Cast Connex develops architecturally exposed cast steel connections that must meet strict structural and assembly requirements. For a mass timber university building, the company designed a tree-like steel connection that transferred roof loads while maintaining tight assembly tolerances. The solution required two cast components to slide together with a minimal gap that would close under load without exceeding stress or deflection limits. Using Altair HyperWorks, HyperMesh, and OptiStruct, engineers simulated nonlinear material behavior, contact conditions, and second-order geometry effects. Simulation confirmed elastic behavior under ultimate loads and validated the innovative sliding assembly concept. This enabled off-site fabrication, simplified transport, and successful on-site assemb

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