Clip Angle Connections (" Connection specifications " and more)

On this page :

Setup of clip angles :

Also see :

user defined | auto standard | beam | system

General information about clip angles :

Connection design in a full-featured SDS2 program is able to create clip angles on the ends of W or C or tube (HSS rectangular) beams in beam-to-beam or beam-to-column framing situations. The supported beam can be sloped or framed perpendicular into a wide flange or HSS rectangular or welded wide flange or welded plate box column, but not an HSS round column. If the user of a full-featured SDS2 program specifies a clip angle that welds/bolts to a pipe column or bolts to a welded plate box column, the program will change the clip angle to a single-plate shear connection.

While clip angle connections are always applied on the end of the supported beam , they may be designated to be detailed on (attached to) the supporting member (column or beam). If the beam frames into a tube column, the clip angle must be shop welded to the supporting column.

Clip angle connections can be specified (by the user of a full-featured SDS2 program ) as " Moment " connections.

In a full-featured SDS2 program , connection design will look to relevant setup options and clip angle type specifications to determine clip angle design . If necessary to meet loading conditions, the program will increase bolt diameters, weld size, number of rows of bolts, or create web doublers to produce a connection that works.

user defined | auto standard | beam | system | top

------ " Connection specifications " for beam ' Clip angle ' ------

" Connection specifications " are read-only in Site Planning. You can find this set of conn specs on the Beam Review window when ' Clip angle ' is the " Input connection type ." For ' Auto standard ' or ' User defined ' input connection types, conn specs are not on the Beam Review window, but can be found at Home > Project Settings > Job > Auto Standard Connections or User Defined Connections .

Gage: Narrow gage or Wide gage or Heavy gage .

Heavy gage, welded clip angles used as beam splices. Note that heavy gage clip angles can have two columns of bolts.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Narrow ' specifies that a narrow gage clip angle connection be designed per the distance entered to Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Clip Angle Settings > " Center to center distance, Narrow gage ." A narrow gage clip angle has a single column of bolts.

' Wide ' instructs connection design to create a wide gage clip angle per the distance entered to Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Clip Angle Settings > " Center to center distance, Wide gage ." A wide gage clip angle has a single column of bolts.

' Heavy ' specifies double clip angles that may be shop welded or shop bolted. Heavy gage clip angles may have two columns of bolts per leg. The inside and outside center-to-center hole spacing of a heavy gage double clip angle is defined under Standard Fabricator Connections > Clip Angle Settings .

Attachment to supported: Bolted or Welded . The supported member is this beam, the beam for which these " Connection specifications " are applied. The leg(s) of a beam end's clip angle connection attach to the web of that beam.

Bolt to supported
Bolt to supporting
Weld to supported
Bolt to supporting
Bolt to supported
Weld to supporting
Weld to supported
Weld to supporting

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Bolted ' specifies that connection design create a clip angle connection that bolts to the supported member (beam). If " Attached to " is ' Supported ', the clip angle shop bolts to the supported beam. If " Attached to " is ' Supporting ', the clip angle field bolts to the supported beam.

' Welded ' instructs connection design to create a clip angle that welds to the supported member (beam). If " Attached to " is ' Supported ', the clip angle shop welds to the supported beam. If " Attached to " is ' Supporting ', the clip angle field welds to the supported beam.

End connection failure message: Clip is not bolted to HSS beam with paddle plate
Also see: Clip Angle Configurations ( Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections ).

Attachment to supporting: Bolted or Welded . The supported member is the beam for which these " Connection specifications " are applied. The leg(s) of a beam end's single or double clip angle connection attach to the web of that beam. " Connection specifications " that pertain to that beam can appear on that beam's edit window or on the setup windows for auto standard or user defined connections.

Bolt to supported
Bolt to supporting
Weld to supported
Bolt to supporting
Bolt to supported
Weld to supporting
Weld to supported
Weld to supporting

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Bolted ' specifies that connection design create a clip angle connection that bolts to the supporting member (beam or column). If " Attached to " is ' Supporting ', the clip angle shop bolts to the supporting member. If " Attached to " is ' Supported ', the clip angle field bolts to the supporting member.

' Welded ' instructs connection design to create a clip angle that welds to the supporting beam or column. If " Attached to " is ' Supporting ', the clip angle shop welds to the supporting member. If " Attached to " is ' Supported ', the clip angle field welds to the supporting member.

End connection failure message: Cannot erect the connection (beam clip angle welded to beam)
End connection failure message: Weld strength to supporting member exceeded
Also see: Clip Angle Configurations ( Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections ).

