STRUCTURALSTEELEDUCATIONALCOUNCIL

TECHNICALINFORMATION& PRODUCTSERVICE

OCTO BER 1999

Welded M o m e n t Frame
Connections
With
Minimal Residual Stress

By

A l v a r o L. C o l l i n
and
James J. P u t k e y
Acknowledgments

The Authors wish to thank the following persons for their review and comments on the content
of this Steel TIPS:

Pat Hassett, Hassett Engineering

Bill Honeck, Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc.
Dave McEuen, California Erectors, Bay Area, Inc.
Larry McLean, McLean Steel
Members of the Structural Steel Educational Council

In Memoriam

Alvaro L. Collin

The members of the Structural Steel Educational Council dedicate this Steel TIPS to
the memory ofAl Collin. Mr. Collin died on April 26, 1999. He had a long and
distinguished career in the structural steel fabrication and erection, especially in the
welding of structural steel. Council members and the rest of the structural steel
industry will miss AI.

Disclaimer. The information presented in this publication has been prepared in accordance with
recognized engineering principles and is for general information only. While it is believed to be accurate,
this information should not be used or relied upon for any specific application without competent
professional examination and verification of its accuracy, suitability, and applicability by a licensed
professional engineer, designer, or architect. The publication of the material contained herein is not
intended as a representation or warranty on the part of the Structural Steel Educational Council or of any
other person named herein that this information is suitable for any general or particular use or of freedom
from infringement of any patent or patents. Anyone making use of this information assumes all liability
arising from such use.

Caution must be exercised when relying upon other specifications and codes developed by other bodies
and incorporated by reference herein since such material may be modified or amended from time to time
subsequent to the printing of this publication. The Structural Steel Educational Council and the authors
bear no responsibility for such material other than to refer to it and incorporate it by reference at the time
of the initial printing of this publication.
WELDED MOMENT FRAME CONNECTIONS
WITH MINIMAL RESIDUAL STRESS

By Alvaro L. Collin and James J. Putkey

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION / Page 1

2. TERMS / Page 2

3. THE PROBLEM / Page 3

4. THE SUGGESTED SOLUTION / Page 9

5. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES / Page 14

6. CONCLUSION / Page 16

7. REFERENCES / Page 17

EXHIBITS / Page 18

ABOUT THE AUTHORS / Page 22

1. INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Steel TIPS is to address the problem of residual stress in welded moment
frame connections with heavy steel members. First, the authors extensively review the residual
stress problem. Second, they suggest a solution to the problem.

The Problem. Present design and welded construction practice produces residual stress by:

Joint and connection restraint.

Member restraint resulting from two floor erection and welding sequence.

Residual stress results when restraint does not allow welds to shrink.

Suggested Connection. The suggested welded moment frame connection uses a design
concept that:

Reduces residual stress in joints and connections to a minimum.

Eliminates residual stress from member restraint.
Locates the plastic hinge outside the connection.

ORGANIZATION

To accomplish the purpose, the authors present the subject matter of this Steel TIPS as follows:

Terms used in the suggested solution and problem.

The problem of residual stress.
The suggested solution.
Advantages and disadvantages of the suggested solution.
A Conclusion.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 1
 Residual Stress

2. ERMS .g Restra/nt
The various Sections use the terms listed below. We took ¢'s"
terms marked with an asterisk from the AISC Engineering
Journal. [1]

Component Restraint.* Restraint existing because of rigidity of various elements of a joint or

connection.

Connection.* Complete assembly consisting of the various joints making up the total unit.

Joint.* A single element of a connection.

Member Restraint.* Restraint in closure member where inherent rigidity requires weld
shrinkage to be absorbed by the parent metal.

Residual Stress. Stress remaining in connection or member after completing the connection's
welds.

Restraint.* Resistance of the joint or connection to weld shrinkage strains.

Shrinkage. Contraction in the size of a weld joint as it cools.

Strain.* Deformation due to changes in applied forces.

Stress.* Force per unit of area.

Thermal Upsetting. Permanent expansion of weld perpendicular to face of a weld when

restraint prohibits a joint from expanding.

Our, We. Pronouns referencing the authors of this Steel TIPS.

*American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 2
3. THE P R O B L E M

This section addresses the causes and locations of residual

stress that occur in currently used welded connections.

