AISC ConnectionsJL PDF

Title Slide
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY

a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY :
Structural Steel Connections
STEEL
S T E E L
American Institute of Steel Construction1

STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY PRODUCTION TEAM College of Architecture
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture UNC - Charlotte
Project Director David Thaddeus, AIA
Slide Design & Graphics Deborah J. Arbes, RA
Modeling & Animations Joe Corsi

Dave Mayo
Production Assistants Jennifer August

Brittany Eaker
Kathy Phillips
IT Coordination Matt Parker

Photography David Thaddeus, AIA
John Cerny
S T E E L
Software PowerPoint
Photoshop
Cinema 4D (Mac)
For additional information,
David Thaddeus, AIA, Associate Professor
please contact:
Thaddeus@email.uncc.edu
College of Architecture,
UNC-Charlotte
2
Structural Steel Connections | CREDITS
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Acknowledgements
This project was made possible through funding from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
with support from the College of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Special thanks to the following people at AISC for their support and help over the duration of the project:
Fromy Rosenberg,PE, Director, AISC University Programs
Megan Maurer, Coordinator, AISC University Programs
The following people have my sincere gratitude for serving on the Focus Group and offering their
comments and feedback in the development of this project :
Kurt Baumgartner, AIA, JIA, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Terri Meyer Boake, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
Thomas Fowler, Associate Professor, California Polytechnic State University
Harry Kaufman, PE, NCARB, Professor, Southern Polytechnic State University
Kemp Mooney, Kemp Mooney Architects
Tim Mrozowski, AIA, Professor, Michigan State University
S T E E L
Ryan Smith, Assistant Professor, University of Utah
The following AISC members have provided invaluable insight into the content of this teaching aid:
Ron Bruce, PE, President, Builders Steel Company, North Kansas City, MO
Lawrence Kruth, PE, Engineering & Safety Manager, Douglas Steel, Lansing, MI
David McKenzie, PE, Vice President - Engineering, SP International, North Kansas City, MO
3
Structural Steel Connections | ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Terms
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) is a non-profit technical

institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel
design community and construction industry in the United States.
AISC is offering this teaching aid and learning tool for educational purposes only.
The data and information in this presentation is not intended for use in the
physical construction of steel structures.
The information presented here is considered public information and as such may
be distributed or copied. The use of appropriate credit to for images, byline,
animations, and content is requested.
We hope that you and your students will find this information useful.
S T E E L
Please contact Fromy Rosenberg (rosenberg@aisc.org) for further information

on AISC or for feedback on this teaching / learning product.
Please contact David Thaddeus (thaddeus@email.uncc.edu) for questions or
comments on the content of this project.
4
Structural Steel Connections | TERMS
Contents
Structural Steel Connections
Steel to Steel Connections
Overview
Bolted Connections
Welded Connections
Comparison
Shear Connections
Moment Connections
Column Splices
Additional Animations
Roller Connection
Curtain Wall to Steel Frame
S T E E L
5
Module III
Contents :
Structural Steel Connections | CONTENTS
Steel Connections | Overview
Connections are the glue that

holds a steel structure together.
Historically, most major structural failures have

been due to some form of connection failure.
Connections depend on:

S T E E L
Type of loading
Strength and stiffness
Economy
Difficulty or ease of erection
6
Structural Steel Connections | OVERVIEW
Steel connections have a direct influence

on the cost of the framing system.
While a connection may be efficient in the use

of material, it may still be very expensive to erect.
Repetitive connection design may save costs.

S T E E L
7
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Most connections have the connecting material (plates,angles, …) attached
to one member in the fabrication shop and to the other members in the field.
It is a common practice to weld shop attachments and to bolt field attachments.
If the supporting girder and a supported beam have the same depth,
the supported beam must be double coped.
End-plate connections are always shop welded.

