240 S T E E L D E S I G N E R S ’ H A N D B O O K

The connection as a whole needs to be checked for strength and serviceability limit
states. Careful attention should be paid to the trajectory of forces all the way from the
connected member to the member being connected.
In detailing connections it is important to preserve the designer’s intent with respect
to the connection rigidity. If a pinned connection is intended, it should be detailed to
rotate freely or at least to offer only minimal resistance to rotation. However, if a fixed
connection was assumed in the analysis, then it should be detailed so as to offer adequate
stiffness to resist joint rotation.
H2

tf c
tf b Af

V* V *2 Vu V *1
Vu Pst
M* d2 d1 dp
M 2* M1*
tfb
L1
Af

kc
br c H1
V'u 5 V u 2Vus

t wc
P st
dc
(a) (b)

Figure 8.20 Design of welded moment connections: (a) geometrical dimensions; (b) forces in
column web and in stiffener plates (two beam connection shown but can be used for
single beam connections)

The design of a rigid welded connection (e.g. multi-storey beam to column connection
or portal frame knee connection) is outlined here as an example. The connection detail
shown in Figure 8.20 indicates the design action effects involved. Failure modes of the
connection of this type (to name a few) are:
• weld failure, at beam flanges and web
• column web crushing failure (web yield)
• column web fracture (upper flange area)
• column web shear buckling failure
• column web compressive buckling.
The procedure for verifiying the connection capacity is as follows.
8.9.1.2 Beam flange weld capacity
Using a simple procedure, it is assumed that the flange butt welds (CPBW) alone resist
all of the bending moment (Figure 8.20(a)):
M*
Nw* = }}
d2
 CONNECTIONS 241

where d2 is the mid-flange to mid-flange distance. As explained in Section 8.7.1.2 the

nominal butt weld capacity is then:
Nw = f y f A f
where fyf is the flange design yield stress and A f is the area of one flange. For final check
with φ = 0.9 for SP quality welds:
Nw* < φNw
It should be noted that if this inequality is not satisfied then a total member check should
be undertaken. Alternatively, if it is more than satisfied, then IPBW or continuous fillet
welds should be considered.
8.9.1.3 Beam web weld capacity
Again using simple theory, the two web fillet welds carry all the shear force but no moment:
Vw = 2vww d1 tt = 2 × (0.6fuw tt kr )d1tt
where
Vw = nominal capacity of the web fillet weld group
vww = nominal capacity of the web fillet weld per unit length
(Section 8.7.2)
fuw = nominal tensile strength of the weld metal
tt = design throat thickness of the fillet weld
kr = lap length reduction factor (taken as 1.0 in this instance)
d1 = clear web depth between flanges
Verify the web weld capacity with φ = 0.8 for SP quality welds:
V * < φVw

8.9.1.4 Column web capacity in bearing (crushing)

Load from the beam flange is dissipated through the column flange a distance of 2.5
times the depth of dissipation, which is equal to the sum of the column flange thickness
and the flange-web transition radius. This is distance kc shown in Figure 8.20(a). The
critical area of the column web is thus:
Ac w = (tf b + 5kc ) tw c
The bearing capacity of the web is thus:
Rbc = 1.25 f y c Ac w (see Section 5.8.5.2)
The design beam flange force is conservatively:
M*
Rb* f
= }}
d2
Verify capacity with φ = 0.9:
R*bf < φR b c
If the web capacity is insufficient, it will be necessary to stiffen the web. A web stiffener
is in many ways similar to a beam bearing stiffener and should be designed to Clause 5.14
of AS 4100.