CAUSES OF RESIDUAL STRESS

Residual stress results when restraint does not allow large welds in heavy members to shrink.
Two conditions cause residual stress:

• Thermal upsetting
• Shrinkage

Various parts of this Section 3 set forth restraint conditions and residual stress levels caused by
thermal upsetting and shrinkage. The residual stress levels generally correspond to the restraint
levels noted in AWS Welding Code, Annex XI. [2]

Thermal Upsetting. As noted in Section 2, thermal upsetting results from permanent

expansion of weld metal perpendicular to the face of a weld when fit-up and weld sequence
restrain the joint from expanding.

Within Joint. A joint expands from heat input when it is welded. The hot weld will try
to push the members apart. However, as the bottom weld layers cool they restrain the
members. Heat input in the larger volume of the top weld layers causes thermal
upsetting. Low residual stress results from this internal restraint.

By External Restraint. When fit-up and weld sequence restrain the joint from
expanding, the weld can only expand perpendicular to the weld surface. Medium or high
residual stress results from this perpendicular expansion.

Shrinkage. Weld shrinkage causes most residual stress. The stress level depends on the
physical fit-up of the joint.

Within Joint. Fit-up will allow the members of a joint to move. However, as the bottom
weld layers in the joint cool, they restrain the members while welding the top layers.
Low residual stress results from this internal restraint.

By External Restraint. Fit-up and weld sequence restrain the members of a joint and
prevent them from moving. Medium, high, or very high residual stress results from this
external restraint. The residual stress level depends on the weld size and restraint level.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 3
R E S T R A I N T A N D R E S I D U A L S T R E S S IN J O I N T S

This discussion is limited to joints with one plate welded to another plate, beam, or column; shop
attached; and with or without external restraint. Plates considered include:

• Continuity Plates
• Cover Plates
• Shear Plates

Continuity Plates. Continuity plates usually attach to the column web and flanges with
groove welds. See Figure 3-1. Medium or high residual stress may occur when welding the
plate to the column flanges.

To Column Web. Make these welds first.

Restraint: Within joint.
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage: Low F 1
residual stress.

To Column Flanges. Make these welds second.

Restraint: External, from flanges.
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage: Medium or
high residual stress depending on the flange
thickness.
Figure 3-1

Cover Plates. Depending on the type of connection, cover plates attach to the column flange
with groove welds, or attach to the beam flange or flanges with fillet welds.

To Column Flange. Only bottom plate welded. See Figure 3-2.

Restraint: Within joint.
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage: Low residual stress.

To Beam Flange(s). Cover plates fabricated wider than beam flanges and attached with
fillet welds. See Figures 3-3 and 3-4.
Restraint: Within joint.
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage: Very low residual stress.

Figures 3-2, 3-3, and 3-4

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 4
Shear Plates. Shear plates usually attach to the
column flanges with complete penetration groove welds
as shown in Figure 3-5. Engineers design the shear
plates for either a bolted or a welded connection to the
beam web.

To Column Flange. Shop attached.

Restraint: Within joint.
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage: Low
residual stress.

Figure 3-5

R E S T R A I N T A N D R E S I D U A L STRESS IN C O N N E C T I O N S

Connections consist of field welded or bolted joints acting together. Bolts and fit-up material in
the connection usually extend some level of restraint to the joints. The bolts and fit-up material
carry erection loads, plumb-up the steel frame, and set root openings for welded joints. Fit -up
material may include drift pins, wedges, and small welded plates. For this discussion, we
assume the bolts, fit-up material, and weld sequence externally restrain the connection joints
while welding.

Connections currently used include: beam flanges welded directly to the column, cover plates
on the beam welded to the column, a combination of cover plates and beam flanges welded to
the column, and the beam web connection to the shear plate. Residual stress in these
connections varies, as discussed in the following groups:

Beam Flanges
Beam Cover Plates
Beam Cover Plates and Flanges
Webs of Beams

Beam Flanges. Beam flanges still weld directly to the column flange when using the Reduced
Beam Section connection. See Figure 3-6. These welds
are similar to the welds commonly made prior to the
Northridge earthquake.

Top Flange, Erectors usually make this weld

first.
Restraint: External, from bolts and fit-up
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage:
Medium to high residual stress.