S T E E L
8
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Bolted Connections
Bolting is the preferred method of

connecting members on the site.
Staggered bolt layout allows easier
access for tightening with a pneumatic
wrench when a connection is all bolted .
High strength bolts may be snug-tightened

or slip-critical.
Snug-tightened connections are referred

to as bearing connections
Bolts in a slip-critical connection act like

S T E E L

clamps holding the plies of the material
together.
9
Structural Steel Connections | BOLTED CONNECTIONS
Bearing type connections may have threads

included ( Type N ) or excluded ( Type X ) Cy Twombly Gallery. Houston, Texas
Renzo Piano
from the shear plane(s).
Including the threads in the shear plane

reduces the strength of the connection
by approximately 25%.
Loading along the length of the bolt

puts the bolt in axial tension.
If tension failure occurs, it usually takes

place at the threaded section.
S T E E L
Milwaukee Art Museum. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Santiago Calatrava
10
Three types of high strength bolts

A325, A490 (Hexagonal Head Bolts),
and F1852 (Button Head Bolt)
A325 may be galvanized

Slotted holes allow for thermal
A490 bolts must not be galvanized expansion / contraction
F1852 bolts are mechanically galvanized
High strength bolts are most commonly

available in 5/8” – 1 ½” diameters
Bolting requires punching or drilling of holes
Holes may be standard size holes,

S T E E L
oversize holes, short slotted holes,

long slotted holes
Oversize holes allow for tolerance

in assembling the frame
11
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Welded Connections
Due to high costs of labor, extensive field -welding
is the most expensive component in a steel frame.
Welding should be performed on bare metal.
Shop welding is preferred over field welding.
The weld material should have a higher strength than the pieces being connected.
S T E E L
De Menil Collection Museum BCE Place Galleria

Houston . Texas Toronto . Canada
Renzo Piano Santiago Calatrava10
12
Structural Steel Connections | WELDED CONNECTIONS
Single-pass welds are more economical

than multi-pass welds.
The most economical size weld

that may be horizontally deposited
in one pass has 5/16”.
Miller Outdoor Theater
Fillet welds and groove welds make up Houston . Texas.
the majority of all structural welds.
The strength of a fillet weld is directly

proportional to the weld’s throat dimension.
S T E E L
The capacity of a weld depends on the

weld’s throat dimension and its length
Crown Hall at IIT Campus

Chicago . Illinois
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
13
Structural Steel Connections | WELDED CONNECTIONS
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Shear Connections
Shear connections are the most prevalent
type of connections in a steel frame building.
Shear connections are called simple connections –

Since they are assumed not to transfer bending moment,
thus allowing end rotation of the member.
Shear connections may be made to the web of the

supported member while the flanges remain unconnected.
S T E E L
Cantilevered Beam with Shear splice Shear Connections transfer load from beam web
to column flange. No moment transfer occurs
since the flanges are free to rotate
14
Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR CONNECTIONS
The Corning Museum of Glass

Corning . New York
Smith - Miller + Hawkinson
Seat or hanger connections are the only type of shear connections that connect to the flange
The weld material should have a higher strength than the pieces being connected.
of the supported beam.
Angles for shear connections may be attached to supporting members by bolting or welding.
S T E E L
Although single plate connections, are the most economical, they must sometimes be
evaluated for eccentricity.
Single angle connections allow end-rotation for flexible connections.
Single angle connections tend to have lower load capacities than double-angle connections.
15
Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR CONNECTIONS
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Moment Connections
Moment connections are also called rigid connections.
Moment connections carry a portion or the full

moment capacity of the supported member thus
preventing any end-rotation of the member.
Moment connections are typically designed

to also carry the shear component of the load.
S T E E L
The Royal Ontario Museum

Toronto . Canada
Daniel Libeskind
16
Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT CONNECTIONS
Moment connections provide continuity between

the supported and supporting members.
Relative rotation between the supporting

and supported members is negligible.
The flanges of the supported member are

attached to either a connection element or
directly to the supporting member.
S T E E L
The De Menil Collection Museum

Houston . Texas
Renzo Piano
17
Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT CONNECTIONS
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Welding vs. Bolting
WELDING BOLTING
Advantages: Advantages:
• Eliminates need for punching or drilling. • Easy method of connecting members

on the site.
• Simplifies complicated joints.
• Field-bolting is cheaper than
Disadvantages: field-welding.
S T E E L
• Greater level of skill required Disadvantages:

for welding than bolting
• Requires drilling or punching through
• More expensive than bolting. all plies.
• Weld inspection is required and is
expensive.
18
Structural Steel Connections | WELDING vs. BOLTING
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Bolted Double Angle | Field-Bolted Beam to Girder or Column
Double angles are shop-bolted to the web of the beam.
If the beam and girder have the same depth, then both
flanges of the beam are coped to meet flush with the top
flange of the girder.
The double angles are then field-bolted to the web

of the girder.
The holes on the beam and the girder may be offset

with respect to each other for ease of fastening.
Some rotation is possible in the gap between the beam

flanges and the column web. This happens by the yielding
of the connection material (the outstanding angle leg)
S T E E L
This is a shear connection since the double angles are

fastened to the web, and transfer the load in shear.
The bolts on the beam web are in double shear.