Side: Near side or Far side or Both .

' Near side '
' Far side '
' Both '

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Near side ' or ' Far side ' specifies a single clip angle fastened to whichever side of the web of the supported beam is selected.

' Both ' specifies double clip angles: one fastened to the near side web of the supported beam, the other to the far side web.

Near side versus far side: The near side is the side of the web that faces you when the left end of the supported beam is to your left and the right end of the beam is to your right. The far side of the web is the side that is opposite to the near side.

Attached to: Supported or Supporting .

' Supported '
' Supporting '

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Supported ' specifies that connection design create a clip angle connection that is fastened in the shop to the supported beam. The connection will be considered to be a submaterial of the beam and will appear on details of the beam. A " Field clearance " can be applied.

' Supporting ' specifies that the clip angle connection will be shop fastened to the supporting member (beam or column).

Use erection bolts: Automatic or Yes or No . This applies when both " Attachment to supported " and " Attachment to supporting " are set to ' Welded '. In other words, it applies to all-welded clip angles.

If " Use erection bolts " is set to ' Yes ' or possibly to ' Automatic ', an All Welded: Attached to Supporting Member double clip angle is provided with two erection bolts that field bolt the double clip angle to the web of the supported beam.

If " Use erection bolts " is set to ' Yes ' or possibly to ' Automatic ', an All Welded: Attached to Supported Member double clip angle is provided with four erection bolts that field bolt to the supporting member (beam or column). Two of the four erection bolts are for the NS outstanding leg, the other two are for the FS OSL.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Automatic ' specifies that connection design apply the choice made to Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Attached to Supporting Member > " Provide erection bolts " if " Attached to " (on this window) is set to ' Supporting '. If " Attached to " is set to ' Supported ', then connection design applies the choice made to Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Attached to Supported Member > " Provide erection bolts ."

' Yes ' instructs connection design to design the welded-welded double clip angle connection with erection bolts to facilitate the field welding of the connection. The erection bolts are field bolts. For a beam end connection that is not auto standard, the bolts are the " Connection type " > " NM bolt type to supporting " (or " NM bolt type to supported ") and " NM bolt diameter " that are specified for that beam connection's end. For an auto standard beam connection, the bolts are the " NM bolt type " and " NM bolt diameter " that are specified for the relevant framing condition at Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Auto Standard Connections . If the welded-welded clip angle shop welds to the supporting, two erection bolts are provided. If it shop welds to the supported, four erection bolts are provided, two for the NS OSL, two for the FS OSL.

' No ' instructs connection design to design the welded-welded double clip angle without erection bolts.

Safety connection: Non-safety or Safety . This " Connection specifications " option applies to clip angles on two opposing beams on opposite sides of a supporting web (beam or column) so that the clip angle connections on both supported beams share bolts.

' Non-safety '
' Safety '
The wide flange column in the above illustrations is shown in stick form so that its flange does not cover the connections on the beams that frame to its web.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Safety ' specifies that the clip angles be designed so that one bolt on each angle is shared by the beam and column but not shared by the clip angle of the opposing beam. Whether the clip angles on a beam are vertically offset with respect to the angles on the opposing beam or staggered with respect to each other depends on the choice made to Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Clip Angle Settings > " Safety connection angles ."

' Non-safety ' lets all bolts be shared across the connected legs.

Extend past flange: If required or Never . This " Connection specifications " option can apply to a clip angle on a beam framing to a column. Regardless of the choice made here, " Web Extension Plate " connection design locks are available. These locks have null values (distances of 0) if a web extension plate is not required and when ' Never ' is specified.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' If required ' specifies that connection design be permitted to create a connection using clip angles that are longer than the depth of the beam if the shear reaction on this end of the beam is sufficiently high. To do this, connection design cuts the lower flange flush to the web, extends the clip angles below the lower flange, and attaches them to a web extension plate.

' Never ' instructs connection design to fail the connection when the shear reaction is too high.

Clip angle steel grade: Connection design applies the steel grade selected at Home > Project Settings > Job > Design Settings > " Angle sections ."

Extension plate steel grade: Connection design uses the " Plate material grade " that is listed in Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Preferred Plate Sizes > the " Web Extension Plates " section.

Connection design locks: " Web Extension Plate "

Create web doublers: If required or Never .