Bottom Flange. Welded after top flange.

Restraint: External from bolts, fit-up, and
completed top flange weld.
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage: Figure 3-6
High residual stress because of added
top flange restraint.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 5
Beam Cover Plates. The Forell/EIsesser cover plate design looks similar to our suggested
connection. See Figure 3-7. This design uses a bottom cover plate shop welded to the column
flange and a top cover plate shop fillet welded to the beam top flange. Field crews first groove
weld the top cover plate to the column flange, and then fillet weld the bottom flange cover plate
to the beam bottom flange. ~,-
Top Flange. Erectors make this weld first. ~
Restraint:External. ~___ ~__~_ ~
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage:
Probably high residual stress, but ~
depends on external restraints,level. ~ ~~ ~ . ~ t ~ - ~ 3 S~DE~
Bottom Flange. Welded after top flange.
Restraint: Within fillet weld. [[ [[~, ~
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage:
Low.

Figure 3-7

Beam Cover Plates and Flanges. Another connection uses top and bottom cover plates
shop fillet welded to the beam flanges. Field crews then weld these cover plates and the beam
flanges to the column flange. See Figure 3-8. Web bolts to the shop welded shear plate restrain
both top and bottom joints.

Top Flange. Assume erectors weld first.

Restraint: External. !

Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage:

Medium residual stress.

Bottom Flange. Welded after top flange. I •

I
Restraint: External from web bolts and I
I II
completed top flange weld.
I A
Thermal Upsetting and Shrinkage:
High residual stress because of added
top flange restraint.

We do not recommend the combined flange and cover

plate joint because of the discontinuity caused by the Figure 3-8
interface between the beam flange and the cover plate.

Webs of Beams. Beam webs connect to the column with the following options:

. Bolts to the shear plate.

2. Fillet welds to the shear plate.
3. A groove weld direct to the column flange.

In option 2, low residual stress occurs. In options 1 and 3, tightened bolts or already completed
flange welds externally restrain the weld joint, and high residual stress may occur.

Welded M om en t Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 6
MEMBER RESTRAINT
~ •

Figure 3-9 shows an example of

member restraint when welding r/ /
i
beams between rigid braced ~
bents. As stated in Figure 3-9,
member restraint causes high
residual stress because,
//
"Closing welds for members //
between rigid assemblies are
subject to high restraint." v,.
"~,,,~
x L
Another similar example of
member restraint, and the main Fig. 19. Closing welds .for members between rigid assemblies are
focus of this Steel TIPS, occurs subject to high restraint.
because of the erection method
used to construct a typical tier Figure 3-9* AISC Engineering Journal, 1973 [1]
building. This type of member
restraint has been a problem
since the advent of heavy welded moment connections--whether recognized or not.

Erection Method, A typical tier building usually has two floors of steel per tier, but sometimes
has three floors per tier. Column splices usually occur approximately 4 ft. above every second
or third floor. If a tier building had only one floor per tier, the problem would not exist. For
discussion purposes, this TIPS assumes two floors of steel per tier.

Two Floor Erection. Figure 3-10 illustrates a simplified example of two floors per tier.
Starting on the work floor, covered solidly for safety purposes, field crews erect the
columns, then the mid floor beams, and then the top floor beams.

Top Floor rl

Mid Floor

Column Splice
Work Floor --~

Figure 3-10
* American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 7
Weld Sequence. After crews erect and plumb-up the steel, they then weld it. Welders can
weld the top floor first and then the mid floor, or they can weld the mid floor first and then the top
floor. Either way, the problem of member restraint occurs. For illustration purposes we show
the top floor welded first. See Figure 3-1 1 below. Columns
leaned out

Step 1 I
Assume beams
detailed longer
or root openings
made larger to
Top allow for weld
Floor - - 1 shrinkage
[5] p4-11
Mid Floor ' - - B e a m s detailed
correct length

_Z
--Column splice
Work Beams welded

Step 2
Beams welded,
weld shrinkage
moves columns
in
Beams must
Member hove correct
Restraint root opening
- ~k,__ Closing
[~ welds Column splice

Step 3
.~]~--
Column
splice
-- Beams welded

H
Columns provide
Beams welded

J external restraint
_ High residual
~ stress from
- member restraint
~ _ Closing ?
welds - - C o l u m n splice
/
_ I1 --Beams welded

Figure 3-11
WeldedMomentFrameConnectionswithMinimalResidualStress,A.L.CollinandJ.J. Putkey,SteelTIPS,October1999 8
4. THE SUGGESTED
SOLUTION
This section describes and details the welded moment
connection suggested by the authors.

