IDEA StatiCa Operations Guide

What is an Operation?

In IDEA StatiCa, a connection is built by applying a series of "Operations." Each operation is a manufacturing step that adds, removes, or modifies material. You can think of it like a recipe: you start with your steel members and then apply operations like cutting, bolting, and welding in a specific order to create the final joint.

This guide visually covers the most common operations you will use to model your connections.

Cut

Trims members and plates. You can cut by another member, a plate, or a workplane.

Use Case: Fitting a beam to a column flange.

End Plate

Adds a plate to the end of a member and connects it to another member with bolts.

Use Case: Bolted beam-to-column connection.

Fin Plate

A plate welded to a supporting member and bolted to the web of a supported member.

Use Case: Simple shear connection.

Splice

Connects two collinear members using plates and bolts on flanges and/or webs.

Use Case: Joining two sections of a beam or column.

Gusset Plate

Connects one or more bracing members to a main beam or column.

Use Case: Truss connections, bracing frames.

Stiffener

A plate added to prevent local buckling of a member's web or flange.

Use Case: Reinforcing a column web in a moment connection.

Rib

A triangular plate used to reinforce another plate or stiffen a flange.

Use Case: Strengthening a base plate or a haunch.

Base Plate

Transfers loads from a column to the concrete foundation via anchors.

Use Case: Column-to-foundation connection.

Weld

Joins plates or members. Can be fillet or butt welds.

Use Case: Welding a beam directly to a column.

Opening

Creates a circular or rectangular hole in a member's web or flange.

Use Case: Pipe penetrations, access holes.

Negative Volume

Subtracts a solid shape (e.g., cylinder, box) to create complex cutouts.

Use Case: Custom-shaped holes or notches.

Workplane

A reference plane used as a tool for other operations, like 'Cut'.

Use Case: Creating a complex skew cut on a member.