Joist End Connection Failure Messages ( Modeling )

Introduction: You can find one of the below-listed error messages on the Joist Edit window after connection design has failed a connection on at least one end of the joist. Understanding these messages can help you to diagnose why the connection failed and what steps you need to take to repair the problem. For more information, see: failed connections (a topic).

Beam not deep enough for connection: This end connection failure message results when the required connection depth for the flush framed shear or flush framed clip angle connection exceeds the depth of the beam. You can also trigger this message by locking the" Plate length " in the "   Shear Tab " leaf to a dimension that is near to or greater than the beam depth.

If a joist with a ' Flush framed clip ' connection frames to a shallow beam, the unlocked minimum number of " Rows " that is designed is ' 3 '. If the design of 3 rows would result in a clip angle that does not fit in the beam, the program will fail the connection and emit this message. To clear the fial message, try locking ( ) the number of " Rows " to ' 2 '. So long as the " Load " is sufficiently low to permit the clip angles to be designed with 2 rows, the connection will be designed.

Bolt gage not within required min/max values: This end connection failure message can apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Seated ' and " Top chord seated material " in " Connection specifications " is set to ' Plate '.

In the " Seated Plate " leaf, the " Gage " of a plate seat that is unlocked ( ) matches the top chord gage specified in the local shape file. If you lock ( ) the " Gage " to a distance that deviates too far from the shape file gage, the connection will fail and emit this failure message.

Setting the connection to "   Force " will probably generate a plate seat with the specified gage, but it will not clear this failure message.

Clip angle with adequate thickness not available: This message applies when an angle section that works for this connection is not available.

You can also get this failure message when you lock the number of " Rows " (supporting or supported) to a number that is too small to carry the " Load ."

Possible ways to get a system connection are to change the " Input connection type " or to lower the " Load " or to unlock the number of " Rows ."

If the clip angle is a single angle (" Side " = ' Near ' or ' Far '), setting " Side " to ' Both ' may clear this failure message.

Connection to cruciform web not allowed: A skewed connection to a cruciform column is permitted. However, the work line of the supported joist must be aligned to permit a connection to the cruciform column flange.

This failure message is emitted when this joist (the joist on whose edit window this failure message appears) frames to a cruciform column web.

Since this failure message indicates a framing situation problem, probably the best remedy is to change that framing situation by deleting the joist then adding it again or by using Move/Stretch to relocate one or the other of the joist's work ponts so that the connection end comes at the column at a different skew.

Changing the column " Section size " to a different cruciform section might be a way to clear the failure message without changing the joist's alignment. Also, you might be able to clear the failure message by setting the column to a different " Column rotation ."

Design valid only for A325 or F1852 bolts: This end connection failure message is emitted when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flush framed shear ' and the " NM bolt type " is, for example, an ' A307 ' bolt.

If the connection uses a user-defined bolt added to Bolt Specifications , then that bolt must be made of A325 or F1852 material.

To clear this failure message, try changing " NM bolt type ." You'll find that option in the " Connection type " leaf under the same joist end where this fail message is shown.

Connection will not fit in beam: This end connection failure message can apply when the " Input connection type " is ' Flushed framed shear ' or ' Auto standard ' or ' User defined '.

Connection design will not add bolt rows below the bottom chord of the supported joist. This message results when the number of " Rows " in the " Shear Tab " leaf has been locked ( ) to a number that would -- if the connection were to be set to ' Force ' -- result in bolt rows being placed below the bottom chord of the supported joist.

You can get this failure message for a joist framing to a beam. It the supporting member is a beam that is less deep than the joist, you probably will not get this failure message, but will instead get the " Required bolt dia. is greater than maximum available " or " Maximum number of bolt rows exceeded " message.

The obvious fixes for this problem would be to decrease the number of " Rows " or unlock ( ) the number of " Rows " or decrease the " Vertical hole spacing ." If you want additional rows to be permitted, you will have to enter a deeper joist " Section size ."

Flush framed joist connection only valid for Vulcraft joists: This end connection failure message is emitted when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flush framed shear ' or ' Flush framed clip ' and ' Vulcraft ' is not the " Joist manufacturer ."