USE JOINT DETAIL WITH MINIMAL RESTRAINT

The suggested solution avoids residual stresses caused by large groove welds not allowed to
shrink because of external restraint. See Section 3, The Problem. Suggested readings on
restraint and weld shrinkage include the following references:

AISC Engineering Journal, 1973. [1]

AWS Structural Welding Code. [2]
AISC Manual of Steel Construction, Allowable Stress Design. [3]
AISC Manual of Steel Construction, Load and Resistance Factor Design. [4]
AISC Manual, Volume II Connections. [5]
Preece and Collin, Steel TIPS, 1991. [6]

Joint Detail. Figure 4-1, Connection Detail, on page 10, shows an elevation view and plan
sections of the suggested solution.

Restraint Conditions. Please note the beam flanges and web do not directly weld to the
column flange. Instead, the beam flanges fillet weld to cover plates already welded to the
column flange. This procedure results in minimal residual stress because:

Cover plates and the web shear plate groove weld to the column flange without
external restraint and without member restraint with resulting low residual stress.
Fillet welds from the beam flanges to the cover plates contribute very low
residual stress.
The connection from the beam web to the shear plate contributes low or no
residual stress. On the bolted web connection, the bolts obviously contribute no
residual stress. If the shear plate is fillet welded to the beam web, those fillet
welds contribute very low residual stress.

Continuity plates on the column contribute medium to high residual stresses from both thermal
upsetting and shrinkage due to flange restraint. However, these stresses are the same as for
other welded connections.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 9
ALTERNATE TOP COVER PLATE CONFIGURATION
FOR HORIZONTAL FILLET WELD 7

L
[ 1' L ~ _ ~ __
7
~ - - - COVER PLATE, T & B

PLAN

C.JoP.
REMOVE BACK-UP BAR
(STEEL OR CERAMIC)
AND RUN-OFF TABS
SEE NOTE 1
~-- COVER PLATE
~ / / - - BEAM

~ ~,~ WELD AFTERI

GROOVE
WELDING
SIDES TOP COVER /
PLATE TO /
CONTINUITY PLATE COLUMN ~
COLUMN I

SHEAR PLATE

. "-,.,.......---.---- COVER PLATE

C.J.P.
REMOVE BACK-UP BAR
AND RUN-OFF TABS
ERECTION BOLTS ~ SEE NOTE 1

NOTE I. GRIND SMOOTH TO REMOVE STRESS RISERS AND LAYER OF MARTENSITE

FROM BURNING OPERATION
ELEVATION

CONNECTION DETAIL

Figure 4-1 Detail of Suggested Solution

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and d.d. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 10
H I S T O R Y OF S U G G E S T E D S O L U T I O N

Our suggested solution is not new. Engineers have described it in various welding publications
and used it on past projects, but not for relocating the plastic hinge. The following publications
and personal experience discuss and illustrate the suggested connection.

The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation

The Book, "Design of Welded Structures" by Blodgett [7], presents designs similar to the
suggested solution. Among other things, Blodgett presents the loose top cover plate design for:

Proper fit up and correct root opening.

Reduced beam preparation.

See Figures 4-2 and 4-3 for the connections presented.

Figure 4-2* Figure 4-3*

Personal Experience

In 1972 Mr. Putkey served as project manager for

steel erection on a Federal Office Building in
Seattle, Washington. This building is 38 stories high I

with the interior moment frame connections

designed very similarly to the suggested solution. I

See Figure 4-4. The shop fabricated the loose top I I

cover plate narrower than the beam flange so the

field welders could make the fillet weld in a
horizontal position.

Figure 4-4

*Reprinted with permission from Lincoln Electric Co.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 11
AISC Journal

The article, "Commentary on Highly

Restrained Welded Connections" in the
AISC Engineering Journal [1], ~! m

comments on occurrences of lamellar

tearing in highly restrained joints. This
article presents recommendations to
minimize or avoid lamellar tearing. ~ ...... ,,,,1.

