INSTITUT D’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPÉRIEUR DE RUHENGERI
B.P. 155, Ruhengeri, Rwanda
T : +250 788 90 30 30, +250 788 90 30 32, W : [Link], E : info@[Link]
Module Title: Structures III (Emerging Technology and
Disaster Prevention)
Module Code: ARC 80739
Year: IV Semester:
Lecturer: MEng. Abdou NIYITANGAMAHORO
Indicative content
Unit 1: Design of steel structures
Unit 1.1: Introduction
Unit 1.2: Design methods and actions on structures
Unit 1.3: Materials properties and steel sections
Unit 1.4: Beams
Unit 1.5: Columns
Unit 1.6: Trusses
Unit 2: Connections
Unit 3: Timber design
UNIT 2
Steel Connections
Why connections are needed?
Connections are needed to join:
(a) members together in trusses and lattice girders;
(b) plates together to form built-up members;
(c) beams to beams,trusses, bracing, etc. beam to
columns in structural frames, and
(d) columns to foundations.
Types of connections
Connections may be made by:
bolting - non-preloaded bolts in standard clearance
or oversize holes;
-preloaded or friction-grip bolt; and
welding - fillet and
-butt welds.
Bolted connections
Types of bolted connections
1. Steel Connection - Base Plate, Inner
A base plate steel connection is a type of steel connection
that uses a base plate to transfer loads from a steel column
to a concrete foundation. The base plate is a thick steel plate
that is welded to the bottom of the column. The base plate is
then bolted to the concrete foundation with high-strength
bolts. Base plate steel connections are commonly used in
high-rise buildings and other structures that require a strong
and rigid connection between the columns and the
foundation.
Inner Bolt Base Plate Steel Connections are
available in a range of sizes with plate widths and
depths between 5.1”-20.4” (13-51.8 cm) and
typical plate thicknesses between .47”-1.18” (12-
30 mm).
Steel Connection - Base Plate, Outer
Bolts
Outer Bolt Base Plate Steel Connections are available in a
range of sizes with plate widths and depths between 7.56”-
30.16” (19.2-76.6 cm) and typical plate thicknesses
between .47”-1.18” (12-30 mm).
A base plate steel connection with outer bolts is a type
of connection that uses bolts located on the perimeter
of the column to transfer forces from the column to the
foundation. The base plate is a thick steel plate that is
welded to the bottom of the column. The base plate is
then bolted to the foundation using a series of anchor
bolts. The anchor bolts are typically located on the
perimeter of the base plate, outside of the column. This
type of connection is commonly used in high-rise
buildings and other structures where high loads need to
be transferred from the columns to the foundation.
Steel Connection - Base Plate,
Stiffeners
A stiffener base plate steel connection is a type of
connection used in structural steel construction. It
consists of a base plate, which is a large metal plate
that is welded to the bottom of a column, and
stiffeners, which are smaller metal plates that are
welded to the base plate. The stiffeners help to
increase the stiffness of the base plate and prevent it
from buckling under load. This type of connection is
often used in tall buildings and other structures that
are subjected to high loads.
Stiffener Base Plate Steel Connections are available
in a range of sizes with plate widths and depths
between 7.56”-30.16” (19.2-76.6 cm), overall
heights from 1.93”-6.85” (4.9-17.4 cm), and plate
thicknesses between .47”-1.18” (12-30 mm).
Steel Connection - Cleat, Flange
A flange cleat steel connection is a type of
structural steel connection that uses a metal plate,
called a cleat, to connect two beams or columns
together. The cleat is welded or bolted to the
flanges of the beams or columns, and the beams or
columns are then connected to each other by bolts
or welds. Flange cleat connections are typically
used in light- to medium-duty applications, such as
warehouses, office buildings, and schools.
Flange Cleat Steel Connections are available in a
range of sizes with plate widths between 1.5”-4.9”
(3.9-12.5 cm), depths of 2.5”-10” (6.4-25.4 cm),
and an overall height of 1.5”-4.9” (3.9-12.5 cm).
Plate thicknesses are commonly between .35”-.87”
(9-22 mm).