To clear the failure message and get a flush framed connection, go to Home > Project Settings > Job > Modeling > Joist Manufacturers > set " Joist manufacturer " to ' Vulcraft ' > return to Modeling > select the joist and the member it frames to > right-click and choose " Mark Member for Processing " > press F5 to Process and Create Solids .

If you find that ' Vulcraft ' is not available to be selected as your joist manufacturer, use Home > Utilities > Utility Functions > Joist Manufacturer Manager to add the manufacturer to your current Job. You will then be able to set ' Vulcraft ' to be the " Joist Manufacturer ."

If you do not want Vulcraft to be your joist manufacturer, you may be able " Force " the flush framed connection. Doing so will not clear this fail message, but it should give you a connection.

FYI: Vulcraft CJ series joists are typically used with the ' Flush framed shear ' and ' Flush framed clip ' connection types. However, using a CJ series joist as your " Section size " is not a requirement. Connection design can create a flushed frame joist for other series.

Flush framed joist elevation not at supporting beam top of steel: This end connection failure message can apply to a joist-to-beam connection when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flush framed shear ' or ' Flush framed clip '.

The message indicates the end of the joist is not properly aligned with the supporting beam's top flange.

One way to fix this problem is, in the " Member " leaf for the appropriate joist end, set " Top of joist " to ' Elevation ' and enter the appropriate elevation. For a joist framing to a non-sloping beam, the joist's top-of-joist elevation should match the beam's " End elevation " (either end).

Tip: To add a joist that is flush framed to a beam, use the Input by Top of Joist Elevation modifier when locating an INCM point to connect to the beam. You will then be able to set the joist end's " Input connection type " to ' Flush framed shear ' or ' Flush framed clip ' and not get this failure message.

Frames to a Model Complete member: This applies when the member this joist 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. For more information, click here .

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 joist was added, or its connection was changed, after the framed-to member's " Model complete date " was set.

Frames to a Model Complete member

You can " 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 joist, you need to type in ' 0 ' (zero) to enter ' **NOT SET** ' in place of the date entry for " Model complete date " on the member that this joist frames to. See the following table:

framing situation	likely cause
joist to column	The supporting column has its " Model complete date " set.
joist to beam	The supporting beam has its " Model complete date " set.

Invalid bolt edge distance: This joist end connection failure message indicates that an entry has been made to a connection design lock that would result in a bolt edge distance being too small.

You can get this message, for example, when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flush framed shear ' and, in the " Shear Tab " leaf, you changed the shear plate's " Plate width " to a distance that is less than the entry made at Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Shear Plate Settings > " Horizontal edge distance ."

If the per bolt diameter minimum edge distance that is entered as the " Default bolt edge distance " in Bolt Settings is larger than the minimum in Shear Plate Settings , connection design uses that larger minimum instead of the Shear Plate Settings minumum.

To clear this failure message, you could try redefining the minimum in Shear Plate Settings or Bolt Setttings (whichever is larger), then do something on this window ( Joist Edit ) that causes the connection to be redesigned. Or you could unlock ( ) the lockable field (e.g., " Plate width ") to which you made the offending entry that resulted in this failure message.

Invalid bolt row-column combination: This end connection failure message applies when ' Flush framed shear ' or ' User defined ' or ' Auto standard ' is the joist end's " Input connection type " and, as a result, you get a set of " Shear Tab " connection design locks.

The message indicates that invalid or contradictory entries have been made to " Rows " and " Columns " in the " Shear Tab " leaf. For example, 0 rows and 1 column is contradictory, and 1 row and 1 column is invalid. Usually you will get other failure messages before you get this one.

To clear this failure message and get a connection, you could try entering a different number of " Rows " or " Columns ," or you could unlock ( ) those fields so that connection design is permitted to automatically make a valid entry for you.

Invalid bolt spacing: This beam end connection failure message can apply when ' Flush framed shear ' or ' User defined ' or ' Auto standard ' is the beam end's " Input connection type ."

You can, for example, get this failure message by doing the following:

1. In the " Shear Tab " leaf, lock ( ) the number of " Rows " to its current number or a larger number.
2. Lock ( ) the " Vertical hole spacing " to a distance that would, if the connection were designed, result in bolts being too close together per the selected bolt diameter and " Connection design method ."

To clear the failure message, simply unlock ( ) one or both of the locked options.

