Designing connections for Hollow Structural Sections (HSS) used to be perceived as challenging. The inaccessible interior of the tube often necessitated field welding or the use of specialized, expensive one-sided fasteners. While these methods served their purpose, they could also increase project timelines and costs and create additional construction issues on-site. Atlas Tube is dedicated to making HSS connections faster and less expensive, which is why Shuriken was created. 

The Shuriken® Structural Nut Keeper is a field-bolting solution engineered to overcome these challenges. It enables one-sided HSS connections using standard A325 or A490 bolts, eliminating the need for through-bolts, interior access, and field-welding. This simple but effective tool is tack-welded in the shop and acts as a disposable wrench in the field, securing the nut for fast, reliable, and aesthetically clean connections. 

Shuriken allows you to skip complicated connections and field bolt column, truss, and beam connections. 

 

By simplifying the connection process, Shuriken accelerates erection, lowers cost, and simplifies inspection. 

 

How Shuriken Optimizes Constructability 

Shuriken’s primary advantage lies in its simplicity. The installation process is straightforward: a bolt is used to position the nut and Shuriken, which is then tack-welded to the interior splice plate or steel member. The alignment bolt is then removed, and the member is shipped to the site, ready for field bolting. This shop-installed preparation dramatically accelerates erection. 

This approach offers several key benefits: 

Reduced Field Welding

By enabling fully bolted connections, Shuriken minimizes or completely eliminates the need for field welding. This reduces the demand for specialized labor on site, minimizes weather-related welding delays, and accelerates field inspections. 

Improved Safety

Reducing field welding creates a safer work environment for erectors. 

Simplified Complex Connections

Shuriken excels in tight spaces where a traditional wrench won’t fit, such as framing against an existing wall or another structure. It enables bolted connections to be made in locations that would otherwise require field welding or access holes.

 

Key Applications for Shuriken 

Shuriken’s versatility makes it an ideal solution for a wide range of HSS applications, from column and truss splices to shear and moment connections. This versatility is showcased in an ever-growing list of notable projects. 

HSS Column and Truss Splices 

The original motivation for developing Shuriken was to simplify HSS splices. For columns, four splice plates are fitted to the interior of the member, with the Shuriken pre-installed in the shop. In the field, the two HSS members are mated, and the bolts are simply tightened from the outside. Versions of this connection utilizing bolts in double shear, or with the splice plates on the exterior are also possible. 

This same principle was then applied to truss splices, which are often necessary since most trusses are too large to be transported in a single piece. Shuriken allows truss chords to be spliced with the same efficiency as columns. There are multiple ways to splice web members, including the use of “structural covers”—HSS pieces cut in half lengthwise—to complete the bolted connection, even when splice plates cannot be slid into place. This method maintains clean, aesthetic lines, which are crucial for architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS). 

A prime example of Shuriken’s impact can be seen in the North Post Oak Road Pedestrian Bridge in Houston, Texas. The project team at King Fabrication used 1,216 Shuriken to connect the bridge’s 16-inch square HSS members. 

Erik Saenz, Project Manager for King Fabrication, noted that without Shuriken, they would have had to weld crush sleeves inside the HSS to pretension through-bolts. Shuriken eliminated this “giant pain in the neck,” reducing fabrication time and connection costs. The connection was easier to fabricate and erect while offering a cleaner, more uniform look by exposing only the bolt heads. This project showcases how a small component can deliver significant results in both constructability and design. 

Shuriken made simple field-bolted HSS splices a reality and helped create sleek aesthetics for this bridge. 

 

Another ambitious project that leveraged Shuriken is the McKinley Bridge in Corona, California. This architecturally ambitious bridge features an inclined tied arch with network suspenders and parallel Jumbo HSS cross-bracing for both aesthetics and performance. Large bolted splices in the arch ribs, support diaphragms, and cross-bracing—located in areas with tight geometry and limited access—were made possible by Shuriken. The team used Shuriken to install over 12,000 slip-critical 7/8” A490 bolts, allowing nuts to be pre-positioned in the shop and all bolts to be installed from the exterior in the field. This dramatically simplified both fabrication and erection while maintaining the architect’s sleek design and eliminating field welding. 

