CONNECTION DESIGN

Connections must be designed at the strength limit state

Average of the factored force effect at the connection and the force effect
in the member at the same oint

At least !"# of the force effect in the member

End connections for diahragms$ cross%frames$ lateral bracing for

straight fle&ural members % designed for factored member loads

Connections should be s'mmetrical about member a&is

At least t(o bolts or e)uivalent (eld er connection

*embers connected so that their gravit' a&es intersect at a oint

Eccentric connections should be avoided

End connections for floorbeams and girders

T(o angles (ith thic+ness , -./!" in.

*ade (ith high strength bolts

If (elded account for bending moment in design

0O1TED CONNECTIONS

Sli%critical and bearing t'e bolted connections.

Connections should be designed to be sli%critical (here2

stress reversal$ heav' imact loads$ severe vibration

3oint sliage (ould be detrimental to the serviceabilit' of the structure

4oints that must be designed to be sli%critical include

4oints sub3ect to fatigue loading or significant load reversal.

4oints (ith oversi5ed holes or slotted holes

4oints (here (elds and bolts sharing in transmitting load

4oints in a&ial tension or combined a&ial tension and shear

0earing%t'e bolted connections can be designed for 3oints

sub3ected to comression or 3oints for bracing members

S1I6%C7ITICA1 0O1TED CONNECTION

Sli%critical bolted connections can fail in t(o (a's2 8a9 sli at the
connection: 8b9 bearing failure of the connection

Sli%critical connection must be designed to2 8a9 resist sli at load

Service II; and 8b9 resist bearing ; shear at strength limit states

S1I6%C7ITICA1 0O1TED CONNECTION

Sli%critical bolted connections can be installed (ith such a degree

of tightness large tensile forces in the bolt clam the
connected lates together

Alied Shear force resisted b' friction

Tightened
P
P
Tightened Tightened
P
P
P
P
T
b
N =T
b
N =T
b
N =T
b
P
F=N
T
b
N = T
b
F=N
N = T
b
N =T
b
P
T
b
N =T
b
T
b
N =T
b
N =T
b
N =T
b
P
F=N
N =T
b
N =T
b
P
F=N
T
b
N = T
b
T
b
N = T
b
F=N
N = T
b
N =T
b
P
F=N
N = T
b
N =T
b
N = T
b
N =T
b
P

S1I6%C7ITICA1 0O1TED CONNECTION

Slip-critical connections can resist the shear force using friction.

If the alied shear force is less than the friction that develos bet(een
the t(o surfaces$ then no sli (ill occur bet(een them

Nominal sli resistance of a bolt in a sli%critical connection

7
n
< =
h
=
s
N
s
6
t

>here$ 6
t
< minimum re)uired bolt tension secified in Table ?
=
h
< hole factor secified in Table ?
=
s
< surface condition factor secified in Table /

S1I6%C7ITICA1 0O1TED CONNECTION

@a'ing surfaces

Anainted clean mill scale$ and blast%cleaned surfaces (ith Class A coating

Anainted blast%cleaned surfaces (ith Class B coating

Bot%di galvani5ed surfaces roughened b' (ire brushing Class C

Bolt diameter
(in.)
Required Tension
(kips)
A3! A"#$
!%& '# "
3%" & 3!
(%& 3# "#
' !' )"
'*'%& !) &$
'*'%" (' '$
'*3%& &! ''
'*'% '$3 '"&

For standard holes '.$
For o+ersi,e and short*slotted holes $.&!
For long slotted holes -ith the slot
Perpendi.ular to the /or.e dire.tion
$.($
For long*slotted holes -ith the slot
Parallel to the /or.e dire.tion
$.)$

Values of K
h
Values of P
t
For 0lass A sur/a.e .onditions $.33
For 0lass B sur/a.e .onditions $.!$
For 0lass 0 sur/a.e .onditions $.33

Values of K
s

S1I6%C7ITICA1 CONNECTION

Connection sub3ected to tensile force 8T

u
9$ (hich reduces claming

Nominal sli resistance should be reduced b' 8?% T

u
;6
t
9

Sli is not a catastrohic failure limit%state because sli%critical

bolted connections behave as bearing t'e connections after sli.

