Connection STIFFNESS IMPLementation PROCEDURE

Modeling of Global Frame Using SidePlate® Connection Technology:

Effective use and correct implementation of the inherent SidePlate® connection stiffness on the global lateral
frame of a structure results in one or more of the following:

• Significant reduction in the required lateral frame beam and column weight and/or size needed to satisfy
allowable building drift criteria
o Saves 20-30% in lateral steel tonnage when compared to all other moment connection systems
• Reduction in the number of moment connections
• Facilitates the use of pinned boundary conditions, in lieu of fixed, at the base of steel frame columns,
which results in lower foundation costs
• Removal of unwanted diagonal braces by converting the lateral braced frame system to a lateral moment
frame system
o A slight increase in lateral frame weight is expected, which is offset by a decrease in foundation cost and
no loss of useable building space (i.e. diagonal braces typically result in a 2-5% loss in usable area)

This is done by replacing beam and column stiffness with the SidePlate® lateral connection stiffness, which is
simulated in the steel frame’s mathematical computer model by using 100% rigid panel zone and increasing
the beam’s moment of inertia, Ix, to approximately 3*Ix, for a distance of approximately 80% of the beam
depth (Db) beyond the face of column flange.

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 The SidePlate® connection stiffness implementation steps are as follows for ETABS and RAM users:

ETABS User
METHOD 1
THE ETABS BUILT-IN SIDEPLATE® FEATURE automatically creates a non-prismatic beam where each fixed
beam end represents the appropriate SidePlate® connection stiffness properties from the column face to-
wards the beam centerline as follows:
• The GAP section extends several inches from the face of the column flange. This section is the physical
separation between the beam end and the column flange and is comprised only of the side plates.
• The SIDEPLATE section extends from the end of the GAP section to approximately 80% of the beam depth
minus the gap. The SIDEPLATE section, which consists of the physical side plates {A}, cover plates {B} and
beam, has an approximate moment of inertia (3) times that of the beam alone.
• The COVERPLATE section extends from the end of the SIDEPLATE section to approximately 10 times the
beam flange thickness. The COVERPLATE section, which consists of the physical cover plate {B} and the
beam, has an approximate moment of inertia equal to 1.5 to 2 times that of the beam alone.

Step 1:
Select all moment frame beams.

Step 2:
Click on Assign > Frame/Line > Moment Frame
Beam Type > Special Moment Beam Type:
Side Plates > OK
(see Fig. 2)

2 ETABS SidePlate built-in feature.

Step 3: Model the Panel Zone

• Select all moment frame beams and columns:
• Assign > Frame/Line > End (Length) Offsets >
• Rigid-zone factor = 1 > OK.
(see Fig. 3)

3 ETABS Panel zone

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 Step 4: Geometric compatibility & Preliminary Strong Column – Weak Beam checks
• When sizing the frame beam-to-column combinations for a
SidePlate® moment frame, the following ‘rules of thumb’
should be maintained:
i. In order to maintain geometric compatibility:
o Column flange width ≥ Beam flange width + 2* Beam flange thickness
(Note: the above formula can be overly conservative especially with larger sections, if it indicates that a particular combination is not
compatible, but is close, please call SidePlate Systems as a quick project specific connection design may be needed)

ii. In order to maintain a strong-column weak-beam condition at non-roof conditions (as required for SMF
applications):
o ΣZx Column(s) > 1.7*ΣZx of the Beam(s) – (For 1-10 Story Buildings)
(Note: If the above formula indicates that a particular combination is not compatible, but is close, or the building has more than 10
stories, please call SidePlate Systems as a quick project specific connection design may be needed)

STEP 5: Connection weight

• To obtain the approximate connection plate weight for a specific project, simply email your ETABS model
to solutions@sideplate.com. One of our engineers will review the model for validation and reply with the
connection plate weight.

METHOD 2
USING NON-PRISMATIC BEAM SECTIONS
Another way of implementing SidePlate® stiffness is to use non-prismatic beam sections. This method can
also be used to help improve drift and steel stress ratios if the current design is at or above the allowable
code values. Modeling the non-prismatic beam sections more accurately represents the stiffness of the
SidePlate connections whereas method 1 is a slightly conservative estimate of the stiffness.

STEP 1A: Be sure to assign all moment frame beams as Standard Moment Connection
• If the built in feature is still turned on, the non-prismatic beam section will have essentially double Side-
Plate stiffness, which will overestimate the strength of the connection.
STEP 1B: Select all moment frame beams.
• Assign > Frame/Line > Moment Frame Beam Type > Standard > OK.

STEP 2A: creating the sections for the non-prismatic beam (i.e. XXGAP, XXSP, XXCP) –
3 total per non-prismatic beam (see FIG. 4).
• Click define > Frame Sections > Choose Add General from the drop down menu. Input properties from
actual connection design (provided by SidePlate Systems, Inc).
• Make sure the material is the steel material being used on the rest of the project.
• For start/end section, there exist only two side plates, which is referred to as the GAP section. Change the Sec-
tion name to represent the section’s weight + GAP. (e.g. For W24x55, this section would be called 55GAP.)

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 o Dimensions: Depth will be beam depth plus 3”. Width is the approximate average column width used
with this beam section.
• For the next section, there exist two side plates, the beam and two cover plates, which is referred to as
the SP section. Change the Section name to represent the section’s weight + SP. (e.g. For W24x55, this
section would be called 55SP.)
o Dimensions: Depth will be beam depth plus 3”. Width is the approximate average column width used
with this beam section.
• For the last section, there exists the beam and two cover plates, which is referred to as the CP section.
Change the Section name to represent the section’s weight + CP. (e.g. For W24x55, this section would be
called 55CP.)
o Dimensions: Depth will be beam depth plus two times thickness of cover plates. Width is the
approximate average column width used with this beam section.
• Note: the area inputs are the same as that for the beam alone to preclude double counting of connection weight.

