Hello, I´m trying to perform the Analysis and Design of a Base Plate. Said Base Plate is being Designed to support an L-Shaped Column, however, RAM Connection is not capable of accepting an L-Shape as a Column as it doesn´t meet the requeriments of a Pre-Qualified Connection so, based on what I said above, would it be acceptable if I Designed the Base Plate assuming it was supporting a Rectangular Shape instead of an L-Shape (Based on the following premises)?
The premises for this assumption are:
- The actual column is a 180 x 180 x 18 mm L-shape assumed to be fixed at the base.
- The assumed "equivalent" section would be a rectangular 180 x 180 x 18 mm section, also fixed at the base.
- The aim of the Design is verifying that both Base Plate and Anchor Rods are capable of resisting the applied loads, not to verify the actual Column (which is something I don´t think RAM Connection even does).
- The applied reactions are taken from the Staad.Pro V8i Model and correspond to the L-Shaped Column.
So if I´m not mistaken my assumption would be enough for the Design to be aplicable, I believe the only thing that RAM Connection takes into account from the Section input is the Geometric Limitations and the length of the Weld which would have the same value as it is an all-around Weld and the Dimensions of both Sections result in the same Weld length. The RAM Connection file is attached below for your review. Thanks in advance for any help.
CALCULO DE PLACA BASE.cnx
Hi Seth, thanks for the answer. What do you mean by this "moment arm"? Where in the Analysis is the Geometry of the Section taken into account? And if this is definitely not the right method or assumption then which would be the correct way to approach this Design?