

Before connection design can create a gusset plate, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to get a connection on the end of the beam. See Beam Connection Failure Messages .

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Connection gross shear strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the brace frames to a beam & column. It applies when the brace gusset plate connects to the column with a shear plate or a clip angle. The gusset plate will connect to the column with a shear plate when the beam's connection to the column is a shear plate. It will connect with a clip angle when the beam has a clip angle. This message may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the connection material itself fails in gross shear strength.

Vertical Brace to Beam & Column
brace material, connection leaf
angle, tee, channel NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
HSS, pipe, tube NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
stem-vertical tee, web plate NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
web-vertical wide flange, standard NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
web-vertical wide flange, paddle plate NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
web-horizontal wide flange, claw angles NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks for a clip angle may be the thickness of the clip angle " Material " or " Rows ." For a shear plate, the offending locks may be " Plate thickness " or " Rows ."

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications and you do not want to " Combine... " the clip angles or shear plates, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the thickness of the connection material or the number of rows of bolts connecting the shear plate or clip angle to the column.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Connection net shear strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the brace frames to a beam & column. It applies when the brace gusset plate connects to the column with a shear plate or a clip angle. The gusset plate will connect to the column with a shear plate when the beam's connection to the column is a shear plate. It will connect with a clip angle when the beam has a clip angle. This message may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the connection material itself fails in net shear strength.

Vertical Brace to Beam & Column
brace material / connection leaf
angle, tee, channel NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
HSS, pipe, tube NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
stem-vertical tee, web plate NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
web-vertical wide flange, standard NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
web-vertical wide flange, paddle plate NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab
web-horizontal wide flange, claw angles NS/FS Clip Conn1 or Shear Tab

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks for a clip angle may be the thickness of the clip angle " Material " or " Rows ." For a shear plate, the offending locks may be " Plate thickness " or " Rows ."

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications and you do not want to " Combine... " the clip angles or shear plates, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the thickness of the connection material or the number of rows of bolts connecting the shear plate or clip angle to the column.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Connection to sloping column not supported: This applies when wide flange vertical brace has a " Web orientation " of ' Horizontal ' and is set to have ' Flange gussets ' designed. Connection design cannot create such a connection if the column is sloping.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to change the " Web orientation " to ' Vertical ' or the " Section size " to a something other than wide flange.

The only way to get this connection for a web horizontal wide flange vertical brace to a sloping column is to design a graphical connection .

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Cope depth is less than minimum allowed: This failure message applies when, under the " End preparations " leaf on a member window, a user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered a " Cope depth " that is less than the minimum allowed. A " Cope depth " can be entered for any of the following " Top/bottom flange operations :"

' Cope plain '
' Cope shop weld #3 (Standard) '
' Cope field weld #3 (Standard) '
' Cope field weld #1 (FEMA) '
' Cope shop weld #1 (FEMA) '
' Seismic cope field weld '
' Seismic cope shop weld '
cope operations

The program calculates the minimum cope depth based on the flange thickness of the " Section size " of the member, using in the following formula: r + tf + 0.01 inch = mcd .

mcd = minimum cope depth
tf = flange thickness
r = cope radius

To clear this failure message, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program needs to enter a " Cope depth " that is larger than the calculated minimum ( mcd ) or unlock ( ) the " Cope depth " field so that the program enters the calculated minimum.

page 1 | contents | failure messages | vertical brace review | top


- E -

End operation will not work with this situation: This connection failure message indicates that the left- or right-end " Top flange operation " or " Bottom flange operation " under " End preparations " on the member window will not work. This is a catch-all failure message. In the table below, situations that produce this failure message are marked ? or fail .

OK = end operation is applicable to the material type
fail = end operation will not work for this situation
? = operation works on the flange, not the stem
288 = failure message number 288
  W , S C L tube   pipe   WT
Cope plain OK OK OK OK OK OK
Cope field #3 OK OK ? fail fail ?
Cope shop #3 OK OK ? fail fail ?
Cut flange width OK 288 288 fail fail fail
Cut flange flush OK 288 288 fail fail fail
Clip flange OK fail fail fail fail fail
Notch top/bottom fail fail fail OK OK fail
Notch NS/FS fail fail fail OK OK fail
Cope field #1 OK OK ? fail fail ?
Cope shop #1 OK OK ? fail fail ?
Clip web OK OK OK fail fail OK
Cope field seismic OK OK ? fail fail ?
Cope shop seismic OK OK ? fail fail ?

Example of ?: In a full-featured SDS2 program , selecting ' Cope field weld #3 ' as the " Bottom flange operation " for a W tee horizontal brace produces the failure message, and a weld preparation will not be applied to the stem of the W tee. However, if the user of that program selects the same operation as the " Top flange operation ," the weld preparation will be applied to the top flange of the W tee and, of course, that user will not get the failure message. All operations in the above chart that are marked ? work in a similar way.

To clear the failure message, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program can switch to a different " Top/bottom flange operation ."

End plate in-plane bending strength exceeded: This failure message applies to end plate connections when the " Connection design method " is ' EUROCODE 3 UK '. It applies when ' Vbrc plate ' is the " Input connection type " and the vertical brace frames to a beam & column and the beam has an end plate connection. For such a framing condition, the gusset plate will connect to the column with an end plate. The design check that generates this message applies if the end plate gage (" Gage NS " + " Gage FS ") is more than 1.36 times the end plate depth. The message indicates that the in-plane bending strength of the end plate is exceeded.

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) fields " Rows of bolts " or " Bolt diameter " in the " End Plate " leaf. Also, be aware that the thickness of the end plate is controlled by the " Plate thickness " for the beam's end plate.

Assuming that the vertical brace's " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, generally the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Rows " or " Bolt diameter " or " Plate thickness " or, alternatively, to adjust the entries made to those locked fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

page 1 | contents | failure messages | vertical brace review | top


- F -

Frames to a Model Complete member: This applies when the member this vertical brace frames to has its " Model complete date " set.

You will get a yellow " Frames to ... " banner like the following even if there is no connection failure. This banner describes the framing situation, but does not necessarily pertain to connection design.

 Frames to a Model Complete member

In addition to the above banner, you may (but will not necessarily) get a red banner like the following, which indicates a connection failure due to connection design not being permitted to modify the main material of the model-complete member. This can happen, for example, if this vertical brace was added, or its " Input connection type " or " Conn Specs " were changed, after the framed-to member's " Model complete date " was set.

  Frames to a Model Complete member

The user of a full-featured SDS2 program could " Force " the connection or change the model complete type on the model complete member from ' Restrictive ' to ' Legacy ', but the connection will probably not be designed correctly. Before connection design can generate a properly designed connection on this end of the vertical brace, the user needs to type in ' 0 ' (zero) to enter ' **NOT SET** ' in place of the date entry for " Model complete date " on the member that this brace frames to. See the following table:

framing situation likely cause
vertical brace to column  The column has its " Model complete date " set.
vertical brace to beam The beam has its " Model complete date " set.
vertical brace with shared gusset The opposite vertical brace or supporting member has its " Model complete date " set.
vertical brace to beam and column The beam or column has its " Model complete date " set.
vertical brace to a wide flange vertical brace The wide flange vertical brace has its " Model complete date " set.  
vertical brace X or T intersection The supporting vertical brace has its " Model complete date " set. 

Full depth stiffeners are needed for buckling: This connection failure message occurs if stiffeners are needed for buckling and a user locks ( ) the depth of a stiffener to partial depth.