(Note: Engineers found lamellar tearing I/

was not a problem in the SAC program.
We refer to the Commentary to address
restraint.) Recommendation No. 2 Fig. 24. Moment connection using flange connection plates. To avoid
states, "Design connections to minimize high shrinkage strains, beam seat is shop welded to column; top plate
accumulation and concentration of weld to column is made infield, followed byfillet welds of top and bottom
plates to beam flanges.
strains resulting from metal
concentrated in localized areas."* The
recommendation includes a Fig. 24 Figure 4-5*
showing a moment connection detail,
" . . . designed to allow dissipation of
shrinkage strains from full penetration flange welds."* See Figure 4-5. This connection is very
similar to our suggested solution. The detail solves the problem of connection and member
restraint. See Section 3.

The article also mentions that, "Closing welds for members between rigid assemblies are subject
to high restraint."* The suggested solutiqlt avoids this restraint condition. (See two floor erection
procedure in Section 3).

AISC Manual

A loose top cover plate connection is illustrated in Chapter 4, Moment Connections, AISC
Manual, Volume II Connections [5]. See Figure 4-5, Part II on page 4-10, and Figure 4-7 on
page 4-16. The details shown in these figures are similar to the details in the above Lincoln Arc
Welding Foundation book and the AISC Journal.

SAC Report ,
,,
,
•

"Steel Moment Frame Connection, Advisory No. 3", by the SAC Joint Venture [8], contains loose
top cover plate connection design details on pages C - 33 and D - 154. Rutherford & Chekene
Consulting Engineers present a design detail on page C - 33 that is similar to our suggested
solution. See Exhibit 1. Mr. Collin presents design details of our suggested solution on page
D - 154. See Exhibit 2.

Please note the Rutherford & Chekene design represents specific cover plate thicknesses and
sizes for specific column and beam sizes.

*American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 12
TESTING

Codes require testing of beam to column moment frame connections unless prior testing of the
joints and connection meet specified requirements.

Tests By Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc.

In August 1995, Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc. published a pamphlet titled, "Steel Connection
Update: Successful Test of Welded Steel Beam - Column Moment Connection." [9] This
pamphlet discussed successful tests conducted on a cover plate connection similar to our
suggested solution. See Figure 3-7 and Exhibit 3 for the design details of the Forell/Elsesser
connection. See Exhibit 4 for the plastic rotation results of one test specimen. The Department
of Energy funded the testing.

Note: The cover plate thickness and size in the Forell/Elsesser connection detail shown in
Exhibit 3 are sensitive to the beam and column sizes used. Forell/Elsesser "tuned" the plate
thicknesses and dimensions to those sizes. The connection detail shown in the 1995 publication
[9] was for specific column and beam sizes on a specific project. Do not apply to other member
sizes without closely matching the original sizes tested. Different sizes would require additional
testing.

Tests By SAC

The University of California, Berkeley, Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center is

testing various moment connections for SAC. One connection has top and bottom cover plates
with both plates fillet welded to the beam in the shop and groove welded to the column in the
field. The end result is similar to our suggested solution.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 13
5. ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
The following advantages and disadvantages result from
comparing the suggested connection presented in Section 4
to other connections in current use.

ADVANTAGES

Principal Advantage

Minimal Residual Stress. Our suggested connection avoids direct beam flange to column
flange welds and restrained cover plate to column flange welds. It eliminates medium or high
residual stress that occurs when welding these joints to a column flange because connection
restraint or member restraint is not present. Instead, low residual stress occurs in the top and
bottom cover plate joints to the column flange because erectors do not restrain these plates
during welding.

Other Advantages

Correct Fit-up. The loose top cover plate assures fit-up with the correct root opening.
Erectors lay the top plate on the top flange of the beam, position it for correct root opening, and
loosely clamp its end to prevent lifting.

No Change in Column Spacing Because of Weld Shrinkage. No groove weld

shrinkage on beam to column connections allows detailing the beams for exact column spacing.
Detailers need not contend with shrinkage allowance.

Plumbing-up. Plumbing-up is easier and more exact because of:

Beams detailed for positive connections and to exact column spacings.
No requirement to plan and allow for weld shrinkage.
No need to work around a groove welded beam joint.