Invalid material type for this member: You get this message when connection design cannot generate a connection on this joist because the " Section Size " is not joist material .

To get a system connection , you need to change the joists's " Section Size " to a joist material .

Invalid weld configuration: This applies to the " Shear Tab " connection design locks that can become available when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flushed framed shear ' or ' Auto standard ' or ' User defined '.

The message indicates that, in the " Welds " section of the " Shear Tab " locks, a user has made invalid entries to " NS primary weld type " and/or " FS primary weld type " and/or " NS primary weld size " and/or " FS primary weld size ."

To clear this failure message and get a connection, you could try entering a different " NS primary weld type " or " FS primary weld type " or " NS primary weld size " or " FS primary weld size ," or you could unlock ( ) those fields so that connection design is permitted to calculate the required weld configuration.

Joist and opposite beam connections interfere: This applies when connection design determines that designing a ' Seated joist ' connection on a joist framing to a column web would interfere with the connection on the beam framing to the opposite side of the column web.

As a result of connection design failing the connection, the " System designed connection " is a ' Plain end '.

Joist bearing bolts will not fit on beam flange: This connection failure message applies when a joist bears on a beam's top flange.

For a joist bearing on the top flange of a beam, connection design puts holes on the beam flange when ' Bearing ' has been selected as the " Input connection type " for the joist and ' Bolted ' has been selected as the " Chord to support ."

C onnection design uses the joist " Top chord gage " specified in the local shape file and the choice made to " Wide flange beams, alternative gage for joist connections " or " Channel beams, alternative gage for joist connections " in Joist Connection Settings to determine the placement of the holes. If the beam web or the edge of the beam flange is too close to where the holes would be placed, the holes are not generated, and you get this message.

To repair this situation so that the holes are generated, you may have to Move... (or Move... ) the offending end ( ) of the joist (or Erase then Add it again) to reposition its work point at a different location. This error message is most likely to occur in skewed framing situations.

Joist bearing shoe bolt edge distance less than minimum slot edge distance: You can get this joist end connection failure message when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Seated ' or ' Bearing ' or ' Auto standard ' or ' User defined '. For such a connection, the joist's shoe bears on a seat or a beam's top flange.

Making an invalid entry to " Distance to holes " in the " Bolts " leaf can result in this failure message. Specifically, if the " Slot length " in the " Bearing Shoe Slots " leaf is 2 inches and " Slot edge distance " is that same leaf is 1/2 inch and you enter a " Distance to holes " that is less than 1 1/2 inch, then there is a lock conflict that needs to be resolved by, for example, unlocking ( ) all three of the lockable fields.

In other words, " Distance to holes " must be greater than or equal to half the " Slot length " plus the " Slot edge distance ."

Joist bearing shoe diameter is too small to accommodate bolts to support: You can get this connection failure message when a joist end's shoe bears on a seat or a beam's top flange. Such a connection can be designed when the " Input connection type " is ' Seated ' or ' Bearing ' or ' Auto standard ' or ' User defined '.

A likely cause for this connection failure message is an invalid (too small) entry made to " Bolt bearing shoe diameter " in the " Bearing Shoe Slots " leaf. Another possible cause is a too-large " Bolt diameter " entered in the " Bolts " leaf. Default settings for those two connection design locks come from Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Joist Connection Settings > " Shoe slot diameter " and -- when the joist end's " NM bolt diameter " is " Auto " -- from Home > Project Settings > Job > Bolt Settings > " Bolt diameter " per joist material type.

To repair the situation, try adjusting the entries made to the " Bolt bearing shoe diameter " and " Bolt diameter " locks so that the bolt is able to fit.

Joist bearing shoe length is not sufficient to accommodate bolts to support: This connection failure message applies when a joist's end bears on a seat or a beam's top flange. Such a connection can be designed when the " Input connection type " is ' Seated ' or ' Bearing ' or ' Auto standard ' or ' User defined '.

The failure message may be the result of an invalid entry made to " Slot length " in the " Bearing Shoe Slots " leaf. The default " Slot length " comes from Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Joist Connection Settings > " Bearing shoe slot length ."

To make this message go away, try switching " Slot length " from locked ( ) to unlocked. ( ) or type a new entry. If you choose to adjust the setup value, you will need to -- here, in Modeling -- mark the affected joist for processing then manually invoke Process > Process and Create Solids .