To fix this error the user of a full-featured SDS2 program can either force the connection or unlock the locked ( ) value.

page 1 | contents | failure messages | vertical brace review | top


- G -

Gusset buckling strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined '. It applies to virtually any vertical brace framing situation. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the compression load exceeds the buckling strength of the gusset plate.

Framing situations: Vertical brace to a beam
Vertical brace to a column
Vertical brace to a beam & column
2 & 3 point vertical brace gusset to a beam
2 & 3 point, to a column
Vertical brace to a column & base/cap plate

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any vertical brace leaf that controls the gusset plate. Specifically, the offending connection design lock may be the gusset plate's " Plate thickness ."

Assuming that the applied " Compression load " is to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to adjust the gusset plate's " Plate thickness " or to unlock ( ) that field so that the program can automatically adjust the plate thickness.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset/clip angle tension strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined '. It applies to virtually any vertical brace framing situation. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." The message indicates that the tensile strength of either the gusset plate or the clip angle connection to that gusset plate has been exceeded.

Framing situations: Vertical brace to a beam
Vertical brace to a column
Vertical brace to a beam & column
2 & 3 point vertical brace gusset to a beam
2 & 3 point, to a column
Vertical brace to a column & base/cap plate

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any vertical brace leaf that controls the gusset plate. Specifically, the offending connection design locks may be the gusset plate's " Length " or " Width " or " Plate thickness ."

Assuming that the applied " Tension load " is to engineering specifications and the clip angle section size is what you want, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to adjust the gusset plate's " Length " or " Width " or " Plate thickness " or to unlock ( ) those fields so that connection design can automatically resize the gusset plate dimensions or clip angle length for you.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset connections to support must be the same: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a shared gusset plate to a beam or column for three braces or two braces because different connections are specified for the gusset-to-supporting-member interface.

To get an " Input connection type " connection on three point bracing, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try changing the " Gusset to supporting member " to ' Welded ' on all three braces. ' Clip angle ' is not an option for three point bracing.

To get an " Input connection type " connection for two point bracing, change the " Gusset to supporting member " on one of the braces to either ' Welded ' or ' Clip angle ' so that both braces have the same type of connection.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset connection angle not found: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot find a suitable connection angle for a web horizontal wide flange brace with ' Flange gussets '.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset extends past the end of the member: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a vertical brace gusset because it would extend past the beam or column.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could Move/Stretch the end ( ) of the vertical brace (or change its " End elevation ") so that its work point is farther away from the end, nearer the middle, of the supporting member. For a vertical brace to the bottom of a column, the user may -- instead of repositioning the brace -- be able to add a base plate to the column so that the brace can connect to the base plate.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset geometry fails: This connection failure message could indicate many different problems. The brace might be too small, or its work points may have been located incorrectly, or the supporting member(s) may be in an odd configuration.

Ways to diagnose the problem are to review the 3D model , or to generate a Connection Design Calculations or Expanded Connection Design Calculations report and evaluate which formulas on the Connection Design Calculations Cover Sheet apply to the situation.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset gross/net shear strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace gusset connects to the supporting member with a clip angle. The failure message may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the shear strength of the gusset plate is insufficient.

Framing Situation Leaf Containing Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace to column NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace to beam & column NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam NS/FS Clip Conn2
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column NS/FS Clip Conn2

The connection failure message may be generated due to an entry that the user has made to the locked ( ) fields " Bolt diameter " or " Rows " (of bolts) in any of the above-listed leaves.

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications and that the " Gusset plate grade " is what you want it to be, probably the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Bolt diameter " and/or " Rows " fields, or to enter a larger bolt diameter or a larger number of rows.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset interactive stress limit exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ' and two or three braces share the same gusset plate. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." The failure occurs when the gusset interaction from two or three braces exceeds the limit.

2- or 3-Point Vertical Brace Gusset Plate Locks
framing sit leaf (brace material)
To a beam: Gusset 2 Point Square (angle, tee, channel)
Gusset 2 Point (HSS, pipe, tube)
Gusset 2 Point (stem-vertical tee)
Gusset 2 Point (wide flange, standard)
Gusset 2 Point (wide flange, paddle plates)
Gusset 2 Point (web-horizontal wide flange, claw angles)
Gusset 2 Point (web-horizontal wide flange, flange gussets)
To a column:

Gusset 2 Point Square (angle, tee, channel)
Gusset 2 Point (HSS, pipe, tube)
Gusset Column Cap (stem-vertical tee)
Gusset 2 Point (wide flange, standard)
Gusset 2 Point (wide flange, paddle plates)
Gusset 2 Point (web-horizontal wide flange, claw angles)
Gusset 2 Point (web-horizontal wide flange, flange gussets)

The connection failure message may be generated due to an entry that the user has made to the locked ( ) fields " Plate thickness " or " Length " in any of the above-listed gusset leaves for 2- or 3-point gussets.

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " on the two or three braces are to engineering specifications and that the " Gusset plate grade " is what you want it to be, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Plate thickness " and/or " Length " fields, or to enter a larger gusset plate thickness or length.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset interferes with beam flange: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset because it would clash with the beam flange. This may be due to the size of the gusset (case 1) or because a connection is not supported for the framing condition (case 2).

Case 1: The user of a full-featured SDS2 program could lower the governing " Load " and thus cause connection design to create a weaker and smaller gusset plate, or the user could force the connection and revise graphically .

Case 2: You can also get this error message on a vertical brace framing to a beam and column when the beam is a channel . The program does not support such connections. To get a connection on the brace, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program will need to change the " Section size " on the beam to a wide flange or welded plate W or S shape .

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset interferes with beam's extended clip L connection: You get this failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate because doing so would result in a material clash with the " Extend past flange " clip angle on the beam.

You should probably review the 3D model to assess what might be the problem. To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program may be able to Move/Stretch the end of the vertical brace so that its work point is farther away from the end of the supporting beam.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset strength Whitmore section exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and two or three braces share the same gusset plate. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the strength of the gusset plate is exceeded due to the combined loads of the braces.

2- or 3-Point Vertical Brace Gusset Plate Locks
framing sit leaf (brace material)
To a beam: Gusset 2 Point Square (angle, tee, channel)
Gusset 2 Point (HSS, pipe, tube)
Gusset 2 Point (stem-vertical tee)
Gusset 2 Point (wide flange, standard)
Gusset 2 Point (wide flange, paddle plates)
Gusset 2 Point (web-horizontal wide flange, claw angles)
Gusset 2 Point (web-horizontal wide flange, flange gussets)
To a column:

Gusset 2 Point Square (angle, tee, channel)
Gusset 2 Point (HSS, pipe, tube)
Gusset Column Cap (stem-vertical tee)
Gusset 2 Point (wide flange, standard)
Gusset 2 Point (wide flange, paddle plates)
Gusset 2 Point (web-horizontal wide flange, claw angles)
Gusset 2 Point (web-horizontal wide flange, flange gussets)


The connection failure message may be generated due to an entry that the user has made to the locked ( ) field " Plate thickness " in any of the above-listed leaves for 2- or 3-point gussets.

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " on the two or three braces are to engineering specifications and that the " Gusset plate grade " is what you want it to be, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Plate thickness " field, or to enter a larger gusset plate thickness.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset to base/cap plate weld strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ' and the brace frames to a column and base/cap plate. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ."

