Analysis of

moment
connections
Basic principles
of connection
design

• Provide as direct a load

path as possible
• Avoid complex stress
conditions
• Weld in the shop, bolt
on site
 Welded
connections
Moment connection of an I-Beam

• Bending moment is
carried mainly by the
flanges
• Therefore connect M
flanges for moment
transfer
Moment connection of an I-Beam

• Welded connection C=T

• Fillet welds
• Full penetration
welds M
• Compression transfer d
can also be
accomplished through
direct bearing

Resultant tension force T = M/d

 Shear connection of an I-Beam
• Shear is carried
mainly by the web
• Therefore connect
the web for shear
transfer V
 Shear connection of an I-Beam
• Fillet welds in shear
are commonly used
• Connect entire web
and adjust weld size
to suit shear load V
Moment connection of a plate
Stress in weld
σ = M (d/2) / I
= M (d/2) / (ad3/12) [kN/m2]
q =σa
= M (d/2) / (d3/12) M
= M (d/2) / I’ [kN/m] d
Where
I’ = I/a

Then choose a weld size a that will

carry q
q = σ.a
where a = weld size
Moment connection of a plate
Can also use simplified
approach:

C=T
• Break moment into a
force couple M
• Choose a suitable weld
size
d
• Then calculate the
required length of the
weld to carry the tension
force T
Resultant tension force T = M/d
q = T/l
where l = weld length
 Welded shear plate

Centroid M = V.e
of weld
group

e
 Simplified approach
V.e’/d
• Break eccentric load
up into a vertical
force along the V
vertical weld and a
pair (couple) of
d
horizontal forces V
along the horizontal
welds
• Then choose
lengths of welds to
carry the calculated
forces V.e’/d
e’
 “Stress” calculations

V V

+
M = V.e M = V.e
“Stress” calculations for vertical force V

qV

Divide shear equally

V amongst all the weld lines

q = V / (total length of weld)

Choose a weld size that can

carry the “stress” q

Note q is actually a force

per length [kN/m]
 “Stress” calculations for Moment M = V.e

Treat the weld group as a cross-

xB xA section subjected to a torsional
A qAx
moment

qAy qAM I’p2 = I’x2 + I’y2

yA
where I’ = I/a

qAx = M yA / I’p
M = V.e qAy = M xA / I’p
qBy yB
qBM qAM = (qAx2 + qAy2)0.5
B
Similarly for point B
qBx
Then select weld size for max. q
 “Stress” calculations for combined V and M

A qAx
Combine the weld “stress”
qAy components from the vertical
qAV force and the torsional moment
V
qA
qA = [qAx2 + (qAV + qAy)2]0.5

M = V.e Similarly for point B or any other

point that might be critical

Then select weld size for the

maximum value of q
B
Example of a complex connection

Column tree for Times Square 4, NYC

Bolted connections
 Moment
splice in a
column
 Moment splice of an I-Beam

• Bolted connection C=T

• Divide tension and
compression resultant
equally between bolts M
d

Resultant tension force T = M/d

 Shear
connection in
bridge
diaphragm
girder

(Alex Fraser Bridge)

 Shear connection of an I-Beam
• Bolted connections
to transfer shear are
commonly used
• Connect entire web to
avoid stress V
concentrations and
shear lag
 End plate

Coped flanges to fit in

between column
flanges

Shear connection via end plate

Moment connection with and end
or base plate
 Moment connection with fully
welded end plate

Tmax
Ti = Tmax (hi / hmax)

M = Σ Ti hi Ti
M
hmax

hi

C = Σ Ti
Pre-tensioned moment connection
 Pre-tensioned Moment
Connection
Apply both tension and
Ti compression forces to pre-
tensioned bolts.
Compression force can be
seen as a release of the
tension force.
+

TM
M = M
Bolted shear plate
e
P

Centroid of
bolt group
M = Pe
 Vertical load

VP Divide the force by

n, the number of
P bolts

VP = P / n

VP
 Moment
xi Treat the bolt group as a
bolt i cross-section subjected to a
FxM torsional moment
ri FMi
FyM Ip = Σi A ri2
yi
= Σi A (xi2 + yi2)

and with I’P = IP/A

M
FxM = M yi / I’p
FyM = M xi / I’p

FMi = (FxM2 + FyM2)0.5

bolt area A
Then select a bolt size for the
maximum force FM
Combined vertical force and
moment
FxM

FyM Fmax
P VP

Fmax = [FxM2 + (FyM + VP)2]0.5

M = Pe
Then select a bolt size for the
maximum force Fmax