CONNECTION DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

PROF. V. KALYANARAMAN
Department of Civil Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras Chennai 600036
email: kalyan@civil.iitm.ernet.in

Connection Design Requirements

Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

CONNECTION DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION COMPLEXITIES OF CONNECTIONS TYPES OF CONNECTIONS CONNECTION DESIGN PHILOSOPHY COST OF CONNECTIONS SUMMARY
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

INTRODUCTION
Necessity for Connections
Limited Length of Members
Rolling & Transportation Constraints

Larger Size of Structures

Importance of Connection
Structure is only as strong as the weakest
link Connection failure to be avoided before member failure The full strength of members is to be utilised Connection failure is usually not ductile
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

INTRODUCTION
Requirements of Connection Designs
Strength, Stiffness, and Ductility
Deflection control & stability under service load Large Defection & Ductility at Ultimate load (over load)

Connections are Complex Because

The are more complex to design than members They have greater potential for variability in behaviour & strength Most vulnerable component of a structure Failure of a connection often leads to failure of the structure
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

COMPLEXITY OF CONNECTIONS
Relaibility or Safety of a design depends on
Variability of loads
Variability of the member strength Variability of Connection Strength

Larger Uncertainty of Connections is Due to

Complexity of Connection Geometry
Highly Indeterminate Stress concentration Non-Linearity due to slip, & local yielding

Geometric Imperfections
Residual Stresses & Strains
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

COMPLEXITY OF GEOMETRY
Bolts Tee Beam Column Bracket

Angle

Flange Plate

Stiffener

Bolted Connection

Welded Connection

Connection Design Requirements

Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

COMPLEXITY OF CONNECTIONS

Connection Design Requirements

Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

COMPLEXITY OF CONNECTIONS
GEOMETRIC IMPERFECTIONS Bow in members as rolled
Lack of fit in Black Bolts in clearance holes Fabrication Errors Member deflections Welding distortions Gaps & tolerances in fabrication & erection

RESIDUAL STRESSES & STRAINS

Differential cooling after hot rolling, gas cutting & welding
Premature yielding under loading Lack of fit in bolted fabrication (Distortions)
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

TYPES OF CONNECTIONS
WELDED CONNECTIONS
Fillet welding Butt welding

BOLTED CONNECTIONS
Bearing type Friction type
Carbon steel / High strength HSFG

RIVETED CONNECTIONS
Mild steel High strength steel
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

WELDED CONNECTIONS

Fillet Welds
Connection Design Requirements

Butt welds

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BOLTED CONNECTIONS
Bearing Type:
T Bearing Stress T

Clamping Force, P0

Contact Pressure, P0

Frictional Force T

Notice slip in bearing type of connection

Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

Connection Design Requirements

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BOLTED CONNECTIONS
Friction Type: Bearing Type:
T

Notice no slip is observed inbetween plates in HSFG T Connection

Clamping Force, P0

Bearing Stress

Contact Pressure, P0

Frictional Force T
T

Connection Design Requirements

Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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Merits & Demerits

Welded Connections
Transfer of forces between elements more direct Requires little additional elements like gussets Shorter length of joints No reduction in member strength due to bolt holes etc. Rigid connections easy to achieve Requires skilled manpower Requires special equipment not easy to achieve at difficult locations less ductile prone to defects & fatigue cracks under cyclic loading
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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Merits & Demerits

Bolted Connections
Bearing Type Easy to install even at difficult locations Economical Does not require highly skilled manpower Slip causes flexible joint Joint size larger

Connection Design Requirements

Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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Merits & Demerits

Bolted Connections
Friction Type
Rigidity of connection Better fatigue performance Expensive due to material & installation labour
Requires skilled manpower Requires better inspection
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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RIGIDITY OF MOMENT CONNECTIONS

Type of connections
>90

Mr

Rigid

Hinged

Semi-Rigid

Connection Design Requirements

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RIGIDITY OF MOMENT CONNECTIONS

Moment Mr Rigid joint

Semi-rigid joint

Hinged joint

Rotation

Connection Design Requirements

Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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CONNECTION DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

Connections are complex The strength is variable Large numbers have to be designed Exact analysis: Complex but possible
Accuracy depends on assumptions Not practically feasible

Practical, simplified Methods are Appropriate

Should satisfy equilibrium Ductility requirements Fatigue strength requirements
Connection Design Requirements

(static loading) (cyclic loading)

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Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

TRANSFER OF MEMBER FORCES

Factors: Understand the expected connection behaviour.
Model this appropriately in analysis. Determine the forces and moments transferred to the connection. Consider the joint size to reduce forces transferred

Replace the forces/moments transferred by member

Equivalent system of forces on interface elements in the joint
Consider the mechanism of force transfer in the member Transfer to elements in consistency with their relative stiffness The system of forces be in equilibrium with the force to be transferred
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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TRANSFER OF MEMBER FORCES

V Critical section for block shear

(a) Connection

(b) Freebody Diagram

Connection Design Requirements

Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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FORCE FLOW IN A JOINT

Force flow is complex
High degree of indeterminacy
Local stress concentration and yielding Effect of Residual stress, which is unknown

Connection force flow Analysis

Making simplifying Assumptions sharing of forces
Satisfying Equilibrium Ensuring adequacy of strength Ensuring adequacy of stiffness Ensuring adequacy of ductility
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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SIMPLIFIED ANALYSIS OF JOINTS

Assume sharing of forces among alternate elements
Stiffer elements attract larger proportion of the imposed force Plate elements are stiff in resisting forces imposed in their plane Plate elements are flexible in resisting forces imposed out-of-plane The assumed forces may be at variance from the elastic results
Equilibrium & Compatibility are to be satisfied in elastic analysis Only equilibrium is assumed in the simplified analysis

Ensure adequacy of ductility to redistribute forces as assumed

Redistribution is necessary since assumed sharing may at variance

Ensure adequacy of strength of elements in the load path

Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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SIMPLIFIED ANALYSIS OF JOINTS

S1

S2

Connection Design Requirements

Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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COST OF CONNECTIONS
Design cost
Consumes a major portion of efforts Simplified design methods reduce the cost Standardised designs and details are desirable
Design handbook, aids and software

Fabrication / Erection cost

Repetitive use of standard details Good access, easy support, ease of joining at location Mix of automatic and manual fabrication Choice of connection method Other factors
Simple detail, simple techniques appropriate to requirement
Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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SUMMARY
Sound Connection Design Requires Understanding of
the requirement force flow relative stiffness of elements, and ductility of elements

Good design can considerably reduce cost of steel structure

Thank you for your attention

Connection Design Requirements Teaching Resource in Design of Steel Structures IIT Madras, SERC Madras, Anna Univ., INSDAG

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