Vertical Brace to a Column & Base/Cap Plate
leaves
angle, tee, channel Gusset Column Cap Square , Weld Conn 1
HSS, pipe or tube Gusset Column Cap , Weld Conn 1
stem-vertical tee / web plates Gusset Column Cap , Weld Conn 1
wide flange / standard Gusset Column Cap , Weld Conn 1
wide flange / paddle plates Gusset Column Cap , Weld Conn 1
web-horizontal wide flange / claw angles Gusset Column Cap , Weld Conn 1

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks may be " Gusset thickness " or " Weld size ."

Assuming the " Tension load " and " Compression load " and the various connection design locks are set the way you want them to be, the best way for that user to clear the failure is to enter a larger " Gusset thickness " or " Weld size " or to unlock ( ) those fields so that the program can automatically make the needed adjustments for you.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Gusset to col/beam weld strength exceeded limit: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined '. It indicates that the gusset weld strength at the supporting member (beam or column) has been exceeded. The failure message may apply to connection locks for vertical braces in any of the following framing situations:

Framing Situation
Vertical brace to a beam Weld Conn2
Gusset One Member
Gusset One Member Square
Vertical brace to a column Weld Conn2
Gusset One Member
Gusset One Member Square
Vertical brace to a beam & column Weld Conn2
Gusset Beam Column
Gusset Beam Column Square
Vertical brace to a column and base/cap plate Weld Conn2
Gusset Column Cap
Gusset Column Cap Square

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) " Plate thickness " or " Weld size " or " Length " or " Width " fields in any of the above-listed leaves.

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Plate thickness " or " Weld size " or " Length " or " Width " fields, or to enter values to those fields that will allow a longer or thicker weld.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

page 1 | contents | failure messages | vertical brace review | top


- H -

HSS brace cap plate shear failure: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace " Section size " is an HSS or pipe or tube, and the " Pipe/tube end-fitting " is ' Bolted '. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the shear strength of the cap plate (which welds to the HSS brace) is not enough to resist the brace tension. A stem plate shop welds to the cap plate on the vertical brace, forming a built-up tee end fitting for field bolting the vertical brace to the gusset plate.

Framing Situation Leaf with Relevant Lock s
vertical brace to beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to beam & column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
to column and base/cap plate Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks may be the cap plate " Thickness " or " Width " or " Length ."

Assuming that the " Tension load " is to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the thickness, width or length of the cap plate. Or you could unlock ( ) the cap plate " Thickness " " Width " or " Length " so that the program can automatically calculate the required values.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

HSS brace to cap plate weld strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace " Section size " is an HSS or pipe or tube, and the " Pipe/tube end-fitting " is ' Bolted '. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the strength of the cap-plate-to-HSS-brace weld is not enough to resist the brace tension. A stem plate shop welds to the cap plate on the vertical brace, forming a built-up tee end fitting for field bolting the vertical brace to the gusset plate.

Framing Situation Leaf with Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to beam & column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
to column and base/cap plate Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design lock may be the cap-plate-to-brace " Weld size ."

Assuming that the " Tension load " is to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the cap-plate-to-brace weld size. Or you could unlock ( ) that particular " Weld size " so that the program can automatically calculate the required value.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

HSS Reinforcement Plate design failure: This connection failure message applies to the design of reinforcement plates for HSS/TS braces. Such reinforcement plates are created automatically when " Seismic brace " is set to ' Yes '. For non-seismic braces, users of a full-featured SDS2 program can create such plates by adjusting connection design locks.

Connection Design Locks
(HSS/TS vertical brace)
  Welded Paddle plate Paddle plate
(double shear)
to a beam Brace Conn ... Brace Conn ... Brace Conn ...
to a column Brace Conn ... Brace Conn ... Brace Conn ...
to a beam & column Brace Conn ... Brace Conn ... Brace Conn ...
shared gusset, beam Brace Conn ... Brace Conn ... undocumented
shared gusset, column Brace Conn ... Brace Conn ... undocumented
column base/cap undocumented Brace Conn ... Brace Conn ...

The message indicates that the reinforcement plates are failing due to cross sectional area checks, probably because of changes made by a user to the reinforcement plate " Plate width " and " Plate thickness " in any of the leaves listed above. Usually, instead of this message, you will get the " Brace net tension strength fails " message.

To clear this message and get a connection, a user of a full-featured SDS2 program can try entering a larger " Plate width " or a larger " Plate thickness " or set those fields to unlocked ( ) and thus permit the program to calculate the width and thickness that is needed.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

HSS Reinforcement Plate Fy less than brace Fy: This connection failure message applies to the design of reinforcement plates for HSS/TS braces. Such reinforcement plates are created automatically when " Seismic brace " is set to ' Yes '. For non-seismic braces, users of a full-featured SDS2 program can create such plates by adjusting connection design locks.

The message indicates that the yield strength (Fy) of the reinforcement plate steel is less than the yield strength of the brace steel.

The steel grade for an HSS/TS brace is the " Steel grade " that is specified on that brace's edit window. The Fy value for that steel grade comes from the HHS / TS Grades window at Home > Project Settings > Job .

The steel grade for the reinforcement plates is the " Plate material grade " that is specified in the " Brace Reinforcement Plates " section of the Preferred Plate Sizes window in Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections . The Fy value for that steel grade comes from the Plate Grades window at Home > Project Settings > Job .

Usually the best way for a user of a full-featured SDS2 program to clear this message is to change the " Plate material grade " on the Preferred Plate Sizes window to a grade that has a higher Fy value.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

HSS reinf plate weld size greater than maximum allowed: This connection failure message applies when a vertical brace with a gusset plate frames to an HSS/TS column with a thin wall and " Use HSS column reinforcement plate " is set to ' Yes ' or possibly ' Automatic '.

The message indicates that the weld size for welding the reinforcement plate to the HSS column needs to be larger than is permitted, possibly because the " Plate thickness " that is entered in the " Column Reinf Plate " leaf is too small to accommodate weld that is sufficient to stand up to the vertical brace's axial load.

To clear this failure message and get a connection, a user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try entering a different " Plate thickness " or " Weld size " value, or the user could unlock ( ) the " Plate length " or " Weld size " so that the program is permitted to automatically calculate the plate length and weld size.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

HSS vertical brace to gusset weld failure: This connection failure message occurs when an HSS vertical brace ( round or rectangular ) is too small to get an acceptable weld.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to provide more material for welding. One possible way to do this is to enter a larger " Section size ." Or the user could try decreasing the " Minimum gusset thickness " in order to narrow the gusset-insertion slot in the HSS section.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

HSS wall strength fails: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate to a column because the HSS round (pipe) or HSS rectangular (tube) column is not made of heavy enough material.

To clear this message and get a connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could enter a heavier " Section size " to the column, or lower the governing " Load " on the vertical brace so that connection design can create a weaker connection using the currently entered " Section size ." Or that user could use a stronger " Steel grade " for the column.

For an HSS rectangular (tube) column, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program could set the Vertical Brace window's " Connection specifications " option " Use HSS column reinforcement plate " to ' Yes ' in order to have the program design column wall reinforcement plates that will clear this message.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- I -

Incompatible member sizes: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create flange gussets for a web horizontal wide flange brace because the vertical brace and the supporting member have incompatible section sizes. You may also get this failure message for other framing situations.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try entering a new " Section size " for the brace or a new " Section size " for the supporting member. Changing the material type is probably not necessary -- just use a different " Section size " of the same type.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid bolt edge distance: This connection failure message indicates that an entry made to a connection design lock on the brace would result in the bolt edge distance being larger than 6 inches or 150 mm.

