Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Index

Sr no. Headings Page

no.
1. Abstract 2
2. Introduction 3
3. Objective 4
4. Methodology 5
7. Conclusion 14
9. Reference 15

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Abstract

Every steel structure become strong and stable when steel sections are properly
designed and the type of connections required are selected by studying loads coming on
structure. Thus it becomes essential to know about types of steel connections.

This research represents the information on types of steel connections used mostly in
actual practice, their structural design, working, classifications, advantages and disadvantages
with diagrams.

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Introduction

Steel sections are manufactured and shipped to some standard lengths, as governed by rolling,
transportation and handling restrictions. However, most of the steel structural members used in
structures have to span great lengths and enclose large three dimensional spaces. Hence
connections are necessary to synthesize such spatial structures from one- and two-dimensional
elements and also to bring about stability of structures under different loads. Thus, connections
are essential to create an integral steel structure using discrete linear and two-dimensional (plate)
elements. A structure is only as strong as its weakest link. Unless properly designed, the
connections joining the members may be weaker than the members being joined.

However, it is desirable to avoid connection failure before member failure for the following
reasons: To achieve an economical design, usually it is important that the connections develop
the full strength of the members.
--Usually connection failure is not as ductile as that of steel member failure. Hence it is desirable
to avoid connection failure before the member failure. Therefore, design of connections is an
integral and important part of design of steel structures. They are also critical components of
steel structures, since -They have the potential for greater variability in behavior and strength,
- They are more complex to design than members.
- They are usually the most vulnerable components, failure of which may lead to the failure of
the whole structure. Thus designing for adequacy in strength, stiffness and ductility of
connections will ensure deflection control during service load and larger deflection and ductile
failure under overload. Hence, a good understanding of the behavior and design of joints and
connections in steel structures is an important pre-requisite for any good design engineer.

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Objectives

1. To collect information of Riveted connection

2. To collect information of Bolted connection

3. To collect information of Welded connection

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Methodology

Types of connections

Connections are normally made either by bolting or welding. Bolting is common in field
connections, since it is simple and economical to make. Bolting is also regarded as being more
appropriate in field connections from considerations of safety. However, welded connections,
which are easier to make and are more efficient, are usually resorted to in shop fabrications.

1. Riveted connections:

The riveted connections are nowadays obsolete. The understanding of this type of connections
for the strength evaluation and rehabilitation for an older structure is essential. While the
connection procedure for riveted connections is same as that of the bolted connections.

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Rivet:

A rivet is made up of round ductile steel bar which is called as ‘shank’ and with a head at the one
end. It is made up of mild steel or high tensile steel.

Riveting:

Riveting is the particular method of connecting together pieces of metal. This process is
conducted by inserting the ductile metal pins called as rivet into the holes of pieces to be joined
and formed a head at the end of the rivet to prevent each metal piece from coming out.

The shank of the rivet is made up of the length to the extent through the different parts which is
to be connected and with sufficient extra length for a second head to be made at the other end.

The rivets are generally classified as follows:

1. Hot driven rivets: The rivets which are driven in the hot conditions
2. Shop rivets: The rivets which are placed in workshop
3. Field rivets: The rivets which are placed in the site/field.
4. Cold driven rivets: Since high pressure is required to form the head at room temperature
this type of rivet is limited.

Clamp action:

When hot driven rivets are properly cooled down then the diameter and shank length get
reduced. Because of this, the compression of the plates occurs and that results in friction between
the plates, this process is called as clamp action.

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Disadvantages of riveted connections are as follows:

1. It is associated with very high level of noise pollution

2. There is a need to heat the rivet till red hot color.
3. Skilled labors are necessary to inspect the connection.
4. The cost to remove the poorly installed rivet is very high.
5. The high-cost installation in the connection.

Shear strength of riveted joint (Ps1) is given by formulae:

𝜋
Ps1 = N 4
𝐷²𝑃𝑠

Where,
N=Number of rivets on each side of the joint
D=Gross diameter of the rivet
Ps=Maximum permissible shear stress in the rivet

Bearing strength of the riveted joint (Pb1)

Pb1 = N x D x t x pb

Where,

D= Gross diameter of the rivet;

t=thickness of the thinnest plate;
pb= maximum permissible stress in the bearing for the rivet

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

2. Bolted Connection:

Most commonly used connections include the bolted connections. This connection has the
advantage of flexibility in assembling parts of the structure as well as dissembling it and which is
necessary if there is inspection or some routine maintenance. This type of connections is
applicable for members subjected to tension or shear or both tension and shear.