Web doublers may be generated for welded or bolted clip angles on thin webs subjected to sufficiently heavy loads. In this example, the doublers are generated (on both sides of the web) to compensate for a cope made to the web of the supported beam. The supported beam was coped to allow it to frame to the supporting beam.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' If required ' specifies that connection design will, if necessary to meet loading conditions or compensate for copes in the beam's main material, create beam web doublers with a minimum thickness of 3/16 inch (5 mm). Connection design first tests a 3/16-inch doubler plate on one side. If the single doubler plate does not stand up to the load, connection design tries a 3/16 plate on both sides. If the two 3/16 plates still do not stand up to the load, connection design increases the thickness of the plates.

' Never ' instructs connection design to not generate beam web doublers. A connection may still be generated in the 3D model even though the connection would have failed due to its inability to stand up to block/net shear. For all connections with ' Never ' selected on the Beam Review window, the message " Block/Net shear calcs are disabled " appears on the Beam Review window.

 Block/Net shear calcs. are disabled  

If you find the above message on the Beam Review window or find that ' Never ' has been selected for an auto standard connection, be sure to check the Connection Design Calculations or Expanded Connection Design Calculations to make sure that connection has not failed. Selecting ' Never ' does not turn off the block/net shear checking that takes place when you generate a Design Calculations Report . Consequently, if the connection has failed, its failure is reported.

Tip 1: The Search option Beam Web Doublers or its counterpart Model > Status Display > Search > Beam web doublers can be used to find beams with web doublers in the 3D model.

Tip 2: When ' If required ' is selected, " Beam Web Doubler " connection design locks are available even if doublers are not designed. When ' Never ' is selected, the " Beam Web Doubler " settings do not appear.

Stagger on: Neither or Supporting or Supported . This " Connection specifications " option applies when ' Bolted ' is selected for both the " Attachment to supported " and " Attachment to supporting " and angles are on ' Both ' sides of the beam web.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Neither ' instructs connection design to create a clip angle with identical vertical hole spacing in both legs of the angle.

' Supporting ' specifies normal vertical hole spacing in the leg to the supported member and a staggered hole pattern in the leg to the supporting member.

' Supported ' specifies normal vertical hole spacing in the leg to the supporting member and a staggered hole pattern in the leg to the supported member.

Use expanded vertical bolt spacing: Automatic or Yes or No . This option applies to ' Non-moment ' clip angles to a beam or column.

' Yes '
' No '

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Automatic ' specifies that connection design apply the choice made to Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Clip Angle Settings > " Use expanded vertical bolt spacing ."

' Yes ' permits connection design to expand the vertical spacing of bolts to 1.5 times or 2 times the Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Detailing > Connection Erectability Settings > " Bolt spacing " that is set per bolt diameter. The program may also adjust to a spacing other than 1.5 or 2 times the standard bolt spacing in order to accommodate piecemarking issues, loading conditions and unusual geometries.

' No ' instructs connection design to use the Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Detailing > Connection Erectability Settings > " Bolt spacing " that is set per bolt diameter.

A possible application: When an axial load (" Tension " or " Compression ") has been entered on the end of a beam with a clip angle, expanded vertical bolt spacing can promote uniform loading across the bolts.

Another application: Expanded vertical hole spacing can also help to reduce fabrication costs by minimizing the number of rows of bolts in clip angles.

Welded extended tee: or . This " Connection specifications " option can apply to a wide flange, welded plate wide flange or channel beam with a clip angle connection framing perpendicular or sloping to a supporting beam.

  Welded tee
  Welded tee
In these examples, the top of the beam frames to the supporting beam's top flange. You can also get a connection on a beam framing below the top flange.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

If this box is checked ( ), connection design generates a built-up tee (two plates welded together) for the clip angles to bolt to. The check box for " Full depth extended tee " controls (for some framing situations) whether the tee will be designed to the depth of the connection or to the full depth of the supporting beam.

If the box is not checked ( ), connection design bolts the clip angles to the supporting beam's web.

Full depth extended tee: or . This applies when -- here in " Connection specifications " -- the box is checked for " Welded extended tee ."

  Full depth tee
  Full depth tee

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

If this box is checked ( ), connection design creates a built-up tee that is the full depth of the supporting beam.

If the box is not checked ( ), the built-up tee is designed to the depth of the connection if the top & bottom flanges of the supported beam (this beam) are entirely below or entirely above the half-depth of the supporting beam. If the depth of the supported beam is greater than half the depth of the supporting beam, the built-up tee is designed to the full depth of the supporting beam.

Flange splice plates on: This member or Opposite member . For this " Connection specifications " option to applicable, ' Bolted ' must be selected as the " Moment type " in this beam end's " Moment " leaf.