Sli%critical bolted connections are further designed as bearing%t'e

bolted connection for the alicable factored strength limit state.

0EA7ING CONNECTION

In a bearing%t'e connection$ bolts are subjected to shear and the

connecting ; connected lates are sub3ected to bearing stresses 2
Bolt in shear
Bearing stresses in plate
Bearing stresses in plate
T
T
T
T
Bolt in shear
Bearing stresses in plate
Bearing stresses in plate
Bolt in shear
Bearing stresses in plate
Bearing stresses in plate
T
T
T
T

0EA7ING CONNECTION

0earing t'e connection can fail in several failure modes

a9 Shear failure of the bolts
b9 E&cessive bearing deformation at the bolt holes in the connected arts
c9 Edge tearing or fracture of the connected late
d9 Tearing or fracture of the connected late bet(een t(o bolt holes
e9 @ailure of member being connected due to fracture or bloc+ shear or ...

0EA7ING CONNECTION

Nominal shear resistance of a bolt

Threads e&cluded2 7
n
< -.CD A
b
@
ub
N
s

Threads included2 7
n
< -./D A
b
@
ub
N
s
>here$ A
b
< area of the bolt corresonding to the nominal diameter
@
ub
< ?E- +si for A/E" bolts (ith diameters -." through ?.- in.
@
ub
< ?-" +si for A/E" bolts (ith diameters ?.?E" through ?." in.
@
ub
< ?"- +si for ACF- bolts.
N
s
< number of shear lanes

7esistance factor for bolts in shear <

s
< -.D-

E)uations above % valid for 3oints (ith length G less than "-.- in.

If the length is greater than "- in.$ then the values from the e)uations
have to be multilied b' -.D

0EA7ING CONNECTION

Effective bearing area of a bolt < the bolt diameter multilied b' the thic+ness
of the connected material on (hich it bears

0earing resistance for standard$ oversi5e$ or short%slotted holes in an'

direction$ and long%slotted holes arallel to the bearing force2

@or bolts saced (ith clear distance bet(een holes greater than or e)ual to /.- d
and for bolts (ith a clear end distance greater than or e)ual to E.- d
R
n
= 2.4 d t F
u

@or bolts saced (ith clear distance bet(een holes less than /.- d
and for bolts (ith clear end distances less than E.- d
R
n
= 1.2 L
c
t F
u
>here$ d < nominal bolt diameter
1
c
< clear distance bet(een holes or bet(een the hole and the end of the member in
the direction of alied bearing force
@
u
< tensile strength of the connected material

The resistance factor

bb
for material in bearing due to bolts < -.D-

0EA7ING CONNECTION

S6ACING 7EHAI7E*ENTS

*inimum sacing bet(een centers of bolts in standard holes shall not

be less than three times the diameter of the bolt

@or sealing against enetration of moisture in 3oints$ the sacing on a

single line ad3acent to the free edge shall satisf' s I 8C.- J C.- t9 I !.-

*inimum edge distances

Bolt diameter
(in.)
1heared
edge
Rolled or
2as 0ut edge
!%& '*'%& (%&
3%" '*'%" '
(%& '*'% '*'%&
' '*3%" '*'%"
'*'%& '*'%
'*'%" *'%" '*!%&
'*3%& *3%& '*3%"


0O1TED CONNECTION

Example 1 Design a sli%critical slice for a tension member. @or

the Service II load combination$ the member is sub3ected to a
tension load of E-- +is. @or the strength limit state$ the member is
sub3ected to a ma&imum tension load of /-- +is.

The tension member is a W8 x 28 section made from *E!-%Gr. "-

steel. Ase A/E" bolts to design the sli%critical slice.

Step I. Service and factored loads

Service 1oad < E-- +is.

@actored design load < /-- +is

Tension member is W8 x 28 section made from *E!- Gr."-. The

tension slice must be sli critical 8i.e.$ it must not sli9 at service loads.

