Bearing Column Splices

NCCI: Bearing column splices

SN026a-EN-EU

This NCCI provides guidance on the sizing of the components of a bearing column splice
using bolted flange and web cover plates.
Contents
1. Use of bearing column splices 2
2. Choice of bolt type 3
3. Number of bolts in flange and web cover plates 3
4. Flange cover plate dimensions 3
5. Web cover plate dimensions 4
6. Use of division plates 4

This material is copyright - all rights reserved. Use of this document is subject to the terms and conditions of the Access Steel Licence Agreement
7. Structural integrity (under tying force) 4
8. Background 5
Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Page 1

SN026a-EN-EU
1. Use of bearing column splices

In bearing column splices, loads are transferred in direct bearing from the upper column to the
lower column, either directly between the ends of the column sections or through a division plate.
The splice connections hold the connected columns in line and are generally arranged such that
the cover plates are symmetrically placed about the centroidal axis of the column sections.
Typical details for a bearing column splice are shown in Figure 1.1.
1 1 1
A A A
2
(a) (b) (c)

Key
1 Packs (shaded where hidden behind web splice plates)
2 Division plate
A Ends of members prepared for bearing; a good quality saw cut end is satisfactory (tolerances in
accordance with EN 1090-2)
Figure 1.1 Typical bearing column splices

a) External flange cover plates for sections of the same serial size
b) Internal flange cover plates for sections of the same serial size
c) External flange cover plates and division plate for sections of a different serial size
Generally, bearing column splices do not provide full continuity of stiffness (EIy and EIz) of
the upper column section through the splice, but the local reduction in stiffness will not affect
the overall behaviour of the frame in ‘simple construction’ (see SN020) where the column
splices are provided just above floor levels. In such cases the splices should generally be
about 500 mm above the floor (see SN025). The use of bearing column splices will result in
economy in construction.
When the columns to be joined are of the same serial size, the axial forces are transferred in
direct bearing between the ends of the column sections and the flange cover plates are
arranged to connect either to the external faces of the column (external flange cover plates) or
to the inner flanges, using split cover plates (internal flange cover plates).
When the columns to be joined are of different serial size, the transfer of axial forces from the
upper column to the lower column is through a horizontal division plate; each column section
bears onto the division plate. The required thickness for the division plate depends on the
difference between the serial sizes. External flange cover plates are provided.
Where, for architectural reasons, it is necessary to keep the width of the connection to a
minimum, then either countersunk bolts may be used with external flange cover plates or,
provided that there is no need for a division plate, inner flange cover plates may be used.
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SN026a-EN-EU
2. Choice of bolt type

It is recommended to use one class and one diameter of bolts in a limited range of lengths.
Normally, adopt non- preloaded, Category A: Bearing type, class 8.8 or 10.9 bolts, although
the arrangements shown in this NCCI are valid for bolts from class 4.6 to class 10.9.
Bolts are in many cases fully threaded and commonly used sizes are:
Bolt diameter = 20 mm or 24 mm
3. Number of bolts in flange and web cover plates

It is considered good practice to have a minimum of four bolts for each half of a flange cover
plate and a minimum of two bolts for each half of a web cover plate.
4. Flange cover plate dimensions

The dimensions of the flange cover plate should be chosen as follows:
t f, uc
t fp ≥ , but t fp not less than 10 mm
2
hfp ≥ buc , but hfp not less than 225 mm
For external flange cover plates: bfp ≥ buc
(buc − t w, lc − 2rlc )
For internal flange cover plates: for each cover plate: bfp ≥
2
where:
tfp is the thickness of the flange cover plate
tf,uc is the thickness of the flange of the upper column
hfp is the height of the flange cover plate
buc is the width of upper column
bfp is the width of the flange cover plate
tw,lc is the thickness of the web of the lower column
rlc is the root radius of the lower column
Bolt spacing and edge distances should comply with the recommendations of EN1993-1-8.
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SN026a-EN-EU
5. Web cover plate dimensions