' This member '
' Opposite '

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' This member ' specifies that the moment flange splice plate be detailed with and shop bolted to the beam whose window this choice has been made to.

' Opposite member ' specifies that the moment flange splice plate be detailed with and shop bolted to the beam that is opposite to the beam whose window this choice has been made to.

Replace doubler with larger clip: or . Web doublers may be generated for welded or bolted clip angles on thin webs subjected to sufficiently heavy loads when -- here in " Connection specifications " -- ' If required ' is selected for " Create web doublers ."

  Replace ...
  Replace ...
The angle used to replace the doubler (left) is an L8x4x1/2. The angle used with the doubler plate (right) is an L4x3 1/2x5/16.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

If this box is checked ( ) and web doublers are required, connection design looks for an angle in Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Preferred Angle Sizes . If an angle is not found, connection design fails the connection, and the Beam Review window displays the following failure message: Option to replace web doubler with large clip L fails .

If this box is not checked ( ), connection design creates the clip angle connection with web doublers if they are required.

Use paddle plate: or . This applies when an HSS/TS beam frames to a column or a beam. It permits the design of bolted-bolted or bolted-welded clip angles. The option is disabled ( grayed out ) when -- here in " Connection specifications " -- the clip angle's " Attachment to supported " is set to ' Welded '.

  Use paddle plate  
  Use paddle plate  
The column's " Section size " can be an HSS/TS (shown) or a wide flange or etc., but cannot be a pipe (HSS round). Clip angles can also be designed for an HSS beam with a paddle plate to a beam.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

If this box is checked ( ), the clip angles weld or bolt to the supporting member and bolt to the paddle plate, which shop welds to the supported beam. The end of the supported beam is notched for insertion of the paddle plate.

If this box is not checked ( ), the clip angles attach to the outside walls of the supported HSS rectangular beam.

Skew holes in angle: Automatic or Yes or No . This " Connection specifications " option applies to bolted clip angles on sloping beams when the box is checked for Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Detailing > Member Detailing Settings . > the " Beams " section > " Square cut ends of sloped beams ."

' Yes '
' No '

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Automatic ' specifies that connection design apply the choice made to Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Clip Angle Settings > " Skew holes in clip angles ."

' Yes ' instructs connection design to create clip angles with bolts skewed in the leg to the supported beam's web so that the bolts run perpendicular to the beam's flanges.

' No ' instructs connection design to create clip angles with bolts that run parallel to the length of the angle.

Combine beam/vbrc clip angles: Automatic or Yes or No . This " Connection specifications " option applies when this end of this beam has a clip angle connection and a vertical brace frames to this beam and to the same column that this beam frames to. In such a framing situation, connection design can create one or two pairs of clip angles.

' Yes '
' No '

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Automatic ' specifies that connection design apply the choice made to Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Clip Angle Settings > " Combine beam and vertical brace clip angles ."

' Yes ' instructs connection design to create a single pair of clip angles that connects both the beam and vertical brace gusset plate to the column. The clip angles use the " NM bolt diameter " and " NM bolt type to supported " and " NM bolt type to supporting " that are set for the beam.

' No ' instructs connection design to create two separate pairs of clip angles, one pair to connect the beam to the column, the other pair to connect the vertical brace gusset plate to the column.

Check supporting member for axial load: If required or For supporting column or For supporting beam or never . The " Supporting member web stress (T) " will be reported as a " Left/Right end limit state " when a " Tension " load has been applied to the clip angle. This option affects whether or not that limit state is permitted (in a full-featured SDS2 program ) to cause the clip angle to fail.

Connection design calculation 174 (from cover sheet )
(174) Col. web local bending stress (axially loaded end pl or clip L):
(Tw, Depth & K_dist are column dimensions)
Moment at point of loads and ends, Table 3-23, case 16
c = Distance between the top & bot bolts
l = c + 12 * Tw; effective web length
For a 1 inch wide strip of web, with fixed ends:
Zx = SQR[Tw] / 4
L = Depth - 2*K_dist, a = .5(L - Gage)
Mp from section F2, Flexure
(LRFD) P = PHI*Mp * /Zx * L / a(L-a)
(ASD) P = Mp/OMEGA * /Zx * L / a(L-a)
Axial load = 2 * P * l
Design calculation 174 applies when a beam with a clip angle and a " Tension " load bolts to the supporting column's web. Design calc 174 checks supporting column web stress.

