Design of Steelwork Connections

Dr M Gillie

Note
Section tables have a column Elastic Modulus This is not the Youngs (Elastic) Modulus but the Elastic Section Modulus Confusing Also indicative value column simply plastic section modulus multiplied by 275.

Connections (=Joints)
Transfer forces from one member to another Behaviour less well understood than that of structural elements Design sometimes undertaken by specialists because of

Cost Expertise

Bolts
Most convenient for on site assembly Preparation costs can be high Two types

Structural (black) bolts Friction grip bolts (HSFG)

Attention must be given to detailing as well as strength

Can a spanner fit? Will corrosion be a problem?

Bolt Types -Structural

T/2 T

T/2

Bearing Bearing Shear

Bolt Types Slip resistant (HSFG)

T/2 T T/2

Large tension in bolt

Friction provides strength

Bearing stresses Between plies

Bolt Descriptions
Diameters given in millimetres prefixed by M Hole diameters normally 2-3mm bigger than the bolt Lengths given in millimetres Grade gives yield and ultimate strength in kg/mm2

M20 grade 8.8

Diameter=20mm UTS=8*10=80kg/mm2 MYS=8*8=64kg/mm2

Welds
Convenient for off-site fabrication Expensive on site Can be more aesthetic than bolts Convenient with hollow sections

Types of Weld
Leg
Throat Leg

Fillet Weld

Butt Weld

Rivets and Pins

Pins sometimes used but expensive

Needed where free rotation required

Rivets widely used historically, now rare

Eg Eiffel Tower

Connection Classification
Splices Force transmission simple design Moment connection continuous design Moment and force connection - continuous design

Splice

Column Splices
Bolts are locators Bolts provide strength

F Typically point of contra-flexure

Plates

Force Transmission

Moment Connection

Shear Force Transmission Common Connections

Plate welded to column

Angle Cleat

Fin-plate

Shear Force Transmission Common Connections

Plate welded to end of beam and bolted to column

Welded to beam

Full-depth end-plate (resists some torsion)

Partial depth end plate (more ductile)

Shear Force Transmission Common Connections

Bolt in tension Beam loaded vertically

Bolt in shear

Seating Cleat

Analysis of Bolts and Joints

Reminder Von Mises Yield Criterion

Yield condition for stresses in two dimensions

2 2 12 1 2 2 3 12 f y2

In pure shear 1 2 0 and so at the peak shear stressis

12 f y / 3
2 12 1 1 12

Bolt Failure - Shear

One failure plane

Two failure planes

Single Shear
Theoretical failure load given by

Double Shear

Af u 0.6 Af u 3
Area acting in shear (given in codes)

Real Bolted Joint Behaviour

Force Slippage Non-linear as bolts yield HSFG

Structural

Initially linear response

Higher stresses

Initial clearance

Deformation

Simplified Bolted Joint Behaviour

Force

Failure assumed here

Equal stresses

Deformation

Aside - a Reminder of Bending Stresses in Beams

M I y My I

Stresses increase Linearly from NA

Aside
Springs Bar

Rotation

Most distant spring most highly stressed when bar rotates Similar to bolts in bolt group when beam rotates due to moments

Shear Stresses in Bolts

Column
Shear in these bolts

Beam

Bolts must resist

Shear due shear force Shear due to moment

Pe

e
P

Centre of rotation

Centre of rotation needed for moment shear Given by

Shear Force due to Moment

bolt
V Pe r2

Shear stress due to elastic bending

Mr where I I r 2a if bolts all have area a

Therefore the horizontal shear force in bolt j is

r1
V

Mr i a Peri a Vh 2 2 (ri a ) (ri a )

Detail of bolt group in beam

Multiple Rows of Bolts

y Centre of rotation

rj

Vertical Shear Force

Bolts in beam must resist vertical shear due to load P

Vv P / n
for n bolts

Design for Shear Stresses

Total shear obtained from vector sum of shear forces

Ps V V
2 h

2 v
Vh Vv V
Total force In bolt Force due To eccentricity

Force due to load on beam+ eccentricity

Bolt Failure - Tension

Connection force

Reaction force

Larger bolt force Failure load given by

kAfu

Flexible plates can increase Tensile forces due to prying

k accounts for limited of ductility in tension

Tensile Stresses in Bolts

Column Beam Tensile stresses in top bolt in column

NA

Pe

Per t 2 r
Second moment of area of bolt group Very similar to stress calculations in beams

e
P

Tension and shear in this bolt

Tensile Forces - other Points

Shear and tensile forces may need to be checked

Plate failure - bearing

Bolt pulls through plate or element

Bearing
Theoretical failure load given by

kfu dt
Plate thickness

Empirical factor(s) (given in codes)

Plate Failure Other Mechanisms

Section failure

End failure

Handled by bolt separation limits, design methods for tension members in section 3.10.2

Block Shear Failure

Design of Bolt Connections

Identify load paths within connection Check each link Failure prevented by

Checks on

Limitations on distance between bolts (Table 3.3) Limitations on edge distance (Table 3.3) Shear stresses in bolts (Table 3.4) Tensile stresses in bolts (Table 3.4) Combined stresses in bolts (Table 3.4)

Check on capacity of plate and element (3.10) Check on shear capacity of plate

Welds
Strength calculation method given in Section 4.5.3.3 and 4.5.3.2 Based on assuming shear and normal forces in weld Simplified approach given as

Fw, Rd f vw,d a

w m 2

fu / 3

Correction factor