Limcon is productivity-geared steel connection design software. Connection types include beam to column, brace end, member splices, anchorage to concrete, and complicated multi-member joints. By using a library of standard connection types, designers can arrive at results in a remarkably short time.
Limcon offers additional codes and connections as a companion to RAM Connection, which is Bentley's premier connection design software. Use Limcon for Australian and Canadian connection checks as well as HSS to HSS connections.
Vist the Limcon Product Page for additional information on this product.
Comprehensive limit state design to a number of international standards.
Shear and moment connections, member splices, brace end connections, base plates, and hollow section connections.
Connections may be automatically designed by the program or you can specifically design them.
Concise calculation summary, reporting results for all relevant limit states.
Output to CAD format directly from design.
Download a full list [PDF] of the specific connection types available in Limcon's template library.
RAM Connection
Hi ADP,
Thanks for you question.
RAM Elements provides a set Toolkit to design structural elements (engineers calculator if you will).
Microstran - General Purpose Structural A&D program that is capable of analyzing most structures - particularly strong in steel design.
Ram Connection and Limcon are both connection design programs.
At the moment, there are some design codes and connection types (AS4100 and hollow sections) that can only be designed using Limcon.
We are currently working to augment Ram Connections capabilities to design these section types and codes as well.
Product Sheet Available here for reference:
www.bentley.com/.../ram-elements
www.bentley.com/.../microstran
www.bentley.com/.../ram-connection
www.bentley.com/.../limcon
Hi Hamish. Thanks for your query, can you please send through your Limcon job file along with the version of your Limcon installation to Wentao.Zhang@Bentley.com.
(apologies- previous post was not clear- see edited version below)
I'm doing a gusset plate connection for a braced bay
Connection type 9 : I section bolted onto web.
The connection is subject to high axial loads, and when checking the combined axial and bending capacity of the cleat, in the program it states that:
NOTES:
6. Eccentricity moment shared 10% gusset plate, 90% bracing member.
Whilst in the limcon pdf help document it states:
Note 6 Eccentricity moment shared 90% gusset plate, 10% bracing member
Taking 90% of the moment into the cleat (as per the pdf) seems reasonable, particularly if the effective length is large and the plate relatively slender. To take 90% into the member is likely ok for the member, but will mean that it needs to be taken out as a push/ pull in the bolts, laterally bending through the web of the bracing member. This would likely overload the web locally at the bolt locations, and mean that the bolts would need to be checked for combined shear and tension.
Currently the program appears to take 90% of the eccentric moment into the member, which may be giving unconservative results for the cleat design (taking only 10%).
Is it possible that there an error in the package and the 90/10 split is the wrong way round?
Your help would be greatly appreciated
Hi,
The connection is subject to high axial loads, and when checking the combined axial capacity and bending of the cleat, it states that:
I would expect that taking 90% of the eccentric moment into the cleat is ambitious, particularly if the effective length is large and the plate relatively slender, so the 90% gusset 10% bracing member seems more feasible.
Is it possible that there an error in the package which is leading to unconservative results?
Thanks
It seems there is a lot of overlap between RAM Connection and Limcon. Do you have a comparison of the two programs showing the features of each and when one is preferable to the other?
Actually, I'd love the same thing for Microstran and Elements.
Hi Ricardo,
Sure thing, I can be reached on wentao.zhang@Bentley.com.
Hi Wentao, I applied your comments but it is still the same outcome. The curious thing is when I do the Bolted angle seat with exactly the same inputs I can change the steel grade for the supporting member (column web) and Limcon will calculate the capacity of the web. Both connections only differ in the way the angle seat is connected to the supporting member (bolted/welded). is there a way I can send you my file so yo can check it? Thanks
As a first check, please ensure the settings (Country, Section Library File and Design Code) under File-->Configure-->General are correct.
In addition, in the same settings dialogue there is a check box entitled: "International".
Checking this item allows you to choose any known international grade for sections and plates. Section grades can otherwise be chosen only from the grades nominated for each section in the library. This setting also allows you to choose any international bolting category.
Where is the like button for Ricardo Quevedo post dated the 3-Feb-2016! Agreed, even if you do move it to that location still no support, LIMCON developers got back to you same day with a solution or a fix.
The best place to post a question is at our Structural Analysis forum at: communities.bentley.com/.../5932
This is actively monitored by our support team. This page is provided for product information.
Hi Josh, I posted here a question about Limcon but no answer yet (20 Jan 2016). it is so hard now to get support for Limcon. Before the developers always came to you in the same day with a solution. Bentley needs to improve this support service!!! Thanks
I'm checking an existing connection of type: WAS (welded angle seat). I cannot change the steel grade of the supporting column, it always use 300 (Australian steel). Also it does not calculate the support member web capacity, it gives zero. I did manually and it is a large capacity. what can it be happening? Thanks
I am trying to design a "UFBR" connection where the diagonal brace coming into the beam/column connection is an HSS member slotted onto a gusset plate with the gusset plate welded to the beam flange and bolted using clip angles to the column. The Limcon program (v3.63.2.4) seems to always make the clip angle connecting the gusset to the column bolted to both the column and the gusset. I need to have the clip angles only bolted to the column and welded to the gusset. Does anyone know how to force the program to do this, or is this type attachment not available in Limcon?
Thanks,
Dale Trumble
Hi Linda, there is a connection called UFBR that is 'similar' (looks like the USA version in that it is connected using angle cleats) in Limcon. It does say, it is in the maintenance only category (I am not sure what that means?)
Hi Linda, the connection type you described is not available in Limcon.
RAM Connection, on the other hand, can handle this connection type. More information regarding RAM Connection can be found here communities.bentley.com/.../5883.ram-connection