Welding Sequence. With no change in column spacing because of weld shrinkage, beam to
column welding can start in any part of the building. When weld shrinkage occurs, erectors
usually start welding in the center of a building.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 14
Beam Fabrication. Beam ends require no preparation for field welding; they require only hole
punching in the beam web for erection bolts. Further, the positive web connection eliminates
the need for an access hole to place the back-up bar for the top cover plate weld.

Bolt/Weld Sequence. Other connections with welded flanges and bolted webs still have the
problem of when to tighten the boltsmbefore or after the flange welds. [10] The suggested
connection eliminates that problem.

DISADVANTAGES

Loose Top Cover Plates. The loose plates require more shipping pieces and more pieces to
handle in the field.

Cover Plates. Cover plate design may require additional steel and additional field welding.

Welding Position. Loose top plates the same size as the bottom plates require welding fillet
welds in an overhead position. Narrower and thicker top plates change the welding position to
the horizontal position, but may increase the quantity of weld metal for flat groove welding.

Shipping. Shop welded bottom cover plates make stacking, handling, and shipping columns
more difficult than other types of connections.

Welded Moment Frame Connectionswith Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 15
 Optos!
6. CONCLUSION Options!
Options!
LEVEL OF RESIDUALSTRESS

Current field welding practices produce residual stress in welded moment frames. Some
connections produce more residual stress than others either by design, welding practices, or
welding sequence. The residual stress level is unknown, but the stress is present.

The Northridge earthquake caused many welded connection failures, with most failures related
to the bottom flange joint. We conclude residual stress may have contributed to the bottom
flange joint failure because of a welding sequence of top flange first and bottom flange second.
This sequence sets up high residual stress in the bottom flange.

A CONCLUSION TO CONSIDER

While developing this Steel TIPS, we kept arriving at the same conclusion, "The structural steel
industry should change its current practice of making welded moment frame connections from
a connection that produces high residual stress to a connection that produces minimal residual
stress."

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 16
7. REFERENCES

. "Commentary on Highly Restrained Welded Connections," AISC Engineering Journal,

AISC, Chicago, Third Quarter, 1973, p. 61-73.

. Structural Welding Code-Steel D1.1-98, AWS, Miami, 1998, Annex XI, p. 266 and 271;
C426.

. Manual of Steel Construction: Allowable Stress Design, 9th ed, AISC, Chicago, 1989, p.
1-6, 4-152.

. Manual of Steel Construction: Load and Resistance Factor Design for Structural Steel
Buildings, 2nd Edition, AISC, Chicago, 1994, p.1-5,1-6, 5-177.

. Manual of Steel Construction: Volume II Connections, ASD/LRFD, First ed., AISC,

Chicago, 1992, p.2-19 to 22, p. 4-10 and 11, p. 4-16.

. Preece, F. Robert and Collin, Alvaro L., "Structural Steel Construction in the '90s," Steel
TIPS, Structural Steel Education Council, Walnut Creek, September 1991, p. 14.

. Blodgett, Omer W., "Design of Welded Structures," The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding
Foundation, Cleveland, June 1966, p.5.1-8; p.5.7-1 and 2.

. "Steel Moment Frame Advisory No. 3," SAC Joint Venture, Sacramento, 1995, p. C-33
to 36, p, D-154.

. "Steel Construction Update: Successful Test of Welded Steel Beam - Column Moment
Connection," Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc., Structural Engineers, San Francisco,
August 1995.

10. Putkey, James J., "Common Steel Erection Problems and Suggested Solutions", Steel
TIPS, Structural Steel Educational Council, Moraga, December 1993, p. 33.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 17
 RI.ITH~RFORD & GH~.KE,N~ I O~II~EUI~TIN~
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C-33

EXHIBIT 1

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 18
 Ref 5.4k

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D-~54
EXHIBIT 2

Welded M o m e n t Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 19
LBL HUMAN GENOME LAB / FLAME CUT COVER PLATE
/ AND GRIND SMOOTH
STEEL JOINT TEST
24" /

~.~.~ ~ ~
•.• 1" NO WELD TYP. EA. END

r ROLLING - ~
I• ~ GRAIN " "~
~ ~ ~ ±. . . . . . . . . . : = . .=. .~. .=
=

NO WELD~
AT RLLET
~1 --- -~==~-~
. . . . . . .
. _ _ . . ~
I
-~ " "t~ t NO WELD

PLAN \ ~'~" ~' T~. T • B

t~ ~ C.J.P.
REMOVE BACK-UP BAR
AFTER ROOT IS CLEANED
AND INSPECTED, TYP. T & B

SIDES

J. P.

I -- I

v
~/~t: 22"~1~"
W14x211 ~
(A572 GR. 50)

~" W30x99 (A36)

W.P.

