Graphical Connections (topic)

Graphical connections (topic) :

Add Material does not make a system connection graphical. This, however, does not mean that the Connection Design Calculations and Expanded Connection Design Calculations reports take into account such material. Those reports do not take into account user-added material.
See (on this page):

Also see :

Change Graphically Altered to System Connections
Change System to Graphically Altered Connections
Graphical (check box on member edit window)
Connection Design Calculations (no calculations for graphical connections)
Expanded Connection Design Calculations (no calculations for graphical connections)
User modified connection material (graphical connection material)

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What is a graphical connection?

Graphical connections are system connections that have been modified using options such as Add Hole or Edit Hole or Edit Bolt or Edit Material or Move Material or Cut Layout or Cut on Plane or etc. System connections can also be made graphical by deleting connection materials or by simply checking the box for " Graphical " for the left- or right-end " Connection " field under the " Information " leaf on the member's edit window.
When one material that makes up an system connection is made graphical, each material that is a part of that connection is tagged as User modified connection material on the material's General Information window.
Graphical connections will not be redesigned so long as they remain graphical.

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When to use graphical connections :

It is generally preferable to apply system connections instead of graphical connections whenever possible.
Graphical connections are for occasions where connection design is unable to generate the exact connection you want, but you can get the connection you want by performing operations on the system connection material.

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Graphical connections compared to system connections :

Graphical connections do not undergo the limit-state strength capacity testing that system connections undergo during connection design .
Graphical connections do not undergo during connection design .
Graphical connections that are created by a user manually adding material and holes usually take a lot longer for a user to create than do system connections.
The Connection Design Calculations Report and Expanded Connection Design Calculations Report do not include strength calculations for graphical connections.
Graphical connections do, however, permit users to create connections for situations where no available system connection will work.

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Stretching members with graphical connections :

Model > Member > Move/Stretch Include Material is a superior tool to Move/Stretch Members if you are stretching a member end that has graphical connection. For other purposes, you may or may not prefer the legacy Move/Stretch Members tool.

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Replacing a graphical connection with a system connection :

Employing either of the following methods let the connection undergo connection design , during which the graphical connection will be erased and replaced with a system connection .

Method 1 : Use the Change option Graphically Altered to System Connections , then Process and Create Solids .

Method 2 : Uncheck the box for " Graphical " on the Beam Edit , Column Edit , Vertical Brace Edit or Horizontal Brace Edit window.

graphical

system

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