Those on the girder web are in single shear.
19
Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 1
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Bolted Double Angle | Field-Bolted Beam to Girder or Column
S T E E L
20
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Bolted Beam to Girder or Column
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Double angles are shop-welded to the web of the beam.
If the beam and girder have different depth, the top flange of the
beam is coped to meet flush with the top flange of the girder.
The double angles are then field-bolted to the web of the girder.
Some rotation is possible in the gap between the beam flanges and the
column web. This happens by the yielding of the connection material
(the outstanding angle leg).
This is a shear connection since the double angles are fastened to the web,
and transfer the load in shear.
The bolts on the girder web are in single shear.

S T E E L
21
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Bolted Beam to Girder
S T E E L
22
Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Welded Beam to Column Web
Double angles are shop-welded
to the web of the beam.
If the beam flanges are too wide to fit in between

the column flanges, the beam flanges will be coped.
Some rotation is possible in the gap between

the beam flanges and the column web. This
happens by the yielding of the connection
material (the outstanding angle leg)
This is a shear connection since the double angles

are fastened to the webs of the beam and column.
The vertical segment of the weld transfers the

S T E E L
load from the beam web to the column web.
Welding all around the outstanding leg will

inhibit the flexibility of the connection.
The weld at the top is limited to a weld-return.
The weld at the bottom is optional.
23
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Welded Beam to Column Web
S T E E L
24
End Plate Connection | Field-Welded Beam to Girder Web
End plate is shop-welded to the web of the beam.
Holes in the end plate are punched in the shop.
Some rotation is possible in the gap between the

beam flanges and the column web. This happens
by the yielding of the connection material
(the outstanding angle leg) The end plate is then
field-bolted to the web of the girder.
This is a shear connection as the end plate is

fastened to the web of the girder (beam flanges
are not secured against rotation)
S T E E L
The bolts attaching the end plate to the girder

web are in single shear.
25
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY End Plate Connection | Shop-Welded Field-Bolted
S T E E L
26
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Unstiffened Seat | Shop-Welded and Field-Bolted
The angles are pre-drilled or punched in the shop
before they are welded to the girder or column.
The bottom angle is called the seat.
The seat is where the girder transfers its load

to the column in bearing.
The top angle provides stability to the girder.
The seat angle is larger and thicker since it

transfers the load from the girder to the column.
Unlike others, this shear connection is not

made to the web.
S T E E L
27
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Seat (Unstiffened) | Field-Bolted to Column Flange
QuickTime™ and a
Cinepak decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
S T E E L
28
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Shop-Welded Single Plate | Field-Bolted Plate to Beam or Column
The single plate is pre-drilled or punched and

then shop-welded to the supporting column or
girder web.
The beam may be swung into place instead of

lowered into place.
The top flange of the beam is coped to match

the girder elevation.
This is a shear connection since the single plate

is fastened to the web of the beam.
The bolts shown are in single shear.

S T E E L
This connection can transfer a small amount of

moment to the supporting member
29
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Single Plate | Field-Bolted Plate to Beam Web
S T E E L
30
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Flange Plates | Field-Bolted Girder to Column
The top and bottom flange plates are pre- drilled
and then shop-welded to the column.
The top and bottom flange plates are field-bolted

to the girder flanges.
The flange plates are cut to fill the space between

the column flanges.
The Corning Museum of Glass
The single plate on the girder web transfers shear to the column. Corning . New York
Smith - Miller + Hawkinson
The flange plates prevent rotation and thus the transfer of moment forces
to the column
Allowance for shims must be made. Mill tolerance on beam depth needs
S T E E L
to be accommodated
31
Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT 1
S T E E L
32
The top and bottom flanges are pre-drilled
and then shop-welded to the column.
The single plate is shop-bolted to the web of the girder.
The top and bottom flange plates are field-welded
to the girder flanges.
The single plate is field-welded to the column web.
The flange plates are cut to fill the space between
the column flanges.
The corners of the flange plates are clipped
to eliminate the development of stress
concentrations at the re-entrant (back) corners.
S T E E L
These corners are left open and are not welded.