~I.~ ~.o~
RELD

-.4"x3/8" BAR AT ~ OF COL.

(REMOVE BAR AFTER STEEL
ERECTION IS COMPLETED)

2 ERECTION BOLTS- ~

.,~
• SHOP WELD
C. J. P.
REMOVE BACK-UP BAR

NOTE: ALL WELDS SHALL BE Figure 6

"SR" WELDS - SEE SPECIRCATIONS. JOINT DETAIL
Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc.
EXHIBIT 3 Morch 24, 1995

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 20
 The Test
A beam and column sub-structure assembly was fabricated into a "T"
configuration, shown in the photo below, to mimic the actual configuration
found in the building. Laid fiat on the testing floor, the column was restrained
and a 150,000 pound hydraulic actuator drove the free end of the beam back
and forth over a plus and minus 5 inch range.

Both specimens survived this test regime with the expected yielding occurring
in the beam and virtually no signs of distress or fatigue visible or detected in
the connection region. Specimen 2 was tested with a pre-existing crack in the
column flange, and was successfully cycled I0 times over the 5 inch range,
indicating that the connection also provides good protection of the column as
well as the welded joint region.

The detailed study and test program, completed at a cost of $60,000, is reported
in a paper entitled "Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Steel Joint Test
Technical Brief' available from Forell/Elsesser Engineers upon request.

LBNL STEEL JOINT TEST

SPECIMEN NO. 2
150

100

50

-50
I -

~ -- ~

--i~
1

-150 ~ ,
-0.04 -0.02 0 0.02 0.04
PLASTIC ROTATION(RADIAN)

EXHIBIT 4

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 21
About the Authors

Alvaro L. Collin was a Consulting Engineer with California registration in Civil Engineering and
Metallurgical Engineering. He received a BS degree from the University of California, Berkeley,
in 1941 as a Civil Engineering major and a Mechanical Engineering minor. He spent 24 years
with Kaiser Steel Corporation as Manager of Engineering of the Fabrication Division, Southern
California, and as Senior Development Engineer, Steel manufacturing Division, Oakland, CA.
For the past 18 years he consulted on welded construction, heavy equipment design and
material handling systems.

Mr. Collin is a life member of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California. He
was a member of the Board of Directors and the Steel and Seismic committees of SEAONC.
He was a long-time member of the American Welding Society, having served on the National
Board of Directors, on the National Qualification and Certification Committee, and as chairman
to the Los Angeles and San Francisco sections. AI was awarded the National, District and
Section Meritorious Awards of AWS. He served on AISC and AISI Code Committee Task
Groups, the SAC Joint Venture Task Group, and was a member of the Earthquake Engineering
Research Institute.

Mr. Collin died during the development of this Steel TIPS. He was able to
review the general outline, detailed outline, the first draft, and all concepts
presented in the text.

James J. Putkey is a consulting civil engineer in Moraga, California. He received a BCE degree
from the University of Santa Clara in 1954. After two years in the U.S. Army, 19 years with the
Erection Department of Bethlehem Steel Corporation--Pacific Coast Division, and seven years
with the University of California--Office of the President, he started his own consulting business.
He has provided consulting services to owners, contractors, attorneys, and steel erectors for the
past 18 years.

Mr. Putkey is now "Semi-Retired." However, he still serves as a hearing officer for the University
of California-Office of the President, and occasionally writes construction related articles.

Welded Moment Frame Connections with Minimal Residual Stress, A.L. Collin and J.J. Putkey, Steel TIPS, October 1999 22
 STRUCTURAL STEEL EDUCATIONAL COUNCIL
P.O. Box 6190
Moraga, CA 94570
(925) 253-9338

Fred Boettler, Administrator

SPONSORS

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