The dimensions of the web cover plate should be chosen as follows:
bwp ≥ 0,5huc
For double-sided web cover plates:
t w,uc
t wp ≥ but not less than 6 mm
2
For single-sided cover plates
t wp ≥ t w,uc but not less than 6 mm
where:
bwp is the width of web cover plate
huc is the depth of upper column
twp is the thickness of web cover plate
tw,uc is the thickness of web of upper column
Bolt spacing and edge distances should comply with the recommendations of EN1993-1-8.
6. Use of division plates

When the upper and lower columns have different serial sizes, each column is connected to a
division plate. The division plate may be nominally welded to the lower column and bolted to
the upper column using web angle cleats or alternatively both the columns can be bolted to
the division plate using angle cleats, as shown in Figure 1.1 (c).
The division plate should normally be sized approximately 5 mm smaller than the lower
column width and depth, to permit easy fitting. It should be flat enough for tight bearing
without the need for machining or flattening.
The thickness of the division plate should be at least (huc – hlc)/2, where huc and hlc are the
depths of the upper and lower column sections respectively.
7. Structural integrity (under tying force)

EN1993-1-8 does not give any guidance on tying resistance of connections.
Conservatively, it may be assumed that the tying force at the column splice is resisted by the
flange cover plates alone (i.e. ignoring the web connection). A design procedure for ensuring
structural integrity of column splices is given in Section 9 of SN023.
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SN026a-EN-EU
8. Background
The rules in this NCCI are based on:
(1) Joints in Steel Construction – Simple Connections (P212). The Steel Construction
Institute and The British Constructional Association Ltd., 2002.
Page 5

SN026a-EN-EU
Quality Record
RESOURCE TITLE NCCI: Bearing column splices
Reference(s)
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT
Name Company Date
Created by Edurne Nunez SCI July 2005
Technical content checked by Abdul Malik SCI
Editorial content checked by D C Iles SCI 17/3/06
Technical content endorsed by the

following STEEL Partners:
1. UK G W Owens SCI 17/3/06
2. France A Bureau CTICM 17/3/06
3. Germany A Olsson SBI 17/3/06

4. Sweden C Mueller RWTH 17/3/06
5. Spain J Chica Labein 17/3/06
Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 30/6/06

Coordinator
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NCCI: Bearing column splices

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NCCI: Bearing column splices

2. Choice of bolt type 3

3. Number of bolts in flange and web cover plates 3

4. Flange cover plate dimensions 3

5. Web cover plate dimensions 4

6. Use of division plates 4

7. Structural integrity (under tying force) 4

NCCI: Bearing column splices

1. Use of bearing column splices

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 1.1 Typical bearing column splices

NCCI: Bearing column splices

2. Choice of bolt type

3. Number of bolts in flange and web cover plates

4. Flange cover plate dimensions

The dimensions of the flange cover plate should be chosen as follows:

hfp ≥ buc , but hfp not less than 225 mm

For external flange cover plates: bfp ≥ buc

NCCI: Bearing column splices

5. Web cover plate dimensions

For double-sided web cover plates:

For single-sided cover plates

t wp ≥ t w,uc but not less than 6 mm

tw,uc is the thickness of web of upper column

6. Use of division plates

7. Structural integrity (under tying force)

NCCI: Bearing column splices

NCCI: Bearing column splices

Name Company Date

Created by Edurne Nunez SCI July 2005

Technical content checked by Abdul Malik SCI

Editorial content checked by D C Iles SCI 17/3/06

Technical content endorsed by the

1. UK G W Owens SCI 17/3/06

2. France A Bureau CTICM 17/3/06

3. Germany A Olsson SBI 17/3/06

4. Sweden C Mueller RWTH 17/3/06

5. Spain J Chica Labein 17/3/06

Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 30/6/06

This Translation made by:

This Translation checked by

Translated resource approved by:

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