In a full-featured SDS2 program , a possible fix that will make the connection failure message go away is to unlock ( ) the connection design lock whose entry caused the failure message to appear. Doing so will likely result in connection design populating that field with an automatically calculated value that generates an edge distance that is valid.

Another possible fix in a full-featured SDS2 program is to keep the lock ( ) on the connection design lock that caused this failure message, but to enter to that field a smaller value.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid brace conn., nodes or no supporting member: This connection failure message may indicate several different problems.

To properly assess the reason for the design failure, you should review the 3D model to evaluate the framing situation. If the problem is the positioning of the brace, a possible fix is for the user of a full-featured SDS2 program to Erase the vertical brace, then Add the brace again. Or the user may be able to Move/Stretch one end of the vertical brace (or change its " End elevation "). If the problem is no supporting member, the user will need to input a valid member for the brace to attach to.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid brace material type: You get this connection failure message when a " Section size " that connection design does not recognize as a valid material type is used for the vertical brace.

For a vertical brace, the " Section size " must be of L , C , W , S , HSS ( rectangular or round ) WT or ST material. Connection design cannot create a connection on a brace whose " Section size " is something other than one of these material types.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid brace work point location: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on his end of the vertical brace because of where the work point of the brace was located during Add Vertical Brace in Modeling . For example, this might occur when a brace goes to a beam and column and the work point is not to the column's workline.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could Erase the vertical brace, then Add it again. Or the user may be able to Move/Stretch one end of the vertical brace (or change its " End elevation ").

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid end operation for this type of material: This connection failure message indicates that the " Top/bottom flange operation " under " End preparations " on the member window will not work because the " Section size " of the member is a channel or angle. In the table below, situations that produce this failure message are marked fail .

OK = end operation is applicable to the material type
fail = invalid end operation for this type of material
289 = failure message number 289
  W , S C L tube   pipe   WT
Cope plain OK OK OK OK OK OK
Cope field #3 OK OK 289 289 289 289
Cope shop #3 OK OK 289 289 289 289
Cut flange width OK fail fail 289 289 289
Cut flange flush OK fail fail 289 289 289
Clip flange OK 289 289 289 289 289
Notch top/bottom 289 289 289 OK OK 289
Notch NS/FS 289 289 289 OK OK 289
Cope field #1 OK OK 289 289 289 289
Cope shop #1 OK OK 289 289 289 289
Clip web OK OK OK 289 289 OK
Cope field seismic OK OK 289 289 289 OK
Cope shop seismic OK OK 289 289 289 289

To clear the failure message, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program can switch to a different " Top/bottom flange operation ."

Invalid material type for this member: You get this message when connection design cannot generate a connection on this vertical brace because its " Section size " is considered by connection design to be an invalid material type.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to change the brace's " Section size ." For vertical braces, the " Section size " must be a L or C or W or S or HSS rectangular (tube) or HSS round (pipe) or WT or ST in order to get a system connection.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid material type for supporting member: You get this message when connection design cannot create the connection on this end of the vertical brace unless you first change the material type on the supporting beam or column or vertical brace.

For a supporting beam: The " Section size " must be wide flange or S shape or " Double " channel or welded plate wide flange or HSS rectangular (tube) or HSS round (pipe) or welded plate box in order for this vertical brace to connect to that beam.

For a supporting column: The " Section size " must be wide flange , HSS round (pipe), HSS rectangular (tube), welded plate wide flange , welded plate box or S shape in order for this vertical brace to connect to that column.

For a supporting vertical brace: The section size must be wide flange . You can get the same types of vertical brace connections to a wide flange vertical brace as you can to a wide flange beam.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid member type for welded connections: You get this connection failure message when ' Welded ' is the " Input connection type " on this end of the vertical brace and that same end of the brace frames to a chord member that is something other than a beam.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to Erase the chord member that the vertical brace connects to, then Add a beam in its place.

To keep the chord member the same member type, the user could change the " Input connection type " on the brace to ' Plain end ' then Exact Fit and Weld the vertical brace to the chord member.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid shared brace configuration:

No longer applies!

VIDEO Prior to v2017, SDS2 connection design required that the middle brace of 3-point vertical bracing needed to be perpendicular to the supporting member to which the shared gusset plate attaches. In this video, the middle 3-point brace to the horizontal beam is perpendicular, while the middle 3-point brace to the sloping beam is not perpendicular to that beam. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2017.)

Two-point vertical braces can now be on the same side of a perpendicular to the supporting beam or column.

Three-point vertical braces can now be constructed without the middle brace having to be perpendicular to the beam or column.

These configuration restrictions for 2-point and 3-point braces were removed from connection design in v2017 SDS2 software.

Invalid skew to column connection geometry: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on this end of the vertical brace because of the angle of skew to the supporting column. The exact angle which connection design does not support depends on the sizes of the members.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could Erase the vertical brace, then Add it again at a different angle. Or the user may be able to Move/Stretch one end of the vertical brace (or change its " End elevation ").

Or the user could change try changing the " Section size " of the vertical brace or the " Section size " of the column.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid support beam material type: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on this end of the vertical brace because of the supporting beam's material type.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to enter a valid " Section size " to the supporting beam. A ' System ' connection can be designed on a vertical brace that frames to a wide flange , welded plate W , S shape , tube , welded plate box or " Double " channel beam.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid support material type: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on this end of the vertical brace because of the material type of the supporting beam or supporting column or supporting vertical brace.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to enter a valid " Section size " to the supporting member. You may use any material for any member type, but only shapes recognized by connection design for particular member types will get a ' Vbrc plate ' connection.

For beams: The " Section size " must be wide flange, channel, tube, welded plate wide flange, welded plate box or S shape in order for connection design to be able to create connections.

For columns: The " Section size " must be wide flange, pipe, tube, welded plate wide flange, welded plate box or S shape in order for connection design to be able to create connections.

For vertical braces: The " Section size " of the supporting vertical brace must be a wide flange.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Invalid brace K gusset geometry: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on this end of the vertical brace because there is a problem with the dimensions, materials, spatial orientation, or too high of a load on the vertical braces involved.

To diagnose the problem, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program should view the situation in Modeling , possibly even " Force " the connection so that the user has a temporary connection to look at to determine what is wrong.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- L -

Locked bolt edge distance not within required min/max values: This failure message is difficult to reproduce since it is a catch-all message that will only be generated if a more specific connection failure message has not been generated to account for a connection failure. It may apply to any connection that is bolted. There is no easy-to-state rule that defines exactly what minimum and maximum edge distance values are acceptable since such requirements are based on the connection type, hole type, bolt diameter, bolt type, design code and other factors.

If the user of a full-featured SDS2 program gets this failure message, that user may be able to unlock ( ) the edge distance so that the program is able to calculate an acceptable edge distance. Or the user may need to unlock ( ) a connection design lock that is related to edge distance. Alternatively, it may be possible to keep all of the potentially offending lock fields locked ( ) if the user enters different values to those fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Locked bolt spacing not within required min/max values: This failure message is difficult to reproduce since it is a catch-all message that will only be generated if a more specific connection failure message has not been generated to account for a connection failure. It may apply to any connection that is bolted. There is no easy-to-state rule that defines exactly what minimum and maximum bolt spacing values are acceptable since such spacing requirements are based on the connection type, hole type, bolt diameter, bolt type, design code and other factors.

