1

FUNDAMENTALS OF
CONNECTION DESIGN FOR
STRUCTURAL STEEL
BUILDINGS
2
OUTLINE
Session 1 Connection Types/Classification/
Load Paths/Limit States
Session 2 Direct Loaded Connections/
Prying Forces/Bolt and Weld
Eccentricity
Session 3 Framing Connections
3
OUTLINE
Session 4 Framing Connections Continued
Session 5 Moment Connections
Session 6 End-Plate Moment Connections/
Bracing Connections
4
Session 1
TYPES
CLASSIFICATION
LOAD PATHS
LIMIT STATES
5
CONNECTION TYPES
TENSION CONNECTIONS
Truss
Hanger
Light and Heavy Bracing
6
CONNECTION TYPES
COMPRESSION CONNECTIONS
Column Splice
Beam Bearing Plate
Column Base Plate
7
8
CONNECTION TYPES
FRAMING (SHEAR) CONNECTIONS
Double Angles
Single Angle
Shear Tab
Shear End-Plate
Tee Connections
Seated
9
Double Angles
10
Single Angle
11
Shear Tab
12
Shear End-Plate
13
Tee Connection
14
CONNECTION TYPES
MOMENT CONNECTIONS
Flange Welded
Flange Plate Welded
Flange Plate Bolted
Tee-Stub
Flange Angle
Moment End-Plate
15
Flange Welded
16
Flange Plate
Bolted
17
Tee-Stub
18
Flange Angle
19
Moment
End-Plate
20
CLASSIFICATION OF
BEAM-TO COLUMN
CONNECTIONS
Fully Restrained - FR
Flange Welded
Flange Plate Welded or Bolted
Tee-Stub
Moment End-Plate
21
CLASSIFICATION OF
BEAM-TO COLUMN
CONNECTIONS
Partially Restrained/Pinned - PR
Double Angles
Single Angle
Shear Tab
Shear End-Plate
Seated
22
CLASSIFICATION OF
BEAM-TO-COLUMN
CONNECTIONS
Classification: Depends on member length
and moment diagram and
magnitude of moment.
Example: Beam Line/Connection Curve
23
MOMENT ROTATION CURVES
Rotation,
M
o
m
e
n
t
,

M

M = 0.9M
Typical Beam Line
Type I, FR Moment Connection
PR Moment Connection
PR Simple Shear
Connection
F
M = 0.5M
F
M = 0.2M
F
24
SPECIFICATION
PROVISIONS
1999 LRFD Specification, Chapter J
Connection, Joints and Fasteners
1999 LRFD Specification, Chapter K
Flanges and Webs with Concentrated Forces
LRFD Manual of Steel Construction
3rdEdition: Parts 7 to 15
25
LIMITS STATES IN THE
LOAD PATH
Example: Tension Connection
5/16
5/8" PL
2L 4 x 3 1/2 x 1/4 LLBB
Tu
3/4" Dia.
A325 Bolts, Typ
A
A
Section A-A
26
LIMITS STATES IN THE
LOAD PATH
1. Angle Yielding
2. Angle Net Section Fracture (including Shear
Lag effects)
3. Bolt Bearing/Tear Out in Angles
4. Angle Block Shear
A
A
T
u
1
1
2
2
3,4
4
27
LIMITS STATES IN THE
LOAD PATH
5. Bolt Shear Fracture
6. Bearing / Tear Out in Plate
7. Plate Block Shear
8. Plate Fracture
9. Plate Yield
10. Weld Fracture
5
7
6,7
8
8
9
9
10
28
LRFD
Basic Requirement: R
u
< R
n
Where
R
u
= required resistance from
factored loads
R
n
= design strength
= resistance factor
R
n
= nominal strength
29
LRFD
Tension Yielding: T
n
= 0.9 F
y
A
g
Fracture: T
n
= 0.75 F
u
A
e
Shear Yielding: V
n
= 0.9 (0.6 F
y
)A
g
Fracture: V
n
= 0.75 (0.6F
u
) A
n
F
y
= yield stress F
u
= tensile strength
A
g
= gross area A
e
= effective net area
A
n
= net area
30
STEEL STRENGTHS
A36 (Generally plate and angle material)
F
y
= 36 ksi
F
u
= 58 ksi
A992 (Generally beam and column material)
F
y
= 50 ksi
F
u
= 65 ksi
31
BASIC BOLT RELATED
LIMIT STATES
AND
DETAILING
32
Bolt Types
A307 machine bolts
F
u
= 60 ksi
A325 high strength bolts
F
u
= 120 ksi
A490 high strength bolts
F
u
= 150 ksi
33
3/4 in. Dia.