A bolt is a metal pin with a head formed at one end and the shank threaded at the other end so
that nut can be received. Generally, the bolts are used to connect the pieces of metals by inserting
them through the holes in the metals; at the threaded end, nuts should be tightened.

The advantages of bolted connections are as follows:

1. The process of erection of structure can be made faster.

2. Skilled labors are not necessary.
3. Connections do not involve the noise.
4. Requirement of labors is less.
5. Immediate use of structure is possible in case of bolted connection.
6. The alternative arrangement of structural members is possible if required.
7. Lesser working area is required.

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The disadvantages of bolted connections are as follows:

1. The material cost is very high.

2. Due to the area reduction at the root of the thread and due to concentration of stress, the
tensile strength of this type of connection is reduced.
3. Bolts get loose if it is subjected to vibrations or shocks.

Classification of bolted connections:

The classifications of bolted connections are made on the basis of resultant force transferred,
type of force and force mechanism.

On the basis of resultant force transferred:

1. Concentric connections: When the load of structural member passes through the CG of
the section then this type of connections are made.
2. Eccentric connections: Whenever the resultant force is acting away from the CG of the
connections.
3. Moment resisting connections: Whenever the connections are subjected to moments.

On the basis of type of force:

1. The connections are classified as shear connections when the transfer of load occurred
through shear. Example: lap joint, butt joint
2. Tension connection: Whenever the transfer of load occurred through tension on the bolts.
3. Combined tension shear connections: whenever the bracket connection is used to connect
the inclined member to the column of the structure.

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Shear capacity of Bolts as per IS 800

Bearing strength of Bolts as per IS 800 :

On the basis of force mechanism:

1. Bearing type connections: To transfer the force bolts bear against the hole
2. Friction type connections: Due to tensioning of the bolts the force is transferred through
friction between the plates.

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

The conventional method to analyze the connection is based on the following conditions:

1. The deformation of the connection is ignored as the connected elements of the structures
is considered as rigid connections
2. The connectors used to connect different elements of the section behave like linear –
elastic way until it fails.
3. The ductility property of connectors of the structures is unlimited.

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

3. Welded Connections

Welded connections are direct and efficient means of transferring forces from one member to the
adjacent member. Welded connections are generally made by melting base metal from parts to
be joined with weld metal, which upon cooling form the connection. The welded connections in
a majority of the cases may be categorized as fillet weld or butt (or groove) welds

The merits of the fillet welds are:

1. no prior edge preparation is necessary,
2. simple, fast and economical to make, and
3. does not require very skilled labor.

The demerits of fillet welds are:

1. not appropriate to transfer forces large in magnitude
2. poorer performance under fatigue loading, and
3. less attractive in appearance.

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Butt welds are made by butting plate surfaces against one another and filling the gap between
contact surfaces with weld metal, in the process fusing the base metal also together. In order to
ensure full penetration of the weld metal, normally the contact surfaces are cambered to obtain
gap for the weld metal to flow easily

The merits of butt welds are:

1. easily designed and fabricated to be as strong as the member,
2. better fatigue characteristics, compared to fillet welds,
3. better appearance, compared to fillet welds, and
4. easy to detail and the length of the connection is considerably reduced.

The demerits of the butt welds are:

1. more expensive than fillet welds because of the edge preparation required, and
2. require more skilled manpower, than that required for filled welds.

design strength of solid plate in yielding

is given by:

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 Types of Steel Connections Used in Actual Practice

Conclusion

From above information over ‘Types of Steel Connections’ we can conclude that, properties to
withstand coming load, vary for every type of connection when different load comes on
structure. Selecting good type of connection for steel structures make structure more strong,
stable and safe. Also failure of structure can be determined.
Thus before starting any steel structure project, it becomes important to study types of
connections, their working, classification, advantages, disadvantages, to select the best type of
connection for construction.

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Reference

1. http://www.steel-insdag.org/TeachingMaterial/chapter29.pdf
2. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0faf/2d722888ada026e906c6d1f9f6aa75c34b75.pdf
3. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1214/ML12146A141.pdf
4. Design of Steel (Ashwini A. Dixit)
5. Design of RCC (Ashwini A. Dixit)

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