CONNECTION DESIGN: Its role in Steel Detailing

By: CSF Engineering Team

CSF Phils. Continuing Education Page 1

1.) Connection Components:
SSLN Short Slot Hole Normal to Load Direction
Hole Types:
SSLP Long Slot Hole Parallel to Load Direction
STD Standard Round Hole
OVS Oversized Hole
Note: Short Slot any or all of the plies is allowed
Long Slot only in one ply is allowed


a) Snug-tightened Joints Washers are not required
Washer (Ref: 2004 RCSC Specs Sec. 6):
Hex Bolts - Crystal Steel provides washer under the nut
Sloping surfaces
For slope not greater than 1/20, washer is not required; otherwise
provide ASTM F436 beveled washer
Generally, all channels and S-shape sections need to have ASTM F436
beveled washer

b) Pretensioned Joints and Slip-Critical Joints
Hex Bolts
Waiting for the inputs from Delmar to what method of
pretensioning is used.
TC Bolts
No additional washer is required for except when Long-
Slotted Hole and diameters greater than 1 A490 are used.
See also Table 6.1 for other washer requirements.




CONNECTION DESIGN: Its role in Steel Detailing
By: CSF Engineering Team
CSF Phils. Continuing Education Page 2

SC (Slip Critical)
Bolts:
Is not a type of Bolt. It is a connection type
TC and Hex Types of bolts commonly used. The use of TC
bolts is the easiest way to achieve SC connections.

Table 6.1. Washer Requirements for Bolted Joints with
Oversized and Slotted Holes in the Outer Ply
Hole Type in Outer Ply
ASTM
Designation
Nominal
Bolt
Diameter,
d
b
, in.
Oversized Short-Slotted Long-Slotted
A325 or
F1852
-1
1
AS TM F436
a
5/16-in. -thick plate
washer or
continuous bar
b, c
A490
> 1
AS TM F436 with 5/16 in.
thickness
b, d
AS TM F436 washer
with either a 3/8-in. -
thick structural
grade plate washer
or continuous bar
b
a
This requirement shall not apply to heads of round head tension-control bolt
assemblies that meet the requirements in S ection 2. 7 and provide a bearing circle
diameter that meets the requirements of AS TM F1852.
b
Multiple washers with a combined thickness of 5/16 in. or larger do not satisfy this
requirement.
c
The plate washer or bar shall be of structural-grade steel material, but need not be
hardened.
d
Alternatively, a 3/8-in. -thick plate washer and an ordinary thickness F436 washer
may be used. The plate washer need not be hardened.
CONNECTION DESIGN: Its role in Steel Detailing
By: CSF Engineering Team
CSF Phils. Continuing Education Page 3

Fillers for bolted connection equal to or less than in. may be used without
precaution.
Fillers (Ref: AISC 360-05 Specs Sec. J5):

2.)



















Connections:
a) Generally, double angle connection has a greater capacity than Single Shear
plate connection
b) Rule of Thumb with a minimum of 3/8 plate/angle thickness

In ASD (Allowable Stress Design)
Shear Plate capacity = 10 x No. of Bolts
Double Angle capacity = 2 x 10 x No. of Bolts
Single Angle capacity = 10 x (No. of Bolts 1)
Note: For (SC) Slip Critical connections, multiply the above capacity by 0.6

In LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design)
To determine the strength of connection, multiply the above specified
strength by a factor 1.5
c) The maximum bolt gage for shear plate connection is 3 . Above this value,
the rule of thumb does not apply; the plate becomes an extended shear
plate.
d) Copes that are long and/or deep enough must be given attention.
Note that the connection plate/angle may encroach upon the fillet(s), as given
below (Ref: AISC 13
th
Edition Manual p 10-7).
k - - tf, in. encr. , in.
k
t
encr.
t
/
1
32 in.
w
f
Fillet Encroachment Chart
5/16
3/8
7/16
1/2
9/16
5/8
11/16
3/4
3/16
7/8
1
1/8
3/16
3/16
3/16
1/4
1/4
1/4
1/4
1/4
5/16
5/16
CONNECTION DESIGN: Its role in Steel Detailing
By: CSF Engineering Team
CSF Phils. Continuing Education Page 4

w
w
w 2w
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Unless otherwise noted in the contract documents, angle legs shall be welded such
as shown below.
Welding of Connection Angles (Ref: AISC 13
th
Edition Manual p 10-8).:

Single Angle Welding:
Double Angle Welding:

Painting on Slip Critical Connection Interfaces (Ref: 2004 RCSC Specs. Sec.3.2.2
Commentary):


Unqualified paint on the faying surfaces
away from the edge of the bolt hole by shall
not be less than 1 in. nor the bolt diameter.

w 2w
w
CONNECTION DESIGN: Its role in Steel Detailing
By: CSF Engineering Team
CSF Phils. Continuing Education Page 5













Moment Connections:

Doubler Plate(s) (Ref: AISC Design Guide 13)
Unless otherwise noted in the contract documents, doubler plates shall be
welded as shown below.

For cases where stiffeners are not present, extend the doubler plate to the
distance of 2.5 times the column k-distance for directly welded flange or
flange-plated moment connection and 3 times the column k-distance plus the
end-plate thickness for an extended end-plate moment connection.

