1

Structural Steelwork Eurocodes

Module on Structural Joints

Generalities about
structural joints
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Introduction to joint design

 Different types of joints in a structure

A B A

C C
A

A A

D
D D
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Sources of joint deformability

 Deformation of a beam-to-column joint

Mb Mb2 Mb1

single-sided joint double-sided joint

configuration configuration
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Sources of joint deformability

N c2 V
wp
Mc2
Vc2
VVb1
b1 V
Nb1 wp

Mb1
Web panel in shear
Vc1
Mc1
V
b1
Nc1
N
b1
Joint configuration M
b1

Connection in bending
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Sources of joint deformability

 « Joint » and « connection »

Joint Right joint
Left connection

Connection
Left joint Right
connection

single-sided joint double-sided joint

configuration configuration
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Sources of joint deformability

 Joint deformability curve

Mb Mb Mb, Mj

 ci c + 
Mb,i Mb,i i Mb,i

c  
connection sheared panel joint
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Moment-rotation characteristic

 Rotational stiffness
M
 Moment resistance

 Rotation capacity

 is the beam-to-column relative rotation

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Semi-rigid concept for joints

 Classification of joints according to

rotational stiffness

rigid joint pinned joint semi-rigid joint

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Semi-rigid concept for joints

 Modelling of joints (elastic design)

Mj Mj Mj

  

rigid joint pinned joint semi-rigid joint

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Semi-rigid concept for joints

 Influence on frame response in terms of

deflections, internal forces, collapse
load, ...
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Parallel
"member sections - joints"

/2 /2

M M
b,Rd j,Rd

Member Joint
EI/L Sj,ini
 
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Why to introduce the semi-rigid

concept?
 Possible decrease of the total weight of the
structure
– semi-rigid joints instead of pinned ones
 Possible decrease of the fabrication and
erection costs
– semi-rigid joints instead of rigid ones
– benefit results from a simpler joint detailing (less
stiffening - joint designed for easy erection and
fabrication and not to fulfil design requirements such
as rotational continuity)
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Joints in frame analysis and

design
 Joint characterisation
– how to define the joint properties

 Joint classification
– how to define the stiffness, resistance and
ductility class
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Joints in frame analysis and

design

 Joint modelling
– how to physically represent the joint in the
frame analysis

 Joint idealisation
– how to idealise the moment-rotation curve
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Joint classification

 Classification by stiffness
Mj
Rigid

Semi-rigid

Sj,ini
Pinned


Boundaries for stiffness

Joint initial stiffness
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Joint classification

 Classification by strength
Mj
Full-strength

M j,Rd
Partial-strength

Pinned

Boundaries for strength
Joint strength
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Joint classification

 Classification by ductility

Mj
– Brittle

– "Semi-ductile"

– Ductile


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Joint modelling

 Traditional joint modellings

– For rotational stiffness
» rigid
» pinned
– For moment resistance
» full-strength
» partial-strength
» pinned
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Joint modelling

 Traditional joint modellings

– rigid / full-strength
– rigid / partial-strength
– pinned

 New available joint modellings

– semi-rigid / full-strength
– semi-rigid / partial-strength
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Joint modelling

 Types of joint modelling

– simple
– semi-continuous
– continuous

STIFFNESS RESISTANCE
Full-strength Partial-strength Pinned
Rigid Continuous Semi-continuous *
Semi-rigid Semi-continuous Semi-continuous *
Pinned * * Simple
* : without meaning
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Joint modelling

 Type of joint modelling and frame

analysis
MODELLING TYPE OF FRAME ANALYSIS
Elastic Rigid-plastic Elastic-plastic or
elastoplastic
Continuous Rigid Full-strength Rigid/full-strength
Semi-continuous Semi-rigid Partial-strength Rigid/partial-strength
Semi-rigid/full-
strength
Semi-rigid/partial-
strength
Simple Pinned Pinned Pinned
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Joint modelling

J
O IN
T B
EAM-T
O-C
O LU
MN JOIN
TS BEAM C
OLUMN
M
ODE L
LIN
G MA
JORAXISBE
ND ING S
PLIC
ES BAS
ES

S
IMP
LE

S
EMI-

C
ONT
INU
OUS

C
ONT
INU
OUS