Joist bearing shoe slot edge distance less than setup minimum: This connection failure message applies when a joist's end bears on a seat or a beam's top flange. The " Input connection type " can be ' Seated ' or ' Bearing ' or ' Auto standard ' or ' User defined '.

The failure message is probably due to an invalid entry made to " Slot edge distance (NS) " or " Slot edge distance (FS) " in the " Bearing Shoe Slots " leaf. The setup minumum is defined in Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Joist Connection Settings > " Bearing shoe slot edge distance ."

To fix the problem that caused this failure message, you could try switching " Slot edge distance (NS) " or " Slot edge distance (FS) " from locked ( ) to unlocked. ( ) and thus permit connection design to make a valid entry for you. Alternatively, you could try a different entry or change the setup minimum.

Joist bolt location lockables need to be locked on the supporting cap plate:

Joist bot. chord extension hits seat stiffener: This applies to a joist-to-column connection.

Possible ways to get a system connection are to remove the bottom chord extension or change a deeper joist " Section Size ."

Joist bottom extension stabilizer won't fit in supporting beam web:

Joist connections to column user cap plates are not supported: This applies to a joist-to-column plate when the connection type on the column is a ' User base/cap plate '.

To get a connection, try changing the column connection to an ' Auto base/cap plate '.

Joist shoe depth is less than required minimum: A joist's minimum shoe depth depends on its " Section size ." This connection failure message is fully independent of the joist's connection type.

You can get this failure message by entering a ' Depth ' for " Bearing shoe " under the joist's " Member " leaf that is less than the required minimum, which is the " Shoe depth " that is entered in the local shape file.

To fix the problem that caused the failure message, you could, for example, change " Bearing shoe " to ' Automatic '. Or you could use Home > Utilities > Shapes Properties to modify the entry to " Bearing depth " that is made in the local shape file for your current " Section size ." You might also be able to change the joist's " Section size " to a something that allows a smaller bearing depth.

Joist shoe extends beyond top chord: This end connection failure message does not depend on the connection type.

You can get this failure message by setting " Shoe " to " Auto " (not checked), then entering an ' Extension ' that is large enough to extend the shoe past the joist's top chord.

Another way to reproduce this error is to enter an ' Extension ' that is something fairly realistic, then change to a different " Section size " whose " Shoe length " as defined in the local shape file is too short.

Another way to get this failure messsage is to set the " Top chord " to an " Auto " ' Setback ' of ' 1/2 ' inch while maintaining an " Auto " ' Setback ' for the shoe.

Unless you want to mess around with the local shape file's definition for " Shoe length " or with changing this joist's " Section size " or entering setbacks or extensions, probably the best way to get rid of this failure message is to set both " Shoe " and " Top chord " back to " Auto ."

If you want to enter " Shoe " and " Top chord " non-auto values, you need to make those values match. For example, you probably won't get this failure message if you enter a non-auto setback of ' 1/2 ' inch for both the " Shoe " and " Top chord ."

Joist to joist/girder connections are not supported: This end connection failure message can apply when a joist's " Input connection type " is ' Bearing ' and the joist frames to the top of another joist.

A welded or bolted bearing connection can be designed when a joist bears to the top of a beam flange or column cap plate, but not when a joist bears on another joist.

Locked bolt edge distance not within required min/max values: This end connection 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. It may apply to any connection that is bolted. There is no easy-to-state rule that defines minimum and maximum edge distances since such requirements are based on the connection type, bolt diameter, design code and other factors.

If you get this failure message, you may be able to unlock ( ) the offending lockable fields so that connection design is able to calculate an acceptable edge distance. Alternatively, it may be possible to keep all of the potentially offending lockable fields locked ( ) if you make different entries to those fields.

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 minimum and maximum bolt spacings since such spacing requirements are based on the connection type, bolt diameter, design code and other factors.

If you get this failure message, you may be able to unlock ( ) the offending lockable fields so that connection design is able to calculate an acceptable bolt spacing. Alternatively, it may be possible to keep all of the potentially offending lockable fields locked ( ) if you make different entries to those fields.