The single plate on the girder web transfers shear to the column
The flange plates prevent rotation and thus the transfer of moment
forces to the column, which makes this a moment connection
Allowance for shims must be made.
Mill tolerance on beam depth needs to be accommodated
33
S T E E L
34
Shop-Welded End Plate | Field-Bolted Girder to Column
The end plate is pre-drilled and shop-welded

to the end of the girder.
The corresponding holes in the column flange

are pre-drilled.
The two transverse stiffener plates are shop-

welded to secure the column flanges against
the load transferred from the girder flanges.
Extended end-plate connections require

tight fabrication and erection tolerances.
Extended end plate prevents rotation and thus

S T E E L
transfers moment forces to the column, which

makes this a moment connection.
35
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Plate | Field-Bolted Girder to Column
S T E E L
36
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Field-Bolted Moment Splice | Girder to Girder or Column Connection
All holes in this connection are
pre-drilled in the shop.
The web and flanges of each girder

are pre-drilled.
(2) Shear plates are field-bolted in

each side of the webs.
The Royal Ontario Museum
The plates that attach the (2) webs to each Toronto . Canada
Daniel Libeskind
other are responsible for transferring shear.
Pre-drilled flange plates are field-bolted to

the top and bottom flanges.
S T E E L
The flange plates are responsible for transferring

bending moments across the connection.
The bolts fastening the web plates

are in double shear.
The flange plates prohibit any rotation

and so this is a moment connection.
37
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Field-Bolted Moment Splice | Girder to Girder or Column Connection
S T E E L
38
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded or Shop Bolted Splice | Connecting Two Different Columns
The plates are pre-punched and then shop-welded

to the lower (larger) column.
The flange splice plates are field-bolted together.
If the two columns have the same depth, but different flange thickness,
then a filler plate or shim is used to make up the difference in thickness.
S T E E L
39
Structural Steel Connections | COLUMN SPLICE 1
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded or Shop Bolted Splice | Connecting Two Different Size Columns
S T E E L
40
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Field - Welded Column Splice
A temporary plate or erection aid

is either welded or bolted to the
web and / or flange of the lower
(larger) column in the shop.
Flange plates may also be

required for stability of the
column during erection.
This plate helps align the upper

and lower columns.
Steel Columns are most economical when
The upper and lower columns they extend over 2 or more stories
may be of different sizes.
S T E E L
The flanges and webs of the

two columns are field- welded
to each other.
This type of weld is called a

groove weld.
Groove welds
41
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded, Field - Bolted Column Splice
S T E E L
42
Structural Steel Connections | COLUMN SLPICE 2
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Thermal Expansion and Contraction for a Highway Girder on a Roller Connection
S T E E L
43
Structural Steel Connections | Rock & Roll Connection
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Curtain Wall Connection to a Steel Frame
S T E E L
44
Structural Steel Connections | Envelope to Frame
the end
S T E E L
45
Structural Steel Connections | The American Institute of Steel Construction

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Title Slide

STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY

STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY :

a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

Structural Steel Connections

American Institute of Steel Construction1

Slide Design & Graphics Deborah J. Arbes, RA

Modeling & Animations Joe Corsi

Production Assistants Jennifer August

IT Coordination Matt Parker

Ryan Smith, Assistant Professor, University of Utah

 The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) is a non-profit technical

 Please contact Fromy Rosenberg (rosenberg@aisc.org) for further information

Steel to Steel Connections

 Connections are the glue that

 Historically, most major structural failures have

Connections depend on:

 Steel connections have a direct influence

 While a connection may be efficient in the use

 Repetitive connection design may save costs.

 It is a common practice to weld shop attachments and to bolt field attachments.

 End-plate connections are always shop welded.