If the user of a full-featured SDS2 program gets this failure message, that user may be able to unlock ( ) the bolt spacing so that the program is able to calculate an acceptable bolt spacing. Or the user may need to unlock ( ) a connection design lock that is related to bolt spacing. Alternatively, it may be possible to keep all of the potentially offending lock fields locked ( ) if the user enters different values to those fields.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Locked connection has too many constraints: This is a catch-all failure message that may apply to various connection types or framing situations or loading conditions. It indicates a problem with user-entered values made to connection design locks . Connection design may have failed the connection because the locked ( ) settings prevented the program from designing a connection of sufficient capacity to stand up to the governing load. Or it may be that locked settings introduced math errors or physical inconsistencies that connection design is unable to solve.

Fixing this problem in a full-featured SDS2 program may be as simple as correcting a user-entered value that is inconsistent with related, interdependent values that are also locked. Or the user may have to unlock ( ) some of the connection design locks.

If, on the other hand, the user insists that the connection be designed around the user-entered values, and that user therefore does not want to remove any locks, the user might try lifting other constraints, such as user-applied setbacks. The user also may be able to get the desired connection by lowering the governing load.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Locked dimension is less than minimum allowed: This connection failure message may apply to any brace connection. It typically indicates that a user has made an entry to a connection design lock pertaining to gusset dimensions which causes a related gusset dimension to go below the minimum allowed, for example, to a negative number. For most gusset plate dimensions, the minimum allowed dimension is 0 (zero).

In a full-featured SDS2 program , probably the easiest fix for this problem is to simply unlock ( ) the connection design lock that caused the failure message to appear. Doing so will, hopefully, cause connection design to populate that field with a value that will work.

If the user wants to keep the locked value that was entered without getting a failure message, the user will probably have to lock ( ) or unlock ( ) other, related connection design locks before the failure message will go away. In particular, the user should lock ( ) the value that you think might have gone negative.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Locked HSS reinf plate length is less than required: This connection failure message applies when a vertical brace with a gusset plate frames to an HSS/TS column with a thin wall and " Use HSS column reinforcement plate " is set to ' Yes ' or possibly ' Automatic '.

The length of the reinforcement plate is required to be 1.5 inches or more than the length of the gusset plate. If a user has entered a " Plate length " to the " Column Reinf Plate " leaf that is less than this requirement, the connection fails, and this or some other failure message is generated.

To clear the failure message and get a connection, a user in a full-featured SDS2 program could try increasing the " Plate length ," or the user could unlock ( ) the " Plate length " and thus permit the program to calculate the plate length dimension.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Locked HSS reinf plate top of plate interferes: This connection failure message applies when a vertical brace with a gusset plate frames to an HSS/TS column with a thin wall and " Use HSS column reinforcement plate " is set to ' Yes ' or possibly ' Automatic '.

The failure message indicates that an invalid " Length " or " Top of plate " value has been entered to the " Column Reinf Plate " leaf. The edge of the reinforcement plate must be at least of 0.75 inch from the gusset plate.

To clear this failure message and get a connection, a user in a full-featured SDS2 program could try increasing the " Top of plate " value, or unlock ( ) the " Top of plate " so that the program is permitted to automatically calculate the required top-of-plate distance.

Before attempting to fix this connection, see the warnings .

Locked HSS reinf plate width doesn't fit: This connection failure message applies when a vertical brace with a gusset plate frames to an HSS rectangular (or TS) column with a thin wall and " Use HSS column reinforcement plate " is set to ' Yes ' or possibly ' Automatic '.

The failure message indicates that the " Width " value that has been entered to the " Column Reinf Plate " leaf needs to be adjusted. The width of the reinforcement plate is required to be the flat width of the column face -- that is, the total width of the column face minus two times the column's radius.

To fix the problem, a user in a full-featured SDS2 program could try entering a different " Width " value, or unlock ( ) the " Width " so that the program is permitted to automatically calculate the required width.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- M -

Maximum bolt diameter is 1 1/4 in; 31 mm:

No longer applies!

Prior to v2018, connection design had prevented vertical brace gusset plates from being designed using bolt diameters greater than 1 1/4 inch (31 mm). That design check has been removed, and this connection failure message no longer applies.

Maximum gusset thickness exceeded: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on this end of the vertical brace because the required plate thickness is greater than the " Maximum gusset plate thickness " specified under Standard Fabricator Connections .

If the user of a full-featured SDS2 program changes the " Maximum gusset plate thickness ," connection design may be able to create a gusset for the originally specified load.

You could also lower the governing " Load " to get a gusset that is less thick than the maximum originally specified under Standard Fabricator Connections .

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Maximum gusset width exceeded: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on this end of the vertical brace because the gusset width required to get a connection to the supporting member is greater than the maximum allowed.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could lower the governing " Load " so that connection design creates a gusset that is less wide; however, the gusset will also be weaker as a result. Changing the " Gusset to supporting member " from ' Clip angle ' to ' Welded ' might also work, but the reverse would probably not work since gussets with clip angles are generally wider than welded gussets.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Maximum number of bolt rows exceeded: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on this end of the vertical brace because the brace-to-gusset connection in a brace to beam and column framing situation requires more than the maximum of 15 rows of bolts. This applies to angle , pipe , tube , channel , tee or wide flange vertical braces.

To get an " Input connection type " connection with 15 or fewer bolts in this situation, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try lowering the " Load ," thus making the connection weaker. Or the user could try using a larger " NM bolt diameter " or select a stronger " NM bolt type ," thus making the connection stronger.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- N -

Net/gross area strength fails: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on this end of the vertical brace because the vertical brace material cannot stand up to the stress placed on it. The inadequacy is in the brace, not the connection.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could lower the governing " Load " and thus allow the brace to be as weak as it currently is, or the user could enter a stronger " Section size " and thus get a stronger vertical brace.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Net gusset strength at beam interface exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ' and the " Section size " is a wide flange with the " Web orientation " set to ' Horizontal ' and the " Connection arrangement " set to ' Flange gussets '. The web-horizontal vertical brace with flange gussets frames to a beam & column. This message may be generated for any " Connection design method ."

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) " Plate thickness " or " Length " fields in the Gusset Beam Column leaf.

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Plate thickness " or " Length " fields or to enter a larger " Length " in order to increase the distribution of the load along the beam or to increase the gusset " Plate thickness ."

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Net gusset strength at column interface exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ' and the " Section size " is a wide flange with the " Web orientation " set to ' Horizontal ' and the " Connection arrangement " set to ' Flange gussets '. The web-horizontal vertical brace with flange gussets frames to a beam & column. This message may be generated for any " Connection design method ."

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) " Plate thickness " or " Length " fields in the Gusset Beam Column leaf.

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Plate thickness " or " Width " fields or to enter a larger " Width " in order to increase the distribution of the load along the column or to increase the gusset " Plate thickness ."

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

No supporting member: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on this end of the vertical brace because there is no supporting member for the brace to connect to.

Possible ways to get an " Input connection type " connection are for the user of a full-featured SDS2 program to Add a valid beam or column or wide flange vertical brace for the brace to attach to. Or the user could change the " End elevation " on this end on the vertical brace so that it finds the supporting member. If that won't work, the user can use Move/Stretch Member to repair the problem. Or the user may have to Erase the member then Add a new vertical brace.

If the brace is supposed to be welded to something that is not a part of the structure, change the " Input connection type " to a ' Plain end '. Or the user could input an existing member for this brace to connect to.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- O -

Orientation/rotation of WT support is invalid: This error message applies when this vertical brace is a back-to-back double-angle vertical brace that frames to a W tee (or S tee) chord member (beam) and ' Welded ' is the " Input connection type " on this vertical brace. It indicates that the double-angle vertical brace does not frame to the stem of the supporting tee.

