Connection design (AS 4100)

Connection design is one of the main reasons engineers reach for separate software. CivilKit Studio designs the three most common steel connections in place - the demand is pulled straight from the analysis, so you go from forces to a checked connection without leaving the model or re-keying numbers.

Connection	Where	Demand pulled from	Standard
Base plate	a support node	the support reaction (N*)	AS 4100 Cl 9 / bearing
Fin plate (shear)	a member end	the member's peak end shear (V*)	AS 4100
End plate (moment)	a member end	the member's peak end moment (M*)	AS 4100

How it works

1. Solve the model so the reactions and member end forces exist.
2. Select the support node (base plate) or member (fin / end plate).
3. Expand the connection panel in the inspector and set the connection details (plate size, bolts, weld). The design action is pre-filled from the analysis.
4. Read the live utilisation bars, the governing utilisation with OK / OVER, and the required vs provided values.

Connection inputs live on the element (n._baseplate, m._finplate, m._endplate) and ride along with export / import and share links, but they are stripped before the model reaches the solver - they never affect the analysis.

Tidy inspector

The member's optional checks (fin plate, end plate, plus the concrete / composite panels) sit under a single collapsed "Connection & material checks (optional)" expander, so a plain steel member stays clean. Expand the group, then the specific check you need.

Base plate

Select a support node. The panel:

• pulls N* straight from the support reaction;
• pre-fills the column d / bf from the connected column's catalogue section;
• lets you set plate B / D / t, f'c (concrete bearing strength) and the bolt count;
• shows utilisation bars for bearing (Cl 9, confined), plate bending, and bolt uplift, plus the required vs provided plate thickness.

Fin plate (shear connection)

Select a member. The panel pulls V* from the member's peak end shear and takes bolt count / diameter, plate depth / thickness and weld leg. Utilisation bars cover the bolt group, plate shear, bearing, tear-out and the weld, with the governing utilisation and φVdes.

End plate (moment connection)

Select a member. The panel pulls M* from the member's peak end moment and shows tension-bolt and end-plate-bending utilisation bars, the governing OK / OVER, and φMdes.

Into the report

Every connection you design lands in the PDF report: a Connection design section tabulates each base / fin / end plate with its bolts, plate size, design action, the component utilisations and the governing verdict. The report re-runs the same check at print time, so the inspector and the submittable calc always agree.

Verify before professional use

These are early, transparent connection checks. Confirm bolt grade, weld category, edge distances, plate steel grade and the governing load combination against AS 4100 and your fabricator's standard details before relying on them.