 Bolting is the preferred method of

 High strength bolts may be snug-tightened

 Snug-tightened connections are referred

Bolts in a slip-critical connection act like

 Bearing type connections may have threads

 Including the threads in the shear plane

 Loading along the length of the bolt

 If tension failure occurs, it usually takes

Milwaukee Art Museum. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 Three types of high strength bolts

 A325 may be galvanized

 High strength bolts are most commonly

 Bolting requires punching or drilling of holes

 Holes may be standard size holes,

oversize holes, short slotted holes,

Oversize holes allow for tolerance

 Welding should be performed on bare metal.

 Shop welding is preferred over field welding.

De Menil Collection Museum BCE Place Galleria

 Single-pass welds are more economical

 The most economical size weld

 The strength of a fillet weld is directly

 The capacity of a weld depends on the

Crown Hall at IIT Campus

 Shear connections are called simple connections –

 Shear connections may be made to the web of the

The Corning Museum of Glass

 Single angle connections allow end-rotation for flexible connections.

 Moment connections are also called rigid connections.

 Moment connections carry a portion or the full

 Moment connections are typically designed

The Royal Ontario Museum

 Moment connections provide continuity between

 Relative rotation between the supporting

 The flanges of the supported member are

The De Menil Collection Museum

• Eliminates need for punching or drilling. • Easy method of connecting members

• Greater level of skill required Disadvantages:

 The double angles are then field-bolted to the web

 The holes on the beam and the girder may be offset

 Some rotation is possible in the gap between the beam

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) is a non-profit technical

Please contact Fromy Rosenberg (rosenberg@aisc.org) for further information

Connections are the glue that

Historically, most major structural failures have

Steel connections have a direct influence

While a connection may be efficient in the use

Repetitive connection design may save costs.

It is a common practice to weld shop attachments and to bolt field attachments.

End-plate connections are always shop welded.

Bolting is the preferred method of

High strength bolts may be snug-tightened

Snug-tightened connections are referred

Bearing type connections may have threads

Including the threads in the shear plane

Loading along the length of the bolt

If tension failure occurs, it usually takes

Three types of high strength bolts

A325 may be galvanized

High strength bolts are most commonly

Bolting requires punching or drilling of holes

Holes may be standard size holes,

Welding should be performed on bare metal.

Shop welding is preferred over field welding.

Single-pass welds are more economical

The most economical size weld

The strength of a fillet weld is directly

The capacity of a weld depends on the

Shear connections are called simple connections –

Shear connections may be made to the web of the

Single angle connections allow end-rotation for flexible connections.

Moment connections are also called rigid connections.

Moment connections carry a portion or the full

Moment connections are typically designed

Moment connections provide continuity between

Relative rotation between the supporting

The flanges of the supported member are

The double angles are then field-bolted to the web

The holes on the beam and the girder may be offset

Some rotation is possible in the gap between the beam

This is a shear connection since the double angles are

The bolts on the beam web are in double shear.

The bolts on the girder web are in single shear.

If the beam flanges are too wide to fit in between

Some rotation is possible in the gap between

This is a shear connection since the double angles

The vertical segment of the weld transfers the

Welding all around the outstanding leg will

The weld at the top is limited to a weld-return.

The weld at the bottom is optional.

End plate is shop-welded to the web of the beam.

Holes in the end plate are punched in the shop.

Some rotation is possible in the gap between the

This is a shear connection as the end plate is

The bolts attaching the end plate to the girder

The bottom angle is called the seat.

The seat is where the girder transfers its load

The top angle provides stability to the girder.

The seat angle is larger and thicker since it

Unlike others, this shear connection is not

The single plate is pre-drilled or punched and

The beam may be swung into place instead of

The top flange of the beam is coped to match

This is a shear connection since the single plate

The bolts shown are in single shear.

This connection can transfer a small amount of

The top and bottom flange plates are field-bolted

The flange plates are cut to fill the space between

These corners are left open and are not welded.

The end plate is pre-drilled and shop-welded

The corresponding holes in the column flange

The two transverse stiffener plates are shop-

Extended end-plate connections require

Extended end plate prevents rotation and thus

The web and flanges of each girder

(2) Shear plates are field-bolted in

Pre-drilled flange plates are field-bolted to

The flange plates are responsible for transferring

The bolts fastening the web plates

The flange plates prohibit any rotation

The plates are pre-punched and then shop-welded