0O1TED CONNECTION
Step II. Sli%critical slice connection

Sli resistance of one full'%tensioned sli%critical bolt < 7

n
< =
h
=
s
N
s
6
t

< ?.- for sli%critical resistance evaluation

Assume bolt diameter < d < K in. Therefore 6

t
< ED +is from Table ?

Assume standard holes. Therefore =

h
< ?.-

Assume Class A surface condition. Therefore =

s
< -.//

Therefore$ 7
n
< ?.- & -.// & ? & ED < F.EC +is

Therefore$ number of K in. diameter bolts re)uired for slice to be sli%

critical at service loads < E-- ; F.EC < E?.LC.

Therefore$ number of bolts re)uired M EE

0O1TED CONNECTION
Step III: 1a'out of flange%late slice connection

To be s'mmetric about centerline$ need the number of bolts < multile of D.

Therefore$ choose EC full' tensioned /;C in. A/E" bolts (ith la'out above.

Sli%critical strength of the connection < EC & F.EC +is < EE?.! +is

*inimum edge distance 81

e
9 < ? in. from Table C.

Design edge distance 1

e
< ?.E" in.

*inimum sacing < s < / & bolt diameter < / & K < E.E" in.
3
Design sacing < E." in.

0O1TED CONNECTION
Step IV: Connection strength at factored loads

The connection should be designed as a normal shear;bearing

connection be'ond this oint for the factored load of /-- +is

Shear strength of high strength bolt < 7

n
< -.D- & -./D & A
b
& @
ub
N
s

E)uation given earlier for threads included in shear lane.

A
b
< /.?C & -.!"
E
; C < -.CCE in
E

@
ub
< ?E- +si for A/E" bolts (ith d G ?%?;D in.

N
s
< ?

Therefore$ 7
n
< ?L.? +is

The shear strength of EC bolts < ?L.? +is;bolt & EC < /DL.F +is

0O1TED CONNECTION

0earing strength of /;C in. bolts at edge holes 81

e
< ?.E" in.9

bb
7
n
< -.D- & ?.E 1
c
t @
u

0ecause the clear edge distance < ?.E" 8/;C J ?;?L9;E < -.DC/!" in. G E d

bb
7
n
< -.D- & ?.E & -.DC/!" & L" +is & t < "E.L" +is ; in. thic+ness

0earing strength of of /;C in. bolts at non%edge holes 8s < E."9

bb
7
n
< -.D- & E.C d t @
u

0ecause the clear distance bet(een holes < E." 8/;C J ?;?L9 < ?.LD!" in. , Ed

bb
7
n
< -.D- & E.C & -.!" & L" +is & t < F/.L +is ; in. thic+ness

0earing strength of bolt holes in flanges of (ide flange section W8 x 28

8t < -.CL" in.9

D & "E.L" & -.CL" J?L & F/.L & -.CL" < DFE +is

CONNECTION ST7ENGTB

Connection strength 87
n
9 , alied factored loads 8H9.

Therefore o+
Connection Strength
1lip*.riti.al strength = '.( kips
1hear strength o/ bolts = 3&).# kips
Bearing strength (plate) = &# kips


>E1DED CONNECTIONS

Introduction

The shielded metal arc (elding 8S*A>9 rocess for field (elding.

Submerged metal arc (elding 8SA>9 used for sho (elding

automatic or semi%automatic rocess

Hualit' control of (elded connections is articularl' difficult because of

defects belo( the surface$ or even minor fla(s at the surface$ (ill
escae visual detection.

>elders must be roerl' certified$ and for critical (or+$ secial

insection techni)ues such as radiograh' or ultrasonic testing must be
used.

>E1DED CONNECTIONS

T(o most common t'es of (elds are the fillet and the groove (eld.

la 3oint fillet (elds laced in the corner formed b' t(o lates

Tee 3oint fillet (elds laced at the intersection of t(o lates.

