CONNECTIONS IN STEEL STRUCTURES

By: Naveed Ahmad 2005-MS-STR-C-86

CONNECTION
Connections are the devises which are used to join elements of a structure together at a point such that forces can be transferred between them safely.

TYPES OF CONNECTIONS

BASED ON MEANS OF CONNECTION WELDED CONNECTIONS RIVITED CONNECTIONS BOLTED CONNECTIONS

BASED ON FORCES TO BE TRANSFERED TRUSS CONNECTIONS FULLY RESTRAINED CONNECTONS PARTIALLY RESTRAINED CONNECTIONS SPLICES BARCKETS BASED ON PLACEMENT OF PARTS TO BE JOINED LAP JOINTS BUTT JOINTS

TRUSS CONNECTIONS
In truss connections only the axial forces are to be transferred. These are simplest in all types of connections which may either be welded or bolted.

FULLY RESTRAINED/MOMENT CONNECTIONS

These connections are particularly used when continuity between the members of the building frame is required to provide more flexural resistance and reduce lateral deflection due to wind loads. In this type of connection both the webs and flanges are connected. In this connection greater than 90% moment can be transferred with full transfer of shear and other forces

PARTIALLY RESTRAINED CONNECTIONS

These connections have rigidity less than 90%. The original angles between the connected members may change up to a certain limit after the application of loads. These connections can transfer some percentage of moment along with full shear force.

SIMPLE\SHEAR CONNECTIONS

These connections have less than 20% rigidity. These are considered flexible and beams become simply supported. In this case only the web is connected with the other member because most of shear stresses are concentrated in the web.

SEMI-RIGID CONNECTIONS These types of connections provide rigidity in between fully restrained and simple connections and approximately 20% to 90% moment compared with ideal rigid joint may be transferred. These type of connections are mostly used in practice because their performance is exceptionally well under

cyclic loads and earthquakes

SPLICES
These are used to extend the length of a particular member. These connections may be bolted or welded.

BRACKETS
These are the connections which used to transfer moment besides other type of forces. The term bracket is generally used for an extra plate projecting out of column and acting like a seat for the beam.

COLUMN BASE CONNECTIONS

These connections can either be pined or fixed depending upon the type of forces to be transferred.