Initial Sizing of Non-Bearing Column Splices

NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

SN024a-EN-EU

This NCCI provides simplified guidance on the initial sizing of the components of a "non-
bearing column splice" using bolted flange and web cover plates for a column in "simple
construction". At the final design stage, full verification should be carried out.
Contents
1. Use of non-bearing column splices 2
2. Choice of splice type 2
3. Choice of bolt type 3
4. Number of bolts in flange and web cover plates 4
5. Flange cover plate dimensions 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
6. Web cover plate dimensions 5
7. Packing limitations 5
8. Reduction in design shear resistance of bolt 6
9. Background 6
Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007
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SN024a-EN-EU
1. Use of non-bearing column splices

In simple construction (see SN020), splices are generally provided just above floor levels,
typically 500 mm (See SN025). The splice connections hold the connected columns in line
along a common centroidal axis.
In non-bearing column splices, as described in SN025 and SN023, loads are transferred via
bolts and cover plates. Any bearing between the ends of the columns is ignored and the splice
is normally detailed with a physical gap between the two parts of the columns. The cover
plates are generally arranged so that the centroidal axis of the splice material coincides with
the centroidal axis of the column sections.
When joining columns of different serial size, multiple packs are necessary to take up the
dimensional variations. In order to limit the packing thickness to reasonable proportion
(about 30 mm) no more than one jump in the column serial size should be used at each splice.
Simplified guidance given in this document should only be used for initial sizing. Full
verification (see SN023) will be necessary at the final design stage.
2. Choice of splice type

In SN025, three types of non-bearing splices are shown between columns of the same serial
size. In most cases, either external or internal flange cover plates, plus web cover plates, are
sufficient and these two arrangements are shown in Figure 2.1 below. Sometimes, for
architectural reasons, it is necessary to keep the width of the connection to a minimum. If this
is the case, then either internal cover plates should be used or countersunk bolts used with
external cover plates. Occasionally, for very heavy loads, both external and internal flange
cover plates, with web cover plates, may be necessary. Alternatively, bearing column splices
may be used.
For non-bearing splices between columns of different serial size, external cover plates are
preferable, for practical reasons.
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SN024a-EN-EU
h uc b uc h uc b uc
t f,uc t w,uc t f,uc t w,uc
b wp b wp
h wp h fp h wp h fp
t f,lc t w,lc t f,lc t w,lc
b fp bfp bfp
h lc b lc h lc b lc
(a) with external flange cover plates (b) with internal flange cover plates
Figure 2.1 Typical non-bearing column splices

3. Choice of bolt type

It is recommended to use one class and one diameter of bolt in a limited range of lengths.
Opinions vary about the type of bolts to be used for non-bearing column splices.
Where splices are placed in accordance with Section 3 of SN025, full continuity of stiffness is
not required and non-preloaded bolts in a Category A connection may be used.
Where slip is unacceptable, pre-loaded bolts in a Category B connection (slip-resistant at

serviceability limit state) or in a Category C connection (slip-resistant at ultimate limit state)
should be used.
For Category A connections, the bolt class used usually depends on the country of
construction: class 10.9 bolts are used in most of Europe, but class 8.8 bolts are used in UK
and 6.8 bolts are used in France.
In many cases bolts are fully threaded and the commonly used sizes are:
Bolt diameter 20 mm or 24 mm
The bolt diameters should be at least 75% of the thickness of any packing.
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SN024a-EN-EU
4. Number of bolts in flange and web cover plates

Simplified expressions given here should only be used for initial sizing.
Flange cover plates: For either internal or external cover plates, the minimum number of
bolts connecting to each flange of each column is given by:
For M20, class 8.8 or class 10.9 bolts
N Ed
nfp = (rounded up to the nearest multiple of 2)
200
N Ed
nfp = (rounded up to the nearest multiple of 2)
300
Where NEd is the design compression force in kN
Web cover plates: For cover plates on both sides of the column web, the minimum number
of bolts connecting to the web of each column is given by:
N Ed
nwp = (rounded up to the nearest multiple of 2)
1000
N Ed
nwp = (rounded up to the nearest multiple of 2)
1500
Where NEd is as defined above.
5. 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
bolt spacing
To avoid local buckling t fp ≥
9ε
hfp ≥ 2buc , but hfp not less than 225 mm
For external flange cover plates: bfp ≥ buc
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SN024a-EN-EU
(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.
6. Web cover plate dimensions

The dimensions of the web cover plate should be chosen as follows:
bwp ≥ 0,5huc
t w,uc
t wp ≥ but not less than 6 mm
2
bolt spacing
To avoid local buckling t wp ≥
9ε
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.
7. Packing limitations
4
Packing thickness tp should not exceed d nor exceed 30 mm.
3
where d is the bolt diameter
The number of plies in the packing should not be more than 4.
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SN024a-EN-EU
8. Reduction in design shear resistance of bolt

1 9d
If packing thickness tp is greater than d then reduction factor β p = should be
3 8d + 3t p
applied to the design shear resistance of the bolt.
9. Background
The guidance in this NCCI is based on advice in the following publication:
Joints in Steel Construction – Simple Connections (P212). The Steel Construction Institute
and The British Constructional Association Ltd., 2002.
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SN024a-EN-EU
Quality Record
RESOURCE TITLE NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices
Reference(s)
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT
Name Company Date
Created by Edurne Núñez Steel Construction March 2005

Institute
Technical content checked by Abdul Malik Steel Construction March 2006

Institute
Editorial content checked by
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. Sweden A Olsson SBI 17/3/06
4. Germany C Müller RWTH 17/3/06
5. Spain J Chica Labein 17/3/06
Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 23/6/06

Coordinator
TRANSLATED DOCUMENT
This Translation made and checked by:
Translated resource approved by:

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Initial Sizing of Non-Bearing Column Splices

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NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

2. Choice of splice type 2

3. Choice of bolt type 3

4. Number of bolts in flange and web cover plates 4

5. Flange cover plate dimensions 4

6. Web cover plate dimensions 5

8. Reduction in design shear resistance of bolt 6

NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

1. Use of non-bearing column splices

2. Choice of splice type

NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

t f,uc t w,uc t f,uc t w,uc

t f,lc t w,lc t f,lc t w,lc

Figure 2.1 Typical non-bearing column splices

3. Choice of bolt type

Where slip is unacceptable, pre-loaded bolts in a Category B connection (slip-resistant at

NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

4. Number of bolts in flange and web cover plates

For M20, class 8.8 or class 10.9 bolts

For M24, class 8.8 or class 10.9 bolts

Where NEd is the design compression force in kN

of bolts connecting to the web of each column is given by:

For M20, class 8.8 or class 10.9 bolts

For M24, class 8.8 or class 10.9 bolts

Where NEd is as defined above.

5. Flange cover plate dimensions

hfp ≥ 2buc , but hfp not less than 225 mm

For external flange cover plates: bfp ≥ buc

NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

(buc − t w,lc − 2rlc )

6. Web cover plate dimensions

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

where d is the bolt diameter

The number of plies in the packing should not be more than 4.

NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

8. Reduction in design shear resistance of bolt

NCCI: Initial sizing of non-bearing column splices

Name Company Date

Created by Edurne Núñez Steel Construction March 2005

Technical content checked by Abdul Malik Steel Construction March 2006

Editorial content checked by

Technical content endorsed by the

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

2. France A Bureau CTICM 17/3/06

3. Sweden A Olsson SBI 17/3/06

4. Germany C Müller RWTH 17/3/06

5. Spain J Chica Labein 17/3/06

Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 23/6/06

This Translation made and checked by:

Translated resource approved by:

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