Groove (elds deosited in a ga or groove bet(een t(o arts to be

connected e.g.$ butt$ tee$ and corner 3oints (ith beveled 8reared9 edges

6artial enetration groove (elds can be made from one or both sides (ith or
(ithout edge rearation.
Fillet weld
Fillet weld
Fillet weld Fillet weld
Fillet weld Fillet weld

>E1DED CONNECTIONS

Design of fillet (elded connections

@illet (elds are most common and used (idel'

>eld si5es are secified in ?;?L in. increments

@illet (elds are usuall' fail in shear$ (here the shear failure occurs along
a lane through the throat of the (eld

Shear stress in fillet (eld of length 1 sub3ected to load 6

f
v
<
a
a
Throat = a 4 .os"!
o
= $.($( a
a
a
Throat = a 4 .os"!
o
= $.($( a
Failure Plane
5

-
5 a ($( . $
P

@I11ET >E1DED CONNECTIONS

The shear strength of the fillet (eld <

e2
-.L- @
e&&

>here$
e2
< -.D-

@
e&&
is the tensile strength of the (eld electrode used in the (elding rocess.
It can be L-$ !-$ D-$ F-$ ?--$ ??-$ or ?E- +si. The corresonding electrodes
are secified using the nomenclature EL-NN$ E!-NN$ ED-NN$ and so on.

Therefore$ the shear strength of the fillet (eld connection

7
n
<
e2
& -.L- @
e&&
& -.!-! a 1
(

Electrode strength should match the base metal strength

If 'ield stress 8
'
9 of the base metal is L- % L" +si$ use E70 electrode

If 'ield stress 8
'
9 of the base metal is L- % L" +si$ use E80 electrode

E!-NN is the most oular electrode used for S*A> fillet (elds

@or E!-NN$ 7
n
< -.D- & -.L- & !- & -.!-! a 1
(
< -.E/!" a 1
(
+is

@I11ET >E1DED CONNECTIONS

The shear strength of the base metal must be considered2

7
n
<
v
& -."D A
g
@
'

(here$
v
< ?.-
@
'
is the 'ield strength of the base metal and A
g
is the gross area in shear
Strength of (eld in shear Strength of base metal
< -.D- & -.L- & @
e&&
& -.!-! & a & 1
(
< ?.- & -."D & @
'
& t & 1
(

Smaller governs the strength of the (eld
T
6le+ation
Plan
T
6le+ation
Plan

@I11ET >E1DED CONNECTIONS
Lmtatons on !eld dmensons

*inimum si5e 8a
min
9

>eld si5e need not e&ceed the thic+ness of the thinner art 3oined.

a
min
deends on the thic+ness of the thic+er art 3oined

If the thic+ness of the thic+er art 3oined 8T9 is less than or e)ual to K in.
a
min
< O in.

If T is greater than K in. a

min
< ";?L in.

*a&imum si5e 8a
ma&
9

*a&imum si5e of fillet (eld along edges of connected arts

for material (ith thic+ness G -.E" in.$ a

ma&
< thic+ness of the material

for lates (ith thic+ness -.E" in.$ a

ma&
< thic+ness of material % ?;?L in.

*inimum length 81
(
9

*inimum effective length of fillet (eld < C & si5e of fillet (eld

Effective length of fillet (eld , ?." in.

@I11ET >E1DED CONNECTIONS

>eld terminations and end returns

End returns must not be rovided around transverse stiffeners

@illet (elds that resist tensile forces not arallel to the (eld a&is or
roortioned to (ithstand reeated stress shall not terminate at corners
of arts or members

>here end returns can be made in the same lane$ the' shall be
returned continuousl'$ full si5e around the corner$ for a length e)ual to
t(ice the (eld si5e 8Ea9