Connection design calculation 176 (from cover sheet )
(176) Supporting bm web local stress (axially loaded end pl or clip L):
a = bottom conn hole to toe of fillet
b = dist between top & bot conn holes
c = top conn hole to toe of filler
L = a + b + c
l = conn gage + 12 * tw, effective web width
M = moment on a 1 in. wide strip of web, length L
fixed ends, with a uniform load located over b
w = load, kips per inch, on length b
Zx = l * Tw^2 / 6
Mp = Fy*Zx Section F2, flexure
(LRFD) w = largest load to satisfy M/Zx <= PHI*Mn
(ASD) w = largest load to satisfy M/Zx <= Mn/OMEGA
Axial load = w * l * b
Design calculation 176 applies when a beam with a clip angle and a " Tension " load bolts to the supporting beam's web. Design calc 176 checks supporting beam web stress.

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' If required ' results in design calculations 174 and 176 being potential causes of connection failure when applicable. Design calculation 174 is applicable when the clip angles on this end of the supported beam (this beam) have a " Tension " load applied to them and those clip angles attach to a supporting column's web. Calculation 176 is applicable when the clip angles on this end of the beam have a " Tension " load applied to them and the clip angles attach to the supporting beam's web.

' For supporting column ' results in calculation 174 being a potential cause of connection failure in the design of the clip angles on this end of the supported beam (this beam) when that end has a " Tension " load applied to it and the clip angles bolt to the supporting column's web. Calculation 176 will not result in connection failure of clip angles to a supporting beam's web, though the calculation will still be done, and a for-information-only note reporting the results of the calculation will be provided, when applicable, in both design calculations reports.

' For supporting beam ' results in calculation 176 being a potential cause of connection failure in the design of the clip angles on this end of the supported beam (this beam) when that end has a " Tension " load applied to it and the clip angles bolt to the supporting beam's web. Calculation 174 will not result in connection failure of clip angles to a supporting column's web, though the calculation will still be done, and a for-information-only note reporting the results of the calculation will be provided, when applicable, in both design calculations reports.

' Never ' results in calculations 174 and 176 still being performed, if applicable, but not ever causing the connection to fail. In the Connection Design Calculations or Expanded Connection Design Calculations , the results of the check will be reported with a parenthetical, for-information-only note such as " (For info. only, tension force that produces local support web stress of .9Fy (176) 5.5 kips ) ."

Connection failure message: Supporting web/flg overstressed by axial load .

Embed plate location: Automatic or Inside wall or Outside wall . This " Connection specifications " option can apply when a beam frames to a concrete wall and the beam's " Input connection type " is ' Clip angle ' and an " Embed schedule entry " has been made in the " Connection type " leaf. The option can also be found at Home > Project Settings > Job > Auto Standard Connections and Home > Project Settings > Job > User Defined Connections .

In a full-featured SDS2 program . . .

' Automatic ' instructs connection design to apply the choice made to Concrete Setup > Embed Schedule > " Plate location ."

' Inside wall ' embeds the plate in the concrete wall .

' Outside wall ' locates the plate flush to the wall.

user defined | auto standard | beam | system | top

Connection design locks :

Connection design locks for clip angles may appear, under a leaf , on the Beam Review window, or on a Connection Component window. For one special situation, noted below, you can find such locks on the Vertical Brace Review window. You can also find them on the User Defined Connections window. The names of the leaves containing these locks are listed in the following table:

Connection Design Locks
(" Input connection type " = ' Clip angle ')
  Leaf Name Situation
  NS Clip   FS Clip When the left end of a beam is on your left, web near side is the web view you are facing. 
Beam Web Doublers    Beam web doublers are designed for beam-to-beam framing situations when required unless ' Never ' is selected for " Create web doublers ."
Web Extension Plate Connection design may extend clip angles past the flange when " Extend past flange " is selected.
Welded Tee Connection design can create a built-up tee for beam-to-beam framing situations.
Safety Seat May be applied for non-moment clip angles in beam-to-column framing situations. Under " Connection type ," the option to " Use a safety erection seat " must be checked.
Top Moment Plate Bottom Moment Plate Under " Moment ," the " Connection material " is plate. 
Top Moment Angle Bottom Moment Angle The " Connection material " specified must be angle and suitable angle material must be available.
Moment Cap Plate A beam with a welded moment connection to the top of a column flange. The moment cap plate shop welds to the column.
Column Web Doublers
Column Flange Stiffeners   		The boxes for " Design for doublers " and " Design for stiffeners " are checked. All fields will be zero if doublers/stiffeners are specified but not required.
NS/FS Clip Conn1
(vertical brace) 		For field bolting a vertical brace gusset plate to a column for a vertical brace to beam & column when the beam has an clip angle.

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