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-made entries to connection design locks . Connection design may have failed the connection because the locked ( ) settings prevented connection design from building 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 may be as simple as correcting a user-entered value that is inconsistent with related, interdependent values that are also locked. Or you have to unlock ( ) some of the connection design locks that you have applied.

If, on the other hand, you do not want to unlock any lockable fields, you might try removing other constraints, such as user-applied setbacks. You also may be able to get the connection you want by lowering the governing load.

Locked dimension is less than minimum allowed: This end connection failure message typically indicates that a user has made an entry to a connection design lock pertaining to plate dimensions which causes a related dimension to go below the minimum allowed, for example, to a negative number. Or a minimum dimension might be required to allow proper material fitting or welding or to carry the load.

For example, a knife plate's minimum " Plate length " is calculated based on the number of bolt rows that are required in the plate to carry the applied load. Lowering the " Load " may trigger connection design to require fewer bolts and thus clear the failure message and allow the connection to be designed using the user-locked plate length.

Another way to potentially clear this failure message and get a designed connection is to unlock ( ) the lockable field that caused the failure message. Doing so should cause connection design to populate that field with a dimension that will work.

Locked welded tee length greater than maximum allowed: This end connection failure message can apply when a welded tee has been designed for a joist-to-beam connection. To get a welded extended tee, the connection type must be a clip angle or bent plate or end plate, and " Welded extended tee " must be checked in the " Connection specifications " leaf in Joist Edit or Auto Standard Connections or User Defined Connections .

The connection failure message may be generated when the entry to " Tee length " is greater than the depth of the supporting beam.

Unlocking ( ) " Tee length " will let connection design auto-calculate the length. If " Full depth extended tee " is checked, that auto-calculated length will be the full depth of the beam.

Locked welded tee length less than minimum required: This end connection failure message can apply when a flush framed clip angle connection has been designed for a joist-to-beam connection. To get a welded extended tee, the connection type must be a flush frame clip angle, and " Welded extended tee " must be checked in the " Connection specifications " leaf in Joist Edit or Auto Standard Connections or User Defined Connections .

The connection failure message may be generated due to " Tee length " and, for example, " Tee flange thickness " or " Tee web thickness " being locked ( ) the " Welded Tee " leaf.

One possible way to clear this failure message is to decrease the joist end's " Load " in the " Loads " leaf and thus permit the shorter length. Unlocking ( ) " Tee length " will let connection design set a length that is sufficient to carry the load.

Maximum joist bearing length exceeded: This applies when a joist bears on a beam's top flange.

If ' Bolted ' has been selected as the " Chord to support " for a joist bearing on a beam flange, holes are generated only if the distance from the work point to the edge of the beam flange is less than the " Maximum bearing " entered in the local shape file . If holes are not generated for this reason, you get this connection failure message.

To repair this situation so that the holes are generated, you may be able to Move... (or Move... ) the offending end ( ) of the joist (or Erase it then Add it again) so that its work point is at a different location.

Minimum weld metal ten. strength is 70 ksi; 483 MPa: This message applies to flush framed shear connections when the " Connection design method " is any ASD or LRFD edition. Calculations used to size welds for a shear plate connection are based on the assumption that the weld tensile strength is at least 70 ksi.

Connection design generates this failure message for shear plate connections whose " Weld material tensile strength " at Home > Project Settings > Job > Design > Weld Design Settings is less than ' 70 ksi ' (483 MPa).

You should report this problem to qualified personnel who know what type of welding equipment the fabricator will be using.

Minimum weld metal tensile strength is 490 MPa: This message applies to flush framed shear connections (shear tab connections) when the " Connection design method " is a Canadian edition (' CISC8 ', ' CISC9 ' or etc.). Calculations used to size welds for a shear plate connection are based on the assumption that the weld tensile strength is at least 490 MPa.

Connection design generates this failure message for shear plate connections whose " Weld material tensile strength " at Home > Project Settings > Job > Design > Weld Design Settings is less than 490 MPa. To stop getting this failure message, you need to increase the " Weld material tensile strength " to at least 490 MPa.

You should report this problem to qualified personnel who know what type of welding equipment the fabricator will be using.

Mis-matched joist/support elevations: This connection failure message indicates that the " Input elevation " entered for this end of the joist creates material interference or creates a gap between the joist's top chord and the supporting beam's top flange.