To get an " Input connection type " connection on this end of the vertical brace, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try editing the supporting beam (the chord member) and changing its " Beam rotation " 180 degrees (or to whatever value is required) so that the stem of the tee points toward the end of the double-angle vertical brace.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- P -

Paddle plate tension strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace " Section size " is an HSS or pipe or tube, and the " Pipe/tube end-fitting " is ' Paddle plate '. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the paddle plate fails in tension. The paddle plate shop welds to a notch in the HSS vertical brace and field bolts to the gusset plate.

Framing Situation Leaf with Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
vertical brace to column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
vertical brace to beam & column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
to column and base/cap plate Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks may be the paddle plate " Thickness, " " Width, " number of bolt " Rows ," or the " Bolt diameter ."

Assuming that the " Tension load " is to engineering specifications and the row spacing is as you want it, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the thickness or width of the paddle plate or to increase the number of bolt rows or the bolt diameter. Or you could unlock ( ) the paddle plate " Plate thickness " and " Width " and " Bolt diameter " and " Rows " so that the program can automatically calculate the required values.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Paddle plate won't fit inside HSS brace: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a connection on this end of the pipe or tube vertical brace with a ' Paddle plate ' end fitting because the brace is too small to create a slot for the paddle plate to fit into.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try using a larger " Section size ."

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Physical limitations exceeded: This is a catch-all connection failure message that connection design applies when it can't find a more specific message to apply.

Ways to diagnose the problem are to review the 3D model , or to generate a Connection Design Calculations or Expanded Connection Design Calculations report and evaluate which formulas on the Connection Design Calculations Cover Sheet apply to the situation.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- S -

Seismic connection not supported: No longer applies.

A seismic vertical brace can be designed for any vertical brace framing situation, so long as the brace is a valid material type . In earlier versions of SDS2, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could create a brace which could be designed as a non-seismic brace, but could not be designed as a " Seismic brace ."

Shared 2pt or 3pt brace has failed connection: You can get this failure message for a vertical brace with a gusset shared by 2 braces (2pt brace) or for a vertical brace with a gusset shared by 3 braces (3pt brace).

The message indicates that connection design has failed this brace's connection due to it having detected a connection failure in another vertical brace connection to the same shared gusset. To fix the problem, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program should first attempt to fix the other brace's connection to the gusset. Once the user has repaired that connection, this connection failure message should also go away. This message may, however, be replaced by another, different failure message.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Shared brace Clip end-operatiion settings must match: This connection failure message can apply to W tee or channel or angle vertical braces with shared gusset plates.

The message indicates that the ends of the braces that share the gusset plate have different settings for the connection specification " Clip end-operation ."

In a full-featured SDS2 program , a user can clear this failure message and get a connection by making the same choice to " Clip end-operation " on each of the braces that share the gusset plate.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Shared intersection brace has failed connection: You get this failure message on a vertical brace with an intersection plate connection for cross bracing (X bracing).

The message indicates that connection design has failed this brace's connection due to it having detected a connection failure in the vertical brace on the other side of the cross brace that this brace frames to. To fix the problem, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program should first attempt to fix the opposite brace's intersection plate connection. Once the user has repaired that connection, this connection failure message should go away.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Shear/Tension/Comp load less than minimum required by AS4100: This applies when the " Connection design method " is ' AS4100 '.

The connection failure message indicates that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered a " Tension load " or " Compression load " of less than 40 kN (9 kips imperial). To make the error message go away, the user needs to enter 40 kN or greater. Also, in addition to values of 40 kN or greater, a " Compression load " of 0 kips is permissible.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Shear/Tension/Comp load less than minimum required by ASD9: This applies when the " Connection design method " is ' ASD9 '.

The connection failure message indicates that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered a " Tension load " or " Compression load " of less than 6 kips (26.7 kN metric). To make the error message go away, the user needs to enter 6 kips or greater. Also, a " Compression load " of 0 kips is permissible.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Stem plate bearing strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace " Section size " is an HSS or pipe or tube, and the " Pipe/tube end-fitting " is ' Paddle '. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the paddle plate fails in tension and/or compression. The paddle plate shop welds to a notch in the HSS vertical brace and field bolts to the gusset plate.

Framing Situation Leaf with Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
vertical brace to column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
vertical brace to beam & column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle
to column and base/cap plate Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Paddle

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks may be the paddle plate " Thickness " or the " Bolt diameter " or the number of bolt " Rows ."

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the thickness of the stem plate or the number of bolts or the diameter of bolts. Or you could unlock ( ) the stem plate " Thickness " and bolt fields so that the program can automatically calculate the required values.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Stem plate block shear strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace " Section size " is an HSS or pipe or tube, and the " Pipe/tube end-fitting " is ' Bolted '. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the bearing/tear out strength of the stem plate, which bolts to the gusset plate, has been exceeded. The stem plate shop welds to a cap plate on the vertical brace, forming a built-up tee end fitting for bolting the vertical brace to the gusset plate.

Framing Situation Leaf with Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to beam & column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
to column and base/cap plate Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks may be the stem plate " Thickness " or the " Bolt diameter " or the number of bolt " Rows " or bolt " Columns ."

Assuming that the " Tension load " is to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the thickness of the stem plate or the number of bolts or the diameter of bolts. Or you could unlock ( ) the stem plate " Thickness " and bolt fields so that the program can automatically calculate the required values.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Stem plate buckling strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace " Section size " is an HSS or pipe or tube, and the " Pipe/tube end-fitting " is ' Bolted '. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the stem plate (which bolts to the gusset plate) buckles due to compression. The stem plate shop welds to a cap plate on the vertical brace, forming a built-up tee end fitting for bolting the vertical brace to the gusset plate.

Framing Situation Leaf with Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to beam & column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
to column and base/cap plate Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design lock may be the stem plate " Thickness ."

Assuming that the " Compression load " is to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the thickness of the stem plate. Or you could unlock ( ) the stem plate " Thickness " so that the program can automatically calculate the required value.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Stem plate net/gross tension strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace " Section size " is an HSS or pipe or tube, and the " Pipe/tube end-fitting " is ' Bolted '. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the stem plate (which bolts to the gusset plate) fails in net/gross tension. The stem plate shop welds to a cap plate on the vertical brace, forming a built-up tee end fitting for bolting the vertical brace to the gusset plate.

Framing Situation Leaf with Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to beam & column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
to column and base/cap plate Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks may be the stem plate " Thickness " or the stem plate " Width ."

Assuming that the vertical brace " Tension load " is to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the thickness or width of the stem plate. Or you could unlock ( ) the stem plate " Thickness " and " Width " so that the program can automatically calculate the required values.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Stem plate to cap plate weld strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace " Section size " is an HSS or pipe or tube, and the " Pipe/tube end-fitting " is ' Bolted '. It may be generated for any " Connection design method ." The stem plate in this connection shop welds to the vertical brace cap plate and field bolts to the gusset plate. This message indicates that the capacity of the weld between the cap plate and stem plate has been exceeded.

Framing Situation Leaf with Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace to beam & column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted
to column and base/cap plate Brace Connection To Gusset Hss Bolted

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks may be the stem plate to cap plate connection " Weld size " or the stem plate " Width ."

