Analysis of moment connections

Basic principles of connection design

Provide as direct a load path as possible Avoid complex stress conditions Weld in the shop, bolt on site

Welded connections

Moment connection of an I-Beam

Bending moment is carried mainly by the flanges Therefore connect flanges for moment transfer

Moment connection of an I-Beam

Welded connection C=T Fillet welds Full penetration welds Compression transfer d can also be accomplished through direct bearing

Resultant tension force T = M/d

Shear connection of an I-Beam

Shear is carried mainly by the web Therefore connect the web for shear transfer

Shear connection of an I-Beam

Fillet welds in shear are commonly used Connect entire web and adjust weld size to suit shear load

Moment connection of a plate

Stress in weld = M (d/2) / I = M (d/2) / (ad3/12) [kN/m2] q =a = M (d/2) / (d3/12) = M (d/2) / I [kN/m] Where I = I/a Then choose a weld size a that will carry q
q = .a where a = weld size

M
d

Moment connection of a plate

Can also use simplified approach: Break moment into a force couple Choose a suitable weld size Then calculate the required length of the weld to carry the tension force T
C=T

M
d

Resultant tension force T = M/d

q = T/l where l = weld length

Welded shear plate

V V
Centroid of weld group

M = V.e

Simplified approach
Break eccentric load up into a vertical force along the vertical weld and a pair (couple) of horizontal forces along the horizontal welds Then choose lengths of welds to carry the calculated forces
V.e/d V V
d

V.e/d
e

Stress calculations

+
M = V.e M = V.e

Stress calculations for vertical force V

qV Divide shear equally amongst all the weld lines q = V / (total length of weld) Choose a weld size that can carry the stress q Note q is actually a force per length [kN/m]

Stress calculations for Moment M = V.e

xB xA

A qAx qAy qAM

yA

Treat the weld group as a crosssection subjected to a torsional moment Ip2 = Ix2 + Iy2 where I = I/a qAx = M yA / Ip qAy = M xA / Ip
yB

M = V.e qBM qBx qBy B

qAM = (qAx2 + qAy2)0.5 Similarly for point B Then select weld size for max. q

Stress calculations for combined V and M

A qAy V qAV qA M = V.e qAx Combine the weld stress components from the vertical force and the torsional moment

qA = [qAx2 + (qAV + qAy)2]0.5

Similarly for point B or any other point that might be critical Then select weld size for the maximum value of q

Example of a complex connection

Column tree for Times Square 4, NYC

Bolted connections

Moment splice in a column

Moment splice of an I-Beam

Bolted connection C=T Divide tension and compression resultant equally between bolts
d

Resultant tension force T = M/d

Shear connection in bridge diaphragm girder

(Alex Fraser Bridge)

Shear connection of an I-Beam

Bolted connections to transfer shear are commonly used Connect entire web to avoid stress concentrations and shear lag

End plate Coped flanges to fit in between column flanges

Shear connection via end plate

Moment connection with and end or base plate

Moment connection with fully welded end plate

Tmax

Ti = Tmax (hi / hmax) M = Ti hi

hi

Ti
hmax

C = Ti

Pre-tensioned moment connection

Pre-tensioned Moment Connection

Ti Apply both tension and compression forces to pretensioned bolts. Compression force can be seen as a release of the tension force.

+
TM

Bolted shear plate

e

P P

Centroid of bolt group

M = Pe

Vertical load
VP

Divide the force by n, the number of bolts VP = P / n

VP

Moment
xi bolt i

FxM
ri

Treat the bolt group as a cross-section subjected to a torsional moment

yi

FyM

FMi

Ip = i A ri2 = i A (xi2 + yi2) and with IP = IP/A FxM = M yi / Ip FyM = M xi / Ip FMi = (FxM2 + FyM2)0.5 Then select a bolt size for the maximum force FM

bolt area A

Combined vertical force and moment

FxM FyM Fmax

P M = Pe

VP Fmax = [FxM2 + (FyM + VP)2]0.5 Then select a bolt size for the maximum force Fmax