To fix this problem, change the joist's " Input elevation " and " Top of joist " elevation on the offending end(s). The input elevation of a joist bearing on a beam should be the supporting beam's top flange elevation at the line of joist intersection since it is at that line of intersection where the joist bears on the beam.

For a joist to a non-sloping beam, the beam's "  End elevation " (either end) should be entered as the joist's " Input elevation ."

For a joist to a sloping beam, if you have a construction line where the joist intersects the sloping beam, you could use the INCM point locator and reference the Z coordinate reported in the X-Y-Z display to discover the required " Input elevation ."

This connection failure message can also be caused by entering a ' Depth ' for " Bearing shoe " that is a mis-match to the joist's input elevation.

No supporting member: This end connection failure message can apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Seated ' and the offending joist end does not frame to anything.

To get connection design to create a seated connection on a joist, the joist end must frame to a column.

To clear this failure message and get a seated connection, you will need to move the joist end so that it frames to a column, or you will have to add a column.

Physical limitations exceeded: This end connection failure message can apply to almost any joist " Input connection type ."

The failure message can be caused by the entry a large " Load " on the offending joist end. Lowering the load or changing the " Input connection type " to ' Plain end ' should clear the failure message.

Required bolt dia. is greater than maximum available: This end connection failure message can apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flush framed shear '.

During the design of a shear plate for a flush-framed joist, connection design may increment bolt diameters and add rows of bolts to accommodate the applied " Load ." When the maximum bolt diameter is reached, connection design fails the connection and emits this fail message.

You might be able to clear this failure message by entering a larger " NM bolt diameter " on the Joist Edit window. Do not select the diameter in that field's combo box ( ). Selectable diameters listed in that combo box come from the " Available bolt diameters " and none of those bolts will work. Instead, type in a diameter that will work.

When incrementing bolt sizes, connection design is able to choose only those bolts that are checked ( ) in the list of " Available imperial bolt sizes " or " Available metric bolt sizes " at Home > Project Settings > Job > Bolts, Washers, and Holes > Bolt Settings . Consequently, another possible way to clear this failure message is to (in Bolt Settings ) check the box for a larger bolt size then make a change on this window ( Joist Edit ) that causes the connection to be redesigned.

Still another possible way to clear this failure message is to lower the applied " Load ."

Seated connection stiffener fails in buckling: This end connection failure message can apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Seated ' and " Top chord seated material " in " Connection specifications " is set to ' Plate '.

You can get this failure message because -- in the " Seated Plate " leaf -- the " Plate thickness " of the stiffener plate has been locked ( ) to a dimension that is too small.

You might be able to clear this failure message by lowering the relevant joist end's " Load ," but it is generally a better idea to adjust the " Plate thickness ."

Seated connection weld fails in shear: This end connection failure message can apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Seated ' and " Top chord seated material " in " Connection specifications " is set to ' Plate '.

In the " Seated Plate " leaf, the" Depth " of the stiffener plate affects the length and therefore the strength of the welds that weld the edges of that stiffener plate to the supporting member. Also related to the calculated weld strength is the " Stiffener " weld size in that same leaf.

You might be able to clear this failure message by lowering the relevant end's " Load ," but it is generally a better idea to make adjustments to the stiffener plate " Depth " and the " Stiffener " weld size.

Seat length less than minimum required: This end connection failure message can apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Seated ' and " Top chord seated material " in " Connection specifications " is set to ' Plate '.

In the " Seated Plate " leaf, the " Length " of a plate seat that is unlocked ( ) matches the shoe width of the joist. You can lock down ( ) the seat " Length " to less than the shoe width of the joist, but too great of a decrease in the seat's " Length " will result in a connection failure along with this failure message.

Setting the connection to '   Force ' will probably generate a plate seat of the specified length in the model, but it will not clear this failure message.

Seat width less than minimum required: This end connection failure message can apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Seated ' and " Top chord seated material " in " Connection specifications " is set to ' Plate '.

You may never see this failure message since it is likely that you will, instead, see the failure message " Joist bearing shoe slot edge distance less than setup minimum " or the message " Supporting surface is shorter than minimum joist bearing length ."

If you do happen to get this message, it was probably triggered by locking ( ) the plate " Width " In the " Seated Plate " leaf to a dimension that is too small. To fix the problem, you can unlock ( ) the plate " Width " or manually increase the dimension until the failure message is cleared.

