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Calcs.com’s Connections category includes Wood Connectors (ASD) plus steel connection calculators: two base plate options (Steel Base Plate (LRFD) on the main platform and HSS Steel Base Plate through the Atlas Tube Connections Hub), and HSS moment connection calculators from Atlas Tube. If you’re evaluating whether your specific connection type is covered, the short version is below.

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Wood Connectors (ASD)

Wood Connectors (ASD) is also listed under Connections in the calculator library. Use it to select joist hangers and similar connectors from the Simpson Strong-Tie catalogue, enter or link loads from wood beam calculators, and check allowable connector capacities against published catalogue values. For setup, load linking, and result interpretation, see Wood Connector (ASD) Overview.

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Base plate calculators

Under Connections in the calculator library you’ll find:
  • Steel Base Plate (LRFD): general column base plates on the main Calcs.com platform
  • HSS Steel Base Plate: HSS column base plates in the Atlas Tube Connections Hub
Connections category in the calculator library showing Steel Base Plate (LRFD) and HSS Steel Base Plate with Atlas Tube branding

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Steel Base Plate (LRFD)

The Steel Base Plate (LRFD) calculator designs steel column base plates and their anchor rods to ACI 318-19, AISC 360-16, and AISC Design Guide 1, 2nd Edition. It handles W, S, M, HP, HSS, HSS-R and PIPE column sections, checks concrete bearing, plate bending, and anchor tension/shear/breakout capacities, and produces a minimum required plate thickness. For a full walkthrough of inputs, assumptions, and results, see Steel Base Plate (LRFD).

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HSS Steel Base Plate (Atlas Tube)

The HSS Steel Base Plate calculator in the Atlas Tube Connections Hub is built for hollow structural section columns. It designs base plates and anchor rods to ACI 318-19, AISC 360-22, and AISC Design Guide 1, 3rd Edition (2024).

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HSS/WF Moment Connections

HSS moment connection design is delivered through the Atlas Tube Connections Hub to AISC 360-22. Supported moment configurations include:
  • WF to HSS Moment Connection (wide-flange beam framing to an HSS column)
  • HSS to WF Moment Connection (HSS beam framing to a wide-flange column or support)
  • HSS to HSS Moment Connection (HSS beam to HSS column)
The following moment connection types are not currently available on Calcs.com:
  • WF-to-WF moment connections (wide-flange column to wide-flange beam)
  • Channel moment connections
  • Cleat-and-bolt moment connections
  • End-plate moment connections (WF beam-to-column style)
  • Wide-flange beam splice moment connections
Connections category in the calculator library showing Wood Connectors (ASD), Steel Base Plate (LRFD), and Atlas Tube HSS connection calculators including shear, moment, splice, base plate, and bracing
The screenshot above shows the full Connections library, including Wood Connectors (ASD), steel base plates, and Atlas Tube HSS calculators for shear, moment, splices, bracing, and HSS base plates.
The Atlas Tube Connections Hub is a scoped, manufacturer-branded entry point into Calcs.com focused on HSS connection and section design. It doesn’t include general steel beam or column design. For that, you need the full Calcs.com platform. New users can access the full library through a free 14-day trial with no credit card required.

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What to do if your connection type isn’t covered

If your connection type isn’t on the list above, that check needs to be done by hand per the governing code. You can still use Calcs.com beam and column calculators to get governing forces, reactions, and section properties for manual connection design. If you’d like to see a specific connection type added, email help@calcs.com; user requests directly influence the roadmap.