7/8 in. Dia.
1 1/4 in. Dia.
A325 and A490 Bolts
34
Bolt Tension Strength
(LRFD Table J3.2)
Design tension strength of one Bolt, r
t
:
= 0.75
r
t
= F
t
A
b
A
b
= nominal bolt area
F
t
= nominal strength from Table J3.2
r
t
= 0.75 F
t
A
b
= design tension strength
Note: reduced area through threads is
accounted for in F
t
.
35
36
Bolt Tension Strength
Example
Compute design tension strength for 3/4"
A325 Bolt
r
t
= 0.75 F
t
A
b
A
b
= (.75"/2)
2
= 0.442 in
2
F
t
= 90 ksi (Table J3.2)
r
t
= 0.75 90 ksi .442 in
2
= 29.8 kips
(see also Table 7-14; p7-35)
37
Bolts in Shear:
Connection Types
Types of Connections:
(a) Bearing Type
N - threads included in shear plane
X - threads excluded from shear plane
(b) Slip Critical
SC - slip critical
Ex: in. A325 - N
38
Bolt Shear Strength
(LRFD Table J3.2)
Design shear strength of one Bolt, r
v
:
= 0.75
r
v
= nF
v
A
b
n = number of shear planes
A
b
= nominal bolt area
F
v
= nominal strength from Table J3.2
r
v
= 0.75 nF
v
A
b
= design strength
Note: reduced area through threads and uneven
distribution of bolt forces included in F
v
.
39
40
Table J3.2 Continued
41
Bolt Shear Strength Example
P
u
P
u
/2
P
u
/2
Compute design shear strength for
3/4" A325-N Bolt in Double Shear
42
Bolt Shear Strength Example
(cont)
r
v
= 0.75 nF
v
A
b
n = 2
A
b
= (.75"/2)
2
= 0.442 in
2
F
v
= 48 ksi (Table J3.2)
r
v
= 0.75 2 48 ksi .442 in
2
= 31.8 kips
(see also Table 7-10; p7-33)
43
Bolts: Connection Length Effect
Table J3.2 Footnote [e]
When bearing-type connections used to
splice tension members have a fastener
pattern whose length, measured parallel to
the line of force, exceeds 50 in., tabulated
values shall be reduced by 20 percent.
44
Slip Critical (-SC) Connections
In Slip-Critical (SC) connections, slip is
considered to be a limit state (serviceability or
strength)
Slip checked using either factored load (slip is
strength limit state) or service loads (slip is
serviceability limit state)
Slip-critical connections require pretensioned
bolts and control of faying surface
45
Slip Critical Connections
Section J3.8a. Slip-Critical Connections
Designed at Factored Loads
P
u
P
u
/2
P
u
/2
46
Slip Critical Connections
Section J3.8a. Slip-Critical Connections
Designed at Factored Loads
r
str
= 1.13 T
b
N
s
= mean slip coefficient (0.33-0.50)
T
b
= minimum fastener pretension, Table J3.1
N
s
= number of slip planes
Depends on the type of hole (0.60 to 1.0)
47
Slip Critical Connections
Appendix J3.8b. Slip-Critical Connections
Designed at Service Loads
r
v
= 1.0 F
v
A
b
F
v
from Table A-J3.6
P
service
P
service
/2
P
service
/2
48
Bolts: Combined Shear and
Tension Strength
f
t
f
v
F
t
F
v
49
Note: Shear stress, f
v
, not to exceed F
v
.
50
Bolt Holes
Hole Types and Dimensions (Table J3.3):
Standard (Std.) d
b
+ 1/16 in.
Oversized (OVS)
Short Slots (SS)
Long Slots (LS)
(Standard Hole is default for these notes)
51
52
Bolt Holes in Calculations
For all hole related limit states except
bearing-tear out, the effective hole diameter
used in calculations is
d
h
= d
h
+ 1/16 in.