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " is to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the width of the stem plate, allowing for a longer weld, or to increase the " Weld size " of the weld itself. Or you could unlock ( ) the stem plate" Width " or " Weld size " (stem plate to cap plate connection) so that the program can automatically calculate the required values.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Stiffener interferes with other stiffener: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot place another stiffener as it would interfere with another stiffener from another member in this connection. This may occur in gapped welded connections where sloped stiffeners (parallel to brace) are used.

The connection failure message may be generated due to values entered to locked ( ) field for web stiffener length.

To fix this error, the user can either force the connection which results in clashing material or change the option for Align Stiffeners with to "Support" for one or more members in the connection to eliminate the sloped stiffener clash.

Stiffener length will not fit inside of supporting web: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot fit a web stiffener inside of the web of the supporting wide flange member.

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) field for web stiffener length.

To fix this error, the user can either change the locked value for the stiffener length or can unlock the locked field.

Supporting beam must have clip L / shear / end pl connection: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a brace to beam and column gusset plate because the beam to which the brace is connecting has a connection other than a shear plate or end plate or clip angle and, therefore, the program is unable to determine what type of connection to use to connect the vertical brace to the column. Normally for a brace to beam and column , connection design applies the same type of connection (shear plate or end plate or clip angle) to both the beam-to-column and brace-to-column interface.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program needs to change the " Input connection type " on the supporting beam to a ' Clip angle ' or ' Shear plate ' or ' End plate '.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Supporting member stiffener shear strength exceeded: This connection failure message occurs when the stiffener thickness is not thick enough to handle the shear placed in the stiffener. This is specifically in reference to the Limit State check of 'Transverse stiffener shear (Calculation 465)'.

To fix this error, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program can increase the thickness of the stiffener. If the stiffener is locked to a length that is not full depth, the length of the stiffener can also be increased.

Supporting member width is too narrow for connection: This connection failure message occurs when the brace member is wider than the supporting member face.

To fix this error the user of a full-featured SDS2 program can either force the connection or switch to a smaller section size for the HSS brace.

Supporting web/flange checks not supported for multi-brace connections: This connection failure message indicates that multiple welded braces connecting to a supporting wide flange on the same side of the supporting member overlap each other and the option for "Use transverse support stiffener" is NOT set to Never.

To fix this error, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program can either force the connection or set the option for "Use transverse support stiffener" to Never, which results in the supporting member design checks being removed.

Supporting web/flg overstressed by axial load: This connection failure message indicates that the supporting member's web or flange is overstressed due to the brace's " Tension load " or " Compression load ."

To get the originally specified " Input connection type ," the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could lower the tension or compression " Load " on the vertical brace, thus causing a weaker connection to be designed. Or the user could use stronger materials (" Section Size ," " Steel grade ") on the supporting beam or column or wide flange vertical brace so that a connection could be designed using the original axial load.

For a vertical brace to a column web, if the " Gusset to supporting member " is set to ' Welded ', then changing that option to ' Clip angle ' in a full-featured SDS2 program may relieve the stress on the web and clear this failure message.

Another possible way for the user of a full-featured SDS2 program to clear this message for a vertical brace welded to a column web is to increase the " Maximum web stiffener thickness " that is entered in the " Vertical Braces " section of Member Detailing Settings ( Fabricator Setup ).

For a vertical brace gusset welded to a beam or column web, another alternative in a full-featured SDS2 program is to set " Check supporting member web stress " under " Connection specifications " on the Vertical Brace Review window to ' Never '. However, doing so may be a bad idea from an engineering standpoint since the supporting member web stress check helps to ensure the structural integrity of a project.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Support member web crippling strength exceeded: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on a vertical brace under compression load that is welded to a beam or column flange because crippling will occur in the web of the supporting member.

The best remedy is for the user of a full-featured SDS2 program to provide stiffeners in the supporting member.

Another fix is to provide a longer gusset plate so that the load is distributed over a greater area. To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user might, for example, increase the " Input minus dimension " to cause a longer gusset plate to be designed.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Suitable plate thickness not found: This message applies to connection plates when the box is checked for " Use miscellaneous plates list " on the Vertical Brace Review window. It indicates that connection design has determined that a plate of a particular thickness is required for the connection, but such a plate (or a slightly thicker plate) is not on the " Plates " list in Standard Fabricator Connections.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could add a suitable plate to the " Plates " list. Or the user could uncheck the box for " Use miscellaneous plates list ." Or the user could remove all entries from the " Plates " list.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Suitable W brace flange/web claw angle not found: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on a wide flange vertical brace because an angle section that will work for this connection is unavailable in the local shape file .

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could add the angle needed using Shapes Properties . Or the user could change to a different vertical brace " Section size ." Or the user could lower the governing " Load " on the vertical brace, thus causing a weaker connection that uses less heavy claw angles to be designed.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

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- T -

2 & 3 point braces must have the same conn type: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a shared gusset for two braces or three braces because at least one brace has a different brace-to-gusset connection than the other brace (or braces) that share the gusset.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program should make the brace-to-gusset connection the same for all three braces.

Brace Material Type Brace-To-Gusset Connection
pipe , tube " Pipe/tube end-fitting "
wide flange , S shape , welded plate wide flange " Connection arrangement "
W tee " Stem orientation "

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

2 & 3 point braces must have the same orientation: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a shared gusset because this wide flange vertical brace does not have the same " Web orientation " as the other wide flange vertical brace at the K juncture.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could change the " Web orientation " of this brace or the other brace so that both braces have the same orientation.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

2 & 3 point brace gussets require a common hole type: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a shared gusset for two braces or three braces because different hole types are specified for the brace-to-gusset interface.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program should make sure that the box for " Use OS gusset holes " is either checked or not checked on all of the braces involved in the connection.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

3 point gusset cannot be bolted to support: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a shared gusset for three braces because a bolted clip angle has been specified for connecting the gusset to the supporting member.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could change the " Gusset to supporting member " to ' Welded ' for all three of the braces.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

page 1 | contents | failure messages | vertical brace review | top


- U -

Unsupported connection type: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create an " Input connection type " connection on this end of the vertical brace due to the brace's framing situation or because the Vertical Brace Review window specifies a connection that connection design does not support.

You may want to review the 3D model to evaluate the framing situation. Also review the " Connection specifications " that have been entered and the " Section size " of the vertical brace and the " Section size " of the supporting member.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

User base/cap plate too narrow for gusset weld: This failure message applies when a vertical brace frames to a column with a cap plate or base plate that is a ' User base/cap plate ' from the Base / Cap Plate Schedule . It indicates that connection design is unable to weld the gusset plate to the base/cap plate because the base/cap plate is not large enough.

If the base plate were an auto base/cap plate, connection design could increase the size of the plate to accommodate a longer weld.

In a full-featured SDS2 program , the user should be able to get the desired connection by applying a different user base/cap plate that extends out a greater distance past the column and thus allows connection design to generate a longer weld. User base/cap plates are applied to a column's end by making an entry it to " Plate schedule number " on the Column window.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

User slot length is larger than maximum allowed: This error message may occur on a system (non-user) horizontal brace gusset clip connection whose Vertical Brace Review window's " Hole type supported " or " Hole type supporting " is set to " Auto " with the setup " Hole type supported " or the setup " Hole type supporting " set to ' User slot 1 ' or ' User slot 2 '.

The maximum slot length that connection design allows is based on the long-slot length in Table J3.3 or Table J3.3M in section J3 on page 16.1-105 of the AISC Steel Construction Manual, Thirteenth Edition .