4 ETABS general section for non-prismatic beam sections

STEP 2B: Creating the actual non-prismatic beams (see FIG. 5)

• To Create Non-Prismatic Section: Choose Add Non-prismatic from drop down menu.
• Change Section Name to ‘sectionNPSP’ (e.g. W33x130NPSP)
• Change Start Section and End Section to XXGAP, which in this case is 130GAP section. Length = 3 inches or
whatever has been designed.
• Next section is the SidePlate Section, XXSP, which in this case is 130SP section. Length = 80% of beam
depth minus 3” or whatever has been designed for gap.
• Last section is the cover plate section XXCP, which is
this case is 130CP section. Length = 10 to 12 times the
beam flange thickness or whatever has been designed.
• Note: SidePlate connection lengths are set to absolute
type. Where the beam section in the middle is set to
Variable (this accounts for different bay widths in which
this section may be used).
• All EI33 and EI22 Variations are Linear 5 ETABS non-prismatic beam sections

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 RAM User
STEP 1: Assign the Master Steel Table
SidePlate has a special beam table for RAM labeled as RAMAISCSP## (# is for the version of table since it will have
periodic updates). The purpose of this table is to include member sizes that reflect the stiffness attributes of the
SidePlate connection. Please request the table by sending an email to solutions@sideplate.com.
• Copy this file and place it in your RAM tables directory. The default location is C:\Program Files\Bentley\
Engineering\RAM Structural System\Tables.
• In RAM Manager, select Criteria – Master Steel Table and set the table to the SidePlate RAM beam table.

STEP 2: Model the Cantilever Beam Stubs

To model SidePlate connection properties in RAM Modeler, the lateral beam needs to be broken up into three parts.
This is accomplished by utilizing the
“Cantilever Beam” feature in RAM Version
14.02 or later. In RAM Modeler, select
Layout – Beams – Assign Cantilevers. The
dialog box shown in Fig. 6 gives several options.

Select “Stub” and input the cantilever beam

length. The cantilever beam length will be
approximately 80% of the beam depth plus
½ the column depth.

6 Dialog box for RAM cantilever beam options.

Apply the cantilever beam stubs to the

appropriate lateral columns. After the
cantilever beam stubs are modeled, add
the middle section of the moment frame
beam and connect it to the cantilever beam
stub ends, see Fig. 7 for more information.

7 Plan view of RAM model with cantilever beam stubs.

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 When you assign the beam sections for
the moment frames, assign the middle
moment frame beam to be the standard
AISC section. Assign the cantilever beam
stub to be the SidePlate section. For
example, for a W21x62 beam, and the
cantilever beam stubs will be assigned
the section “W21x62S”. Refer to Fig. 8a
and 8b below for more information.

8a Elevation view from RAM model with cantilever

beam stubs – section properties on.

8b Elevation view from RAM model with cantilever

beam stubs – fixity of sections on.

STEP 3: Assign Member Fixity

• In RAM Modeler, assign the “lateral” framing property,
the user needs to verify that the fixity is correct.

• To assign the member fixity in RAM Modeler, click on

Layout–Beams/Columns–Assign Fixity. (see Fig .9)
9 Frame fixities

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 STEP 4: Model the Panel Zone
• In RAM Frame, set the panel zone to 100% rigid.
In RAM Frame select Criteria – General. In the dialog box
shown (Fig. 10), refer to the item “Rigid End Zones”.
Select “Include Effects” and make sure it is a 0% reduction.

10 Model Panel Zone

STEP 5: Geometric compatibility & Preliminary Strong Column – Weak Beam checks
• When sizing the frame beam-to-column combinations for a SidePlate® moment frame, the following
‘rules of thumb’ should be maintained:
i. In order to maintain geometric compatibility:
o Column flange width ≥ Beam flange width + 2* Beam flange thickness
(Note: the above formula can be overly conservative especially with larger sections, if it indicates that a particular combination is not
compatible, but it close, please call SidePlate Systems as a quick project specific connection design may be needed)

ii. In order to maintain a strong-column weak-beam condition at non-roof conditions (as required for SMF
applications):
o ΣZx Column(s) > 1.7*ΣZx of the Beam(s) – (For 1-10 Story Buildings)
(Note: If the above formula indicates that a particular combination is not compatible, but it’s close, or the building has more than 10
stories, please call SidePlate Systems as a quick project specific connection design may be needed)

STEP 6: Connection weight

• To obtain the approximate connection plate weight for a specific project, simply email your RAM model
to solutions@sideplate.com. One of our engineers will review the model for validation and reply with the
connection plate weight.

When AISC 341 Seismic Provisions Apply

(Important Note:This section is for guidance and quick reference only. This is not a complete summary of seismic design checks for
building design. Always refer to the applicable design codes frequently during the design process.)

Design Requirements as they pertain to SidePlate® moment connections

SMF (R=8, Cd=5.5) IMF (R=4.5, Cd=4) OMF (R=3.5, Cd=3)

Demand Critical Welds x x x
Protected Zone x x
Seismically Compact Sections x
Compact Sections x x
Strong-Column Weak-Beam x
Lateral Bracing of Beams x x

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