Connection Database in RAM Connection
Each connection in the database is categorized according to the family to which it belongs. RAM
Connection currently offers users the following families of connections; the connection families are:
1. Beam – Column Flange (BCF)
2. Beam – Column Web (BCW)
3. Beam – Girder (BG)
4. Beam Splice (BS)
5. Column Splice (CS)
6. Continuous beam over column (CC)
7. Column, beams and braces (CBB)
8. Chevron braces (CVR)
9. Vertical X braces (VXB)
10. Column – Base (CB)
11. Column – Base – Braces (CB)
Each connection template in the database can be considered a ‘Basic’ or a ‘Smart’ connection.
Basic Connection: A connection template that can automatically adjust the geometry (position or
dimensions) of the connection pieces to fit the connecting members. It does not calculate the quantity or
dimensions of the connecting pieces (bolts, plates etc) to resist the applied forces.
Smart Connection: A connection template that can automatically calculate the quantity and dimensions of
the connecting pieces (bolts, welds, plate sizes etc) to resist the applied forces.
The following smart connection templates are included in the program. Note that the items that are
optimized in each template are listed, if an item is not listed then there is a default value associated with the
connection that can be modified as required to suit the particular requirements:
AISC 360 connections:
Type of connections Family and Description Optimization of the following
(Folder name) parameters
DA BCF, BCW, BG double angle connections number of bolts for bolted
connections, weld size for
welded connections and angle
size
DA Beam splice BS double angle bolted connections number of bolts and angle size
SP BCF, BCW, BG, single plate angle number of bolts, plate size, weld
connections size to support
SP Beam splice BS single plate angle connections number of bolts, plate size
EP BCF, BCW, BG end plate connections number of bolts, plate size, weld
size to beam for bolted
connections and plate size and
welds sizes for welded
connections
ST BCF, BG shear tee connections tee size, number of bolts for
bolted and weld size for welded
connections
SS BCF, BCW stiffened seated connections, bolts rows , weld size and
type SST, SSP, SS2L connector size
US BCF, BCW unstiffened seated connections angle size bolts rows or weld size
DW BCF, BCW, BG directly welded connections extended plate size for BCW
connections
FP BCF, BCW, BG bolted flange plate bolts rows, distances between
connections bolts, top and bottom plate
thickness, weld size to support
FP BCF, BCW, BG welded flange plate welds sizes, top and bottom plate
connections sizes
MEP, MEPKnee BCF Moment end plate connections bolts sizes, Weld sizes , bolt
rows, plate thickness
MA BCF bolted moment angle bolt rows and angle size
Base Plate: Column base plate connections The Thickness, length and width
Pinned, of the base plate, the length and
Fixed uniaxial, diameter of the anchors, and the
Fixed biaxial support’s weld size
Gusset base plate Column and braces base plate connections The Thickness, length and width
of the base plate, the length and
diameter of the anchors, and the
support’s weld size. See the
following table for gussets
details
Gussets CBB, CVR VXB connections See the following table for
details
Gusset Gusset-to-Brace Gusset-to-Beam or Column
All For W and For L, T2L, C, Directly Single Plate Double Angles
WT sections I2C y HSS Welded
sections
Number of Weld length Required Required Number of
bolts on (toe and heel) – weld size weld size bolts on
claw angles if it is welded support – if it is
bolted
Le, Le1 and Number of Number of Number of Number of
Le2 distances bolts on bolts – if it is bolts bolts on
to let the gusset splice plates bolted beam/gusset –
be compatible if it is bolted
with the
connectors Plate Support weld
geometry thickness size – if it is
welded
Beam/gusset
weld size – if it
is welded
BS 5950 connections:
Type of connections Family and Description Optimization of the following
(Folder name) parameters
BEP BCF, Bolted End Plate connections Number of bolts, Weld Size,
Plate thickness
FEP BCF, BCW, BG, Flexible end plate Number of bolts, Weld Size,
connections Plate thickness
CA BCF, BCW, BG Cleats angles connections Number of bolts, Angle section
FW BCF, BCW Flanges welded connections Weld size, Plate thickness
FWW BCF, BCW Flanges and web welded Weld size, Plate thickness
connections
FinP BCF, BCW, BG Fin Plate connections Number of bolts, Plate thickness
FCP Beam splice BS bolted flange plate connections Number of bolts and plate
thickness for top and bottom
plate
FCP Column splice CS bolted flange plate connections Number of bolts and plate
thickness for front and back plate
WCP Beam Splice BS bolted web plate connections Number of bolts and plate
thickness
WCP Column splice CS bolted web plate connections Number of bolts and plate
thickness
GB 50017:03 Connections:
Type of connections Optimization of the following
Family and Description
(Folder name) parameters
CA BCF, BCW, BG double angle connections Number of bolts for bolted
connections and angle size
SP BCF, BCW, BG, single plate angle Number of bolts, plate size and
connections weld size.
DW BCF, BCW, BG directly welded connections
FP BCF, BCW, BG bolted flange plate Bolts rows, distances between
connections bolts, top and bottom plate
thickness, weld size to support
FP BCF, BCW, BG bolted flange plate Welds sizes, top and bottom
connections plate sizes
MEP BCF Moment end plate connections Bolts sizes, Weld sizes , bolt
rows, plate thickness
Base plate Column base plate connections Thickness, length and width of
the base plate, the length and
diameter of the anchors
EN 1993-2005 Connections:
Type of connections Optimization of the following
Family and Description
(Folder name) parameters
Smart BEP BCF, Bolted End Plate connections Bolt sizes, Weld sizes, plate
Thickness, Flush extension
distance
Smart BEP BS BS, Bolted End Plate connections Bolt sizes, Weld sizes, plate
Thickness, Flush extension
distance
Smart BCP Flanges BS, CS, bolted flange plate connections Bolt sizes, plate Thickness.
Smart BCP web BS, CS, bolted web plate connections Bolt sizes, plate Thickness.
Smart DAWC BCF, BCW, BG Cleats angles connections Angle section, bolt number to
beam and support.
Smart WAC CS Bolt number in plate and support
Smart FinP BCF, BCW, BG Fin Plate connections Bolt sizes, Weld Sizes, plate
Thickness
Smart EP BCF, BCW, BG, Flexible end plate Bolt number, Weld sizes, plate
connections Thickness
Smart DW BCF, BCW, Directly welded beam to Weld sizes, plate Thickness
column connections
Base plate: Column base plate connections Thickness, length and width of
Pinned, the base plate, the length and
Fixed uniaxial, diameter of the anchors and the
Fixed biaxial support’s weld size
Bracing Connections CBB_DB See the following table for
details
Gusset Gusset-Brace Gusset-Beam or Column
To sections L, C, I2C
All Directly welded
y HSS
Le, Le1 and Le2
distances to let the Weld length (toe and
Weld sizes
gusset be heel) – if it is welded
compatible with
the connectors Bolt number if it is
geometry bolted connection