Example: Standard practice for users of a full-featured SDS2 program in your current Job is to set the " NM bolt diameter " to ' 3/4 ' inch. On the Member Detailing Settings setup window, under the " Vertical Brace " tab, the user enters a " Hole type supported " (or a " Hole type supporting ") of ' User slot 1 '. In the User Slot Lengths setup window, for ' 3/4 ' inch bolts, the user enters a user " Slot #1 " length of ' 2 ' inches. On the Vertical Brace Review window, the user sets the " Hole type supported " or " Hole type supporting " to " Auto ." Since 2 inches is larger than the 1 7/8 inch maximum for 3/4 bolts (from Table J3.3), the next gusset-to-supporting clip angle connection with 3/4 inch bolts that is designed per these setup values will fail.

Possible fixes : The user of a full-featured SDS2 program could change the offending entry in the User Slot Lengths setup window to a length that is less than or equal to the maximum specified in Table J3.3 or Table J3.3M. However, if you want to keep that setup length as it is, the user should instead change the " Hole type supported " (or " Hole type supporting ") to a different type, such as ' Short slot ' or ' Standard round '.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

page 1 | contents | failure messages | vertical brace review | top


- V -

Variable row spacing specifies too many rows: This connection failure message can apply to a vertical brace to a beam & column. It can be generated when a user has entered variable row spacing to " Vertical hole spacing " in the " Shear Tab " leaf, or to " Row spacing " in leaves named " End Plate " or " NS/FS Clip Conn1 ."

The Final Variable Hole Spacing Example Results in a Connection Failure
Rows Spacing Result
5 3,5,3,3 4 spaces at 3", 5", 3" and 3"
5 3,5,2@3 4 spaces at 3", 5", 3" and 3"
5 3,5,3 4 spaces at 3", 5", 3" and 3"
(the program repeats the last value -- 3 -- to fill the spaces that are required for the specified number of rows)
5 3,5,3,3,2,3 => CONNECTION FAILURE <=

The message indicates that the number of " Rows " that is entered is less than the number of rows that are specified by the variable spacing entry made to " Vertical hole spacing " or " Row spacing ."

To clear this failure message and get a connection, a user of a full-featured SDS2 program could enter a " Vertical hole spacing " that requires fewer holes. Alternatively, the user could unlock ( ) the " Rows " specified for the shear plate, end plate or clip angle, thus permitting that number to be recalculated.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Vert brace K gusset weld design failed: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a vertical brace shared K plate because the " Tension load " or " Compression load " on the brace are too high for a weld of sufficient strength to be designed.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could lower the " Load ," but doing so would cause a weaker connection to be designed. The user could change the " Gusset to supporting member " to ' Clip angle ', but that connection would probably also fail.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Vertical brace to gusset/conn. plate weld strength exceeded: This failure message applies when the " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ', and the vertical brace " Section size " is an wide flange, S shape or welded plate wide flange, and the brace's " Web orientation " is ' Vertical ', and the brace's " Connection arrangement " for the appropriate end is ' Paddle plates '. The message may be generated for any " Connection design method ." It indicates that the strength of the weld connecting a paddle plate to the gusset plate has been exceeded.

Framing Situation Leaf with Relevant Locks
vertical brace to beam Brace Conn To Gusset Wide Flange Paddle
vertical brace to column Brace Conn To Gusset Wide Flange Paddle
vertical brace to beam & column Brace Conn To Gusset Wide Flange Paddle
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a beam Brace Conn To Gusset Wide Flange Paddle
vertical brace 2- or 3-point, to a column Brace Conn To Gusset Wide Flange Paddle
to column and base/cap plate Brace Conn To Gusset Wide Flange Paddle

The connection failure message may be generated due to values that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to locked ( ) fields in any of the above-listed leaves. Specifically, the offending connection design locks may be the " Weld size " or the " Weld length ."

Assuming that the " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, the best way for that user to clear the failure message is to increase the weld size or weld length. Or you could unlock ( ) the " Weld size " and " Weld length " fields so that the program can automatically calculate the required values.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

page 1 | contents | failure messages | vertical brace review | top


- W -

W brace to sloping beam is not supported: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on a wide flange vertical brace to a sloping beam and perfectly vertical column (or to a non-sloping beam and a sloping column). Connection design cannot create a gusset plate for these situations.

If you want a gusset plate for a brace in this situation, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program should change the connection to a plain end and design the connection manually using Modeling material modeling operations or, if an assembly has been designed, use Model > Load Assembly .

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Weld is greater than maximum: This applies to vertical brace gusset plates and to vertical brace welded connections.

V ertical brace gussets: Connection design has determined that, due to the load on the vertical brace, the gusset plate requires a weld that is larger than the beam web will support. Possible ways for the user of a full-featured SDS2 program to get an " Input connection type " connection are to specify a beam " Section size " with a heavier web, or to lower the " Load " on the vertical brace.

Vertical brace welded connections: If ' Welded ' is the " Input connection type " on this vertical brace, this error occurs because the " Connection weld size " in Welded Connection Settings is greater than is the maximum weld size allowed. Lowering the " Connection weld size " may get a connection.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Weld size is less than minimum required: This applies when ' Welded ' is the " Input connection type " on this vertical brace. It indicates that the " Connection weld size " in Welded Connection Settings is less than connection design has determined is required.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try increasing the " Connection weld size ."

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

Weld strength to supporting member exceeded: This connection failure message may apply when the vertical brace " Input connection type " is ' Vbrc plate ' or ' User defined ' and " Gusset to supporting member " is ' Welded '. It applies to any vertical brace gusset plate that welds to a supporting beam or column in the following framing situations:

Framing situations: Vertical brace to a beam
Vertical brace to a column
Vertical brace to a beam & column
2 & 3 point vertical brace gusset to a beam
2 & 3 point, to a column
Vertical brace to a column & base/cap plate

The connection failure message may be generated due to a value that the user of a full-featured SDS2 program has entered to the locked ( ) field " Weld size " in a " Weld Conn 2 " leaf .

Assuming that the vertical brace's " Tension load " and " Compression load " are to engineering specifications, generally the best way for that user to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Weld size " or, alternatively, to enter a larger weld size.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

WF brace flg is too narrow for connection: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on a wide flange vertical brace (web vertical) because its flanges are too narrow for claw angles.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try using a " Section size " with a larger flange.

Alternatively, if the " Web connection type " is set to ' None ', the user might try switching to ' Web plates '. Doing so may allow connection design to use smaller claw angles that fit the vertical brace flanges.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

WF brace is too small for connection: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate on a wide flange vertical brace (web vertical) because the brace is not deep enough for a web plate or web channel connection.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try using a " Section size " that has greater depth.

Alternatively, if the " Web connection type " is set to ' Channel ', the user might try switching to ' Web plates '.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

WTee brace is too small for connection: You get this connection failure message when connection design cannot create a gusset plate because the W tee brace is too small to be bolted to the gusset.

To get an " Input connection type " connection, the user of a full-featured SDS2 program could try using a larger " Section size ." Or the user may be able to use a smaller " NM bolt diameter ."

For a W tee vertical brace whose " Stem orientation " is ' Vertical ', the user of a full-featured SDS2 program can potentially clear this failure message by changing the " Connection type " from ' Web plates ' to ' Coped flange '.

Before attempting to fix this connection, the user of the full-featured SDS2 program should read and understand the relevant warnings .

page 1 | contents | failure messages | vertical brace review | top