An arch rib with Shuriken being lifted into place. 

 

Architecturally Expressive Structures 

In projects like feature stairs, canopies, and atriums, aesthetics are a top priority. HSS is often chosen for its clean look, but connections can disrupt the visual flow. Field welding can be slow and expensive, especially for assembly on site where elevator access limits piece length. 

Shuriken facilitates bolted post-and-hanger connections, splices, and beam-to-beam framing while maintaining a sleek appearance. With only the bolt heads visible, the structural integrity is maintained without compromising the architectural vision. 

Innovative Systems like SpeedCore 

SpeedCore, a composite steel and concrete core system, has the potential to dramatically shorten high-rise construction schedules. However, many early projects relied on extensive field welding to splice panels. By replacing field welds with bolted connections made with Shuriken, the erection process for SpeedCore can be accelerated even further, unlocking greater efficiency for these innovative building systems. 

 

Tools to Support Designing with Confidence  

Software Plug-ins  

To enhance your workflow, Shuriken offers dedicated plug-ins for SDS2 and Tekla. These intuitive tools enable you to insert field-bolted HSS splices directly into your models with just a few clicks. The plugins support asymmetrical splice configurations and custom bolt spacing, accommodate intricate project requirements, and automatically include shim plates where needed. Built-in checks verify there is adequate space inside the HSS for all components, giving you confidence in constructability. 

Shuriken on the HSS Connections Hub™ 

To further streamline your HSS connection design process, Shuriken connections are now featured within the Atlas Tube HSS Connections Hub™—a complimentary resource built for structural engineers, fabricators, and detailers. The Hub brings together everything you need for efficient, constructible, and BIM-friendly HSS connection design. 

 

Key Features of the HSS Connections Hub 

Typical HSS Details Library

Access a growing library of 65 downloadable, fabrication-friendly details—including splice, shear, and moment connections—available in PDF, DWG, and Revit formats. These details can be incorporated directly into your engineering libraries or BIM models, dramatically reducing design time, standardizing documentation, and ensuring constructability. 

Connection Calculators

Eliminate custom spreadsheets and manual calculations. The Hub’s calculators walk you step by step through connection design, referencing the latest building codes (AISC and CISC), checking utilization, and instantly updating calculations as you input project data. All outputs can be exported as detailed or summary PDF reports, giving your team and reviewers full transparency and clear validation. 

Expert Support

Atlas Tube’s Engineering Experts are accessible through the Hub, offering guidance on both connection design, HSS member selection, and Shuriken implementation. You can also leverage webinars, quick start guides, and in-app support to get the most out of every project. 

Streamlined Collaboration and BIM Integration 

With seamless export options—DWG, Revit, and PDF—the Hub simplifies the transfer of typical details and calculation results into your BIM workflow. Real-time collaboration features enable you to share connection designs and reports with your project team, reducing RFIs. 

By drawing on pre-designed Shuriken connections now available within the Hub, you can quickly integrate efficient, one-sided bolted solutions in the earliest design stages, ensuring your project benefits from faster assembly, improved aesthetics, and reduced field labor. 

 

Shuriken: A Smarter Connection for Modern Engineering 

For the structural engineer focused on shortening schedules and reducing cost, Shuriken is a tool for better building. It empowers you to replace complex, labor-intensive connections with a simple, efficient, and reliable bolted solution. 

By reducing field welding, simplifying assembly in tight spaces, and enhancing aesthetics, Shuriken helps bridge the gap between architectural demands and engineering efficiency. Backed by a growing library of case studies and integrated into the HSS Connections Hub, it provides a proven path to faster, safer, and more cost-effective HSS construction. 

Ready to optimize your HSS connections and improve constructability? Sign up for our complimentary HSS Connections Hub to access comprehensive design resources and explore how engineers are leveraging Shuriken by viewing our case studies.