CE 591 Fall 2013

Lecture 21: Beam-Column Connections

Connection Types
Connection Classification Schemes

Preview of Beam-Column Connections

Limit States

AISC B3.6

Types of Connections

Categorized by amount of restraint

Fully-restrained (FR) Moment connection

a.k.a. Rigid connection

Transfers moment with negligible rotation
(rotational restraint ~90% or more)
May assume no relative rotation
Shall have sufficient strength and stiffness to
maintain angle at strength limit states

AISC B3.6

Types of Connections

Partially-Restrained (PR) Moment

Connections

Rotation between connected members is not

negligible
Insufficient stiffness to maintain the angles
between connecting members
Use of PR connections requires consideration
of strength, stiffness, ductility characteristics
into analysis and design

AISC B3.6

Types of Connections

Simple Connections

a.k.a. unrestrained, pinned support

Original angle changes 80% or more of that of
a theoretical frictionless hinge
Transfer of shear forces only; negligible
moment resistance

AISC B3.6

Simple Connections

Requirements

Unrestrained relative rotation between framing

elements may be assumed
Connections shall have sufficient rotation
capacity to accommodate the required rotation
determined by the analysis of the structure

AISC Part 11

Flexible Moment Connections

Special case in PR connection section

Beam and web connections designed as

simple framing

Consider gravity loads only

Beam flange-to-column connections and

beams designed for lateral loads

Simplified approach to PR connection design

Good for preliminary design

Designed as fully restrained

Economical and valid for frames <10

stories high

AISC Part 11

Flexible Moment Connections

Shakedown- this PR connection does not
achieve its final moment capacity until it
has been subjected to full gravity and
lateral loading
Shakedown moment = plastic moment of
the connection
Note: specific requirements for stability
analysis

FMC/PR Connection Shakedown

Flange Angle Connection

FMC/PR Connection Shakedown

RBS (FR) Connection

Classification

Moment (M)

Rigid - FR
Semi-Rigid - PR

Simple

Rotation (q)

Classification
w

wL 2
M
12
q

wL3
q
24 EI

Classification
Moment (M)

wL
100%
12

FR

EI
20
L

wL 2
20%
12

wL3
10%
24 EI

PR
EI
2
L
EI
2L

AISC C-B3.6

SIMPLE

Rotation (q)

wL3
80%
24 EI

Classification
Moment (M)

Full Strength
Partial Strength

Rotation (q)

Beam-Line Analysis

Based on slope-deflection equations

Gravity Loading
w

Ma qa
qb

Mb

2 EI
Ma MFa
qa
L

Beam-Line Analysis
Moment (M)

wL 2
12
Connection
M-q response
(M,q) for your beam and
connection

Rotation (q)

wL 3
24 EI

Beam-Line Analysis (Non-linear)

Moment (M)

wL 2
12

Rotation (q)

wL 3
24 EI

Example Beam-Line Analysis

Shear Tab (6A)

Load (kips)

100
80
60
40
20
0
- 20
- 40
- 60
- 80
- 100
- 0.12

With Seat Angle (8A)

6-bolt Shear Tab

+ Seat Angle

- 0.08

- 0.04
0
0.04
Drift (radians)

0.08

0.12

Beam-Line Example
W24x55
I = 1360 in4
L = 25 ft
w=2 kips/ft

wL 2
12
1250
kip in

Simple

wL3
0.00475rad
24 EI

Beam-Line Example
W24x55
I = 1360 in4
L = 40 ft
w=2 kips/ft

wL 2
12
3200
kip in

Simple

wL3
0.019rad
24 EI

Beam-Line Example
W24x104
I = 3100 in4
L = 40 ft
w=2 kips/ft

wL 2
12
3200
kip in

Simple

wL3
0.0085rad
24 EI

Connections

Single Plate / Shear Tab

Double Angle
(all-bolted)

Welded-Bolted Seat
(Unstiffened)

Field-Welded Moment
Connection

End Plate Moment

Connection

Bolted Flange Plate

Moment Connection

Welded Flange Plate

Moment Connection

Limit States
Tension Fracture
Tension Yielding
Buckling

Swanson & Leon, Georgia Tech

Limit States

Block Shear Rupture

Swanson & Leon, Georgia Tech

Limit States
Flexural Yielding /
Rupture
Shear Yielding
Shear Rupture

Nader & Astaneh, U.C. Berkeley

Limit States
Prying Action
Angle Deformation
(flexural yielding /
shear yielding)

Swanson & Leon, Georgia Tech

Yang,et al.

Limit States

Angle Deformation

Garlock et al., 2003 (Lehigh Univ.)

Limit States
Bolt Bearing
Bolt Shear
Bolt Tension Fracture
Weld Shear

Green, U. Florida

Swanson & Leon, Georgia Tech

Limit States

Concentrated
Forces

Flange Local Bending

Web Compression
Buckling
Local Web Crippling
(LWC)
Local Web Yielding
(LWY)

Murray, Virginia Tech