Beam to Column connection design

CONNECTIONS WITH DOWELS

shows the end connection of a beam to a supporting column.

In the case (a) two
dowels protrude from the top of the column and enter into the sleeves inserted in the beam. The sleeves
are filled with no-shrinkage mortar of adequate strength to ensure by bond the anchorage of the dowels.
The anchorage can also be ensured providing the dowels with a cap fixed at the top with a screwed nut. In
any case the sleeve shall be filled in with mortar to avoid hammering under earthquake conditions.

Strength

The following indications about the mechanical behaviour of this type of connection leaves out of
consideration the friction that sets up between the parts due to the weight of the supported element. In
fact in seismic conditions, under the contemporary horizontal and vertical shakes, the connection shall
work instantly also in absence of weight.

Behaviour models

This type of connection provides an hinged support in the vertical plane of the beam and a full
support in the orthogonal vertical plane. In the longitudinal direction of the beam the horizontal force R is
transmitted through the shear resistance of the connection (see Figure-a), which is given by the shear
resistance of the dowels and their local flexure between the elements in correspondence of the bearing
pad. In the transverse direction, omitting the vertical gravity loads, the connection transmits a shear force
V together with the corresponding moment M (see Figure-b).

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 Beam to Column connection design

R= V=

M=

01.Check for breaking of the dowel connection due to combined shear, tension and flexure

With reference to Figure -a, for the action of a given force R evaluated by capacity design with
respect to the resistance of the critical sections of the structure using the due overstrength factor ɣR°, the
following verifications shall be made.

Rd = 0.90 n ɸ2 √[ fyd fcd ( 1 -α2 ) ] ≥ R

R - Resistance force = 50 kN

n - number of dowels = 2 Nos

ɸ - diameter of dowels = 25 mm

fck - characteristic compressive strength of concrete = 40 N/mm2

fyk - characteristic yield strength of steel = 500 N/mm2

σ -normal tensile stress due to other possible = 435 N/mm2

contemporary effects on the dowel

α = σ / fyk = 0.87

ɣC - Partial factor for concrete = 1.5

fcd=fck/ɣC = 26.67 N/mm2

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 Beam to Column connection design

ɣs - Partial factor for steel = 1.2

fyd=fyk/ɣs = 416.67 N/mm2

Rd = 58.47 kN ≥ 50 kN

Hence Ok

02. spalling of the concrete edge of the beam due to tensile stresses

beam edge

RRk = 1.4 k ɸα hβ √(fck,cube c3) Ѱre

c - edge distance of the dowel axis = 70 mm c/ɸ<6

Hence Ok
h=8ɸ - effective length of the dowel = 200 mm

b - width of the column = 300 mm

n - number of dowels = 2 nos

Ѱre = 1.4

α = 0.1 (h / c)0.5 = 0.17

β = 0.1 (ɸ / c)0.2 = 0.07

k = b/(3c)≤ n = 1.43 Hence Ok

RRK= 25.35 KN

03. flexural failure of the bearing section due to the action of M;

MRd = As fyd z ≥ M

M - factored moment = 12 kNm

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 Beam to Column connection design

As - sectional area of the dowel = 981.7477 mm2

z lever arm of the couple of forces in the bearing print = 300 mm

(z≈d may be assumed with d spacing of the two dowels)

MRD= 122.72 kNm ≥ 12

Hence Ok

04.pull-out of the tensioned dowel under the action due to M

lb u fbd ≥ ɣR As fym

lb - anchorage length of the dowels in the beam = 800 mm

u - its perimeter = 78.5 mm

fmd design cylinder compressive strength of the mortar = 32 N/mm2

fbd = 0.45 fmd - ultimate bond strength = 24 N/mm2 (8.4.2EC2)

fym = 1,08 fyk - mean yielding stress of the steel = 540 N/mm2

ɣR = 1.2

lb u fbd ≥ ɣR As fym = 1507.2 kN ≥ 636.1725 kN

Hence Ok

05. sliding shear failure under the action of V.

VRd ≥ V

V- the connection transmits a shear force = 210 kN

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 Beam to Column connection design

Vdd - resistance of the shear resisting (comp) dowel = 134.5309 kN

Vdd = 1.3 As √(fcd fyd)

x - depth of its compressed part = 50 mm

Vfd - sliding resistance of the compressed concrete = 100 kN

Vfd = 0.25 b x fcd

VRd = Vdd + Vfd = 234.5309 kN

VRd ≥ V = 234.53088 kN ≥ 210 kN

Hence Ok

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