The additional 1/16 in. accounts for damage
due to hole making process.
For bearing-tear out, the actual hole
diameter is used.
53
Bolts: Bearing Strength
P
u
L
c
L
c
P
u
Excessive Hole
Elongation
Tear Out
54
55
Bolts: Bearing Strength
Section J3.10 Bearing Strength at Bolt Holes
= 0.75
For standard, oversized, and short-slotted holes
R
n
= 1.2 L
c
t F
u
< 2.4 d
b
t F
u
1.2 L
c
t F
u
is based on tear out
2.4 d
b
t F
u
is based on excessive hole
elongation
L
c
= clear distance
L
c
L
c
P
u
56
Example: Bearing Design Strength
Interior Bolts:
L
c
= 3 in 13/16 in = 2.19 in
2.4d
b
tF
u
= 2.4 x 0.75 x 0.5 x 58 = 52.2 k (controls)
1.2L
c
tF
u
= 1.2 x 2.19 x 0.5 x 58 = 76.2 k
R
n
= 0.75 x 52.2 = 39.2 k
3" 1
1
2
"
4"
1
1
2
"
1
1
2
"
PL 1/2" x 7"
A36, F
u
= 58 ksi
3/4" A325-N Bolts
Std. Holes
57
Example: Bearing Design Strength (cont)
Edge Bolts:
L
c
= 1.5 13/32 = 1.09 in.
2.4d
b
tF
u
= 2.4 x 0.75 x 0.5 x 58 = 52.2 k
1.2L
c
tF
u
= 1.2 x 1.09 x 0.5 x 58 = 37.9 k (controls)
R
n
= 0.75 x 37.9 = 28.4 k
3" 1
1
2
"
4"
1
1
2
"
1
1
2
"
PL 1/2" x 7"
A36, F
u
= 58 ksi
3/4" A325-N Bolts
Std. Holes
58
Bolts: Minimum Spacing and
Edge Distance
Section J3.3 Minimum Spacing
The distance between centers of standard,
oversized, or slotted holes, shall not be less
than 2 2/3 times the nominal diameter of
the fastener; a distance 3d is preferred.
Tu
e s
s
e
e
59
Note: Sheared plates require larger edge distance.
60
BASIC WELD RELATED
LIMIT STATES
AND
DETAILING
61
Weld Fracture
Welds J2.4. Design Strength
Design Strength = R
n
= F
w
A
w
.
For Fillet Welds
= 0.75
F
w
= 0.60 F
EXX
F
EXX
= electrode tensile strength, ksi
62
Weld Fracture: Effective Areas
FCAW, GMAW, SMAW
SAW
t
e
f
f
t
t
t
e
f
f
t
t
t
eff
= 0.707 t
for t < 3/8 t
eff
= t
for t > 3/8 t
eff
= t + 0.11
63
R
n
= 0.75 (0.6x70)(0.707x 1/16) = 1.392 k/in/1/16
Example:
Let D = no. of 1/16s
R
n
= 1.392 D L
weld
= 1.392 x 4 x 5 = 27.84 k
Weld Fracture
Example:
E70
1/16
5"
E70
1/4
64
Minimum Fillet Weld Sizes
65
Maximum Fillet Weld Size
Maximum Fillet Weld Size:
t
p
< in. t
w
= t
p
t
p
> in. t
w
= t
p
1/16 in.
1/16"
66
Base Metal Strength at Weld
Section J4.1 Shear Rupture Strength
The design rupture strength for the limit
state of rupture along a shear failure path
in the affected elements of connected
members shall be taken as
R
n
= 0.75 (0.6 F
u
A
nw
)
67
Example: Determine P
n
for Welds
A36
F
u
= 58 ksi
Weld Rupture:
P
n.
= (1.392x4) (5x2) = 55.7 k
Base Metal:
P
n.
= 0.75 (0.6 F
u
A
nw
)
= 0.75 (0.6x58) (5/16) (5x2) = 81.6 k
P
n.
= 55.7 k

P
n
E70
1/4
PL 5/16" x 5"
PL 3/8" x 8"
5"