Direct Answer
A connection plate is a steel plate element — shear tab, end plate, gusset, stiffener, clip angle, or splice plate — that transfers force between two structural members. Connection plates are designed by the structural engineer based on required load paths, and are detailed by the steel detailer as part of the shop drawing package.
Full Explanation
Connection plates come in many forms: shear tabs (single plates welded to the support, bolted to the beam web), end plates (welded to the beam end, bolted to the column), gusset plates (connecting braces to beams/columns), stiffener plates (reinforcing column webs or beam webs at concentrated loads), clip angles (shop-welded, field-bolted simple connections), and splice plates (connecting two sections of a multi-piece column or beam). Each is sized by the engineer based on force demand and connection geometry.
What This Means for Your Shop
Connection plates are often the most labor-intensive items per pound in your shop. A shear tab weighing 5 lbs may take 20 minutes to cut, position, fit, and weld — versus 20 tons of beam that feeds through a CNC line in 6 minutes. Price connection plates on labor hours, not tonnage.
Common Mistakes
Ordering standard-size connection plates without checking the drawing dimensions. Plates that are 1/4" too short or the wrong thickness create either a structural deficiency or rework — both are expensive.
Recommended Process
Generate plate cutting files directly from the Tekla model to ensure dimensions match exactly. Verify each plate against the piece mark drawing before welding. Use a first-article check on the first complete connection assembly before running the full quantity.