@I11ET >E1D DESIGN
Example 1 Design the fillet (elded connection s'stem for a double
angle tension member E! " & /P & ?;E made from A/L steel to carr'
a factored ultimate load of E"- +is.
Step I. Design the (elded connection
Considering onl' the thic+ness of the angles: a
min
< ?;C in.
Considering onl' the thic+ness of the angles: a
ma&
< ?;E % ?;?L in. < !;?L in.
"esi#n$ a < /;D in. < -./!" in.
Shear strength of (eld metal < 7
n
< -.D- & -.L- & @
ENN
& -.!-! & a & 1
(
< D.F & 1
(
+is
Strength of the base metal in shear < 7
n
< ?.- & -."D & @
'
& t & 1
(
< ?-.CC 1
(
+is
Shear strength of (eld metal governs$ 7
n
< D.F 1
(
+is

@I11ET >E1D DESIGN

Design strength 7
n
, E"- +is

Therefore$ D.F 1
(
, E"- +is

Therefore$ 1
(
, ED.? in.

Design length of /;D in. E!-NN fillet (eld < /-.- in.

Shear stren#th o$ $illet %eld & 2'7 (ips

Connection la'out

Connection must be designed to minimi5e eccentricit' of loading.

Therefore$ the center or gravit' of the (elded connection must coincide
(ith the center of gravit' of the member.
(d)
T
u
/ 5

/ 5
'
5
'
5

3." in.
(d)
T
u
/ 5

/ 5
'
5
'
5

3." in.

@I11ET >E1D DESIGN

Connection la'out

Connection must be designed to minimi5e eccentricit' of loading.

The c.g. of the (elded connection must coincide (ith c.g. of the member

Total length of (eld re)uired < /- in.

T(o angles assume each angle (ill have (eld length of ?" in.
(d)
T
u
/ 5

/ 5
'
5
'
5

3." in.
(d)
T
u
/ 5

/ 5
'
5
'
5

3." in.

@I11ET >E1D DESIGN

The tension force T

u
acts along the c.g. of the member$ (hich is
?.L" in. from the to and /./" in. from the bottom 8AISC manual9.

1et$ $ be the strength of the fillet (eld er unit length.

Therefore$ fL
1
" fL
2
= #
u
And fL
2
x $.$% & fL
1
x 1.'% = ( % ta+ing moments about the member c.g.

Therefore$ 1
?
< E.- 1
E
0ut$ 1
?
J 1
E
< ?".- in.

Therefore$ 1
?
< ?- in. and 1
E
< " in.

Design2 1
?
< ?-.- in. and 1
E
< ".- in.

@I11ET >E1D DESIGN

Consider another la'out

(e)
T
u
/ 5

5
'
5

/ 5
'
!/
3." in.
(e)
T
u
/ 5

5
'
5

/ 5
'
!/
3." in.
f1
?
J f1
E
J "f < T
u

f1
E
& /." J "f & -.D" % f1
?
& ?.L" < - % *oment about member c.g.

Additionall'$ 1
?
J 1
E
J " < ?".- in.

Therefore$ 1
?
< !.L in. and 1
E
< E.C in.
Design2 1
?
< D.- in. and 1
E
< /.- in.

Groove >elded Connections

Connects structural members that are aligned in the same lane

0asic T'es2

Comlete 3oint enetration groove (eld2 transmits full load of the member the' 3oin
and have the same strength as the base metal.

6artial enetration groove (eld2 >elds do not e&tend comletel' through the
thic+ness of the ieces being 3oined.

Groove >elds
Comlete enetration groove (elded connections

Tension and comression loaded

@actored resistance < factored resistance of base metal

Shear loaded on effective area lesser of

@actored resistance of (eld < -.L &

e)
& @
e&&
< -.L & -.D" & @
e&&

L-# of factored resistance of base metal in tension

6artial enetration groove%(elded connections

Tension or comression arallel to the (eld a&is and comression normal

to effective area factored resistance of the base metal

Tension normal to the effective area lesser of

@actored resistance of the (eld < -.L

e2
@
e&&
< -.L- & -.D- & @
e&&

@actored resistance of the base metal

Shear loaded lesser of

@actored resistance of the (eld < -.L

e2
@
e&&
< -.L- & -.D- & @
e&&

@actored resistance of base metal < -."D @

'


Groove >elds