Column web
Transverse
stiffener
Web doubler
plate
(a) (c)
Fillet weld made
first, remaining
gap filled
(b) (d)
Figure 4-11 Common welded joint details at top and bottom edges with one
web doubler plate and a pair of transverse stiffeners.
CONNECTION DESIGN: Its role in Steel Detailing
By: CSF Engineering Team
CSF Phils. Continuing Education Page 6






If a complete-joint-penetration groove weld is used, this can be successfully
made with slight modification to the following AWS prequalified weld joint
designations:

(a) C-L1a or C-L1a-GF for web doubler plates that meet the thickness limitation
(1/4 to 3/8) and plate edges cut square

(b) TC-U4a (series) for plate thicknesses exceeding the qualifications of (a)
with beveled plate edges

Single-bevel-groove weld (4)
T-joint (T)
Corner joint (C)
Welding
Process
Joint
Desig-
nation
Base
Metal Thickness
(U = unlimited)
Groove Preparation
Permitted
Welding
Positions
Gas
Shielding
for
FCAW Notes
Root
Opening
Groove
Angle T
1
T
2
SMAW TC-U4a U U R =
1
4 = 45 All J, Q, V
R =
3
8 = 30 F, V, OH J, Q, V
GMAW
FCAW
TC-U4a-GF U U R =
3
16 = 30 All Required A, J, Q, V
R =
3
8 = 30 F Not req. A, J, Q, V
R =
1
4 = 45 All Not req. A, J, Q, V
SAW TC-U4a-S U U R =
3
8 = 30 F J, Q, V
R =
1
4 = 45
Tolerances
As Detailed As Fit Up
R = +
1
16, 0 +
1
4,
1
16
= +10 , 0 +10 , 5
Square-groove weld (1)
Butt joint (B)
Corner Joint (C)
Welding
Process
Joint
Desig-
nation
Base
Metal Thickness
(U = unlimited)
Groove Preparation
Permitted
Welding
Positions
Gas
Shielding
for
(FCAW) Notes
Root
Opening
Tolerances
T
1
T
2
As
Detailed
As Fit
Up
SMAW B-L1a
1
4 max R = T
1
+
1
16, 0 +
1
4,
1
16
All N
C-L1a
1
4 max U R = T
1
+
1
16, 0 +
1
4,
1
16
All
GMAW
FCAW
B-L1a-GF
3
8 max R = T
1
+
1
16, 0 +
1
4,
1
16
All Not
Required
A, N
CONNECTION DESIGN: Its role in Steel Detailing
By: CSF Engineering Team
CSF Phils. Continuing Education Page 7

3.) Welding:
When load is applied perpendicular to the fillet weld, the strength of weld is
increased by a factor of 1.5. The factor decreases to 1.0 as the angle of load with
respect to the line of weld approaches to zero.
Fillet Welding
Fillet weld allowable root opening is 3/16 inch. (Ref: AISC 13
th
Edition Manual p 10-
151/AWS D.1.1 Sec. 2.2.5.2).

When connecting two plate elements, the minimum weld requirement is based
on the thinner part joined (Ref: AISC 360-05 Specs Table J2.4)
Minimum Weld Requirements
Fillet Weld Size + 1/4
Minimum Shelf Dimensions for Fillet Welds (Ref: AISC 13
th
Edition Manual p 8-18):

Use of Back gouge Waiting for Delmars input.
CJP Welding:
Use of Backing Bar



TABLE J2.4
Minimum Size of Fillet Welds
[b]
Material Thickness of Minimum Size of
Thicker Part Joined (in.) Fillet Weld[a] (in.)
To
1
inclusive
1
4

8
Over
1

4
to
1

3
2

16
Over
1

2
to
3

1
4

4
Over
3

5
4

16
[a] Leg dimension of fillet welds. Single pass welds must be used.
[b] See Section J2.2b for maximum size of fillet welds.
CONNECTION DESIGN: Its role in Steel Detailing
By: CSF Engineering Team
CSF Phils. Continuing Education Page 8

Permissible Offset in abutting member :






Note: An offset not exceeding 10% of the thickness of the thinner part joined, but in no case more than 1/8 in [3 mm], may be allowed as
a departure from the theoretical alignment.
Note: n correcting misalignment that exceeds the allowance, the parts shall not be drawn to a slope greater than 1/2 in [12 mm] in 12 in
[300 mm

].
CONNECTION DESIGN: Its role in Steel Detailing
By: CSF Engineering Team
CSF Phils. Continuing Education Page 9

4.) Brace and Beam Connections issues:
a) Moving Clips and Bolt
position along the
Beam Web in Shear
Connection
Clips and Bolts can be moved (deviate from the
design calcs) without any adverse effect on the
strength of the connection. This is also valid
for single plate shear connection.
b) Moving Clips and Bolts
position along the
Beam Web in Brace
Connection
To avoid connection constructability problem,
detailers, most of the time are forced to deviate
from the design calcs by moving or adjusting
clips and bolt positions. This has to be
confirmed with the design engineer: a re-calcs
maybe necessary.
Brace beam is designed for both Shear and
Axial forces. Slight change in Clips and Bolts
position affects stress distribution. Ideally, in
brace connection, the center of bolt group and
center of clips must coincide with the line of
force to eliminate moment due to eccentricity.
c) Changing the geometry
of gusset plates
If changing gusset plate geometry due to
constructability issue is inevitable, it has to be
verified with the design engineer for a possible
re-calcs. Gusset plate is shaped using Uniform
Force Method a method that determines the
location and distribution of forces such that no
moments are induced in column and beam
interfaces. Changing the dimension of gusset
plate in either interface creates eccentricity
and induces moment on the supporting
member (column or beam).