Seat strength failure: This applies to joist seats . It is caused when connection design tries to create a seat with a width or length larger than 20 inches (51 mm) or a depth larger than a dimension that depends on the framing situation.

One way to fix this problem is to lower the governing " Load " so that connection design creates a weaker seat, possibly with a width, length or depth that is below the maximum, thus causing the seat to pass.

This message can also be generated when the " Seat " or " Stiffener " weld sizes has been locked ( ) to a value that is too large.

Shear or knife plates clash with bottom extension plate/angle: This end connection failure message can apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flush framed shear ' and -- in " Connection specifications " -- " Extend bottom chord " is checked and " Stabilizing material " is set to ' Angle ' or ' Plate '.

Connection design emits this failure message instead of generating the bottom cord stabilizing material. Typically, the flush framed shear connection will still be designed and shown in the model.

The fail message may be the result of " Extend size to " in " Connection specifications " being set to ' Both flanges ' or ' Both Ks '. If such is the case, try resetting " Extend size to " to ' As required ' or ' Top flange ' or ' Top K '.

If the shear plate is too deep because it has too many rows of bolts, you might be able to fix the clash by lowering the joist end " Load " so that fewer rows of bolts are designed.

Setting " Stabilizing material " to ' None ' or unchecking " Extend bottom chord " is another way to clear the fail message.

Steel to steel connections cannot be designed in a concrete station: This joist end connection failure message applies when you are working in an SDS2 Concrete Station . It applies regardless of the joist end's " Input connection type ." SDS2 Concrete and SDS2 Detailing use the same help.

Suitable plate thickness not found: This message applies when the box is checked for " Use miscellaneous plates list " on the Joist Edit 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 in Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Preferred Plate Sizes .

To get a system connection , you can add a suitable plate to Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Plates . Or you can uncheck the box for " Use miscellaneous plates list ." Or you can remove all entries from the " Preferred Plate Sizes " list.

Supporting surface is shorter than minimum joist bearing length: This applies to a joist-to-beam-flange connection (" Chord-to-support " = ' Bolted ') or to a joist to a column with a joist seat (" Input connection type " = ' Seated '). It can also apply when the " Input connection type " is ' Bearing '.

For a joist-to-beam-flange connection, half of the beam's flange width minus the field clearance must be greater than or equal to the minimum bearing (F/2 - C >= B, where F/2 = half the flange width from shape file; B = minimum bearing from shape file; C = " Joist to beam " field clearance from Home > Project Settings > Job > Field Clearances ).

The failure message may also indicate that the Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Joist Connection Settings > " Minimum shoe length " is less than the distance that the user has entered to " Shoe length " on the Joist Edit window in Modeling . If such is the case, the fix is to either enter a larger " Shoe length " or set it to " Auto ."

Connection design may be able to create a connection if you use Shapes Properties to sufficiently decrease the " Minimum Bearing " for the offending joist section size in the local shape file.

Unsupported clip angle configuration: This connection failure message may apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flush framed shear '.

The failure message is emitted when you set the " Attachment to supported " to ' Welded ', the " Attachment to supporting " to ' Welded ', the " Side " to ' Near side ' or ' Far side '. The message indicates that connection design does not have design routines for checking the viability of a single-sided, welded-welded clip angle and therefore must fail the connection.

To clear the fail message, set " Side " to ' Both '.

User slot length is larger than maximum allowed: This error message may occur on any " Input connection type " joist connection whose " Hole type " is ' 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: Your standard practice for your current Job is to set the " NM bolt diameter " for joist connections to ' 3/4 ' inch. In Home > Project Settings > Fabricator > Standard Fabricator Connections > Shear Plate Settings , you enter a " Standard hole type " of ' User slot 1 '. At Home > Project Settings > Job > User Slot Lengths , for ' 3/4 ' inch bolts, the " Slot #1 " length is ' 2 ' inches. Since 2 inches is larger than the 1 7/8 inch maximum for 3/4 bolts (from Table J3.3), the next shear plate connection that is designed per these setup values will fail.

Possible fixes: You could change the offending entry at Home > Project Settings > Job > User Slot Lengths to a length that is less than or equal to the maximum specified in Table J3.3 or Table J3.3M. If you want to keep that setup length as it is, you will instead need to change the standard fabricator connections " Hole type " to a different type, such as ' Short slot '.

User top chord setback less than minimum required: This end connection failure message can apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flush framed shear ' or ' Flush framed clip ' or ' Auto standard ' or ' User defined ' and , in the "   Setbacks and extension " leaf on the Joist Edit window, a user-entered value is the " Setback " for the " Top chord ."

The failure message indicates that the user has entered a setback that is too small. As a result, the joist top chord may clash with the supporting beam's top flange. If connection material were generated, that connection material (clip angle or shear plate) might also clash with the top chord.

To clear this failure message and get a connection, try setting the top chord setback to " Auto ." Or try entering a larger user top chord setback.

Welded tee flange-web weld strength exceeded: This end connection failure message can apply when a welded tee has been designed for a joist-to-beam connection. To get a welded extended tee, the connection type must be a flush frame clip angle, and " Welded extended tee " must be checked in the " Connection specifications " leaf.

The connection failure message may be generated due to a weld size that is too small having been locked ( ) as the " End plate to stem weld " in the " Welded Tee " leaf.

One possible way to clear this failure message is to lower the joist end's " Load " in the " Loads " leaf and thus permit the built-up tee to be designed using the weaker weld that is entered. Another possible fix is to check the box for " Full depth extended tee " in the joist end's " Connection specifications " and thus permit a longer weld with greater overall strength. Adjusting the " Tee length " in the " Welded Tee " leaf is another way to increase the weld length. Probably the best way to fix the problem is to increase or unlock ( ) the " End plate to stem weld " in that same leaf.

Welded tee to supporting weld strength exceeded: This end connection failure message can apply when a welded tee has been designed for a joist-to-beam connection. To get a welded extended tee, the connection type must be a flush frame clip angle, and " Welded extended tee " must be checked in the " Connection specifications " leaf in the Joist Edit or Auto Standard Connections or User Defined Connections window.

The connection failure message may be generated due to a weld size that is too small having been locked ( ) as the " Stem to web weld " in the " Welded Tee " leaf.

One possible way to clear this failure message is to decrease the joist end's " Load " in the " Loads " leaf and thus permit the weaker weld. Another possible fix is to check the box for " Full depth extended tee " the joist end's " Connection specifications " leaf and thus permit a longer weld with greater overall strength. Adjusting the " Tee length " in the " Welded Tee " leaf is another way to increase the weld length. Probably the best way to fix the problem is to increase the " Stem to web weld " in that same leaf.

Welded tee web strength exceeded: This end connection failure message can apply when a welded tee has been designed for a joist-to-beam connection. To get a welded extended tee, the connection type must be a flush frame clip angle, and " Welded extended tee " must be checked in the " Connection specifications " leaf in the Joist Edit or Auto Standard Connections or User Defined Connections window.

The connection failure message may be generated due to a too-small number having been locked ( ) as the " Tee web thickness " in the " Welded Tee " leaf.

One possible way to clear this failure message is to decrease the joist end's " Load " in the " Loads " leaf and thus permit the built-up tee to be designed using the web thickness that is entered. Another possible fix is to check the box for " Full depth extended tee " in the joist end's " Connection specifications ." Adjusting the " Tee length " in the " Welded Tee " leaf may also clear the failure message. Probably the best way to fix the problem is to increase or unlock ( ) the " Tee web thickness " in that same leaf.

Weld strength to supporting member exceeded: This connection failure message may apply when the joist end's " Input connection type " is ' Flush framed shear ' or ' Flush framed clip angle ' or ' Seated '. For it to apply to a clip angle, the clip angle's " Attachment to supporting " must be ' Welded '.

The connection failure message may be generated due to a user-made entry to the locked ( ) field " Weld size " in the " Shear Tab " or " NS/FS Clip Angle " leaf. Weld strength can also be exceeded due to the length of the weld. For example, reducing the " Length " of the angle in the " Seated Angle " leaf would reduce the weld strength and could result in this failure message.

Assuming that the joist's " Load " is to engineering specifications, generally the best way to clear this failure message is to unlock ( ) the " Weld size " or, for a seated joist connection, the " Length ."

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