Steel Connection - Cleat, Web
Steel Connection - End Plate
Steel Connection - End Plate,
Extended
An extended end plate steel connection is a type of
moment connection that uses a steel plate welded to
the end of a beam section to transfer forces between
the beam and an adjacent member. The end plate
extends beyond the beam flanges, allowing for the use
of bolts other than between the flanges. Haunched steel
angles are typically added for increased strength.
Extended end plate connections are typically used in
frames subject to heavy lateral loadings or near
inflection points of gable frames. They are also used for
beam-to-column moment connections.
Steel Connection - Plate, Flange
A flange plate steel connection is a type of moment-
resisting connection that uses steel plates to transfer
forces between beams and columns. The flange
plates are attached to the top and bottom of the
beam flanges, and they are welded or bolted to the
column flanges. The flange plates provide a large
surface area for the forces to be transferred, which
makes the connection very strong. Flange plate
connections are often used in steel buildings because
they are quick and easy to construct, and they are
very strong.
Steel Connection - Plate, Gusset
A gusset plate steel connection is a type of structural
connection that uses a flat, triangular or rectangular
plate of metal (the gusset plate) to connect two or
more steel members together. The gusset plate is
typically made of high-strength steel and is welded or
bolted to the members. Gusset plate connections are
commonly used in steel buildings, bridges and other
structures. They are a versatile and efficient way to
connect steel members, and they can be designed to
accommodate a wide range of loads and forces.
Non-preloaded bolts
Bolts, nuts and washers
Design strengths
Bolting
In order to overcome the problems of tolerance in
the bolt diameters and drilling, it is customary to
drill holes greater in diameter than that of the
bolt. The normal allowances are 2 mm for bolts up
to 24 mm in diameter and 3 mm for larger bolts.
The capacity of each bolt is determined from the
strength multiplied by the appropriate area as
follows:
(a)Shear capacity
The shear capacity, PS, of a bolt should be taken
as:
𝑃𝑆 = 𝑝𝑠 𝐴𝑠
Where:
ps is the shear strength obtained from Table 30
(b) Bearing capacity
The bearing capacity, Pbb of a bolt should be
taken as:
𝑃𝑏𝑏 = 𝑑 ∗ 𝑡𝑝 ∗ 𝑝𝑏𝑏
Where:
d is the nominal diameter
tp is the thickness of the connected part, or, if
the bolts are countersunk, the thickness of the
part minus half the depth of countersinking
pbb is the bearing strength of the bolt obtained
from Table 31 of the code (BS 5950-1).
(c) Tension capacity
The tension capacity, Pt, of a bolt (including
countersunk bolts) should be taken as:
𝑃𝑡 = 𝑝𝑡 𝐴𝑡
where:
pt is the tension strength obtained from BS 5950
Table 34
At is the tensile stress area as defined earlier
When bolts are subjected to both shear and
tension then the following relationship should
be satisfied:
Where:
Fs is the applied shear
Ft is applied tension
Ps the shear capacity
Pt is the tension capacity
Minimum spacing:
The spacing between centres of bolts should not
be less than 2.5 times the nominal diameter of
the bolt to ensure that they are fully effective.
Maximum spacing in unstiffened plates:
The spacing between centres of two adjacent
bolts in a line lying in the direction of stress
should not exceed 14t where t is the thickness
of the thinner element.
Where the members are exposed to corrosive
influences, the maximum spacing of bolts in any
direction should not exceed 16t or 200mm,
where t is the thickness of the thinner outside
plate.
Minimum edge and end distances:
Maximum edge or end distances:
The maximum distance to the nearest line of bolts
from an edge of any unstiffened part should not
exceed 11t. This rule does not apply to bolts
interconnecting the components of back-to-back
tension members.
Where the members are exposed to corrosive
influences, the maximum edge distance should
not exceed 40 mm + 4t, where t is the thickness
of the thinnest part.
standard dimensions of holes for non-preloaded
bolts(Table 33 of BS 5950: Part 1 ):
Welded connections
Welding is the process of joining metal parts by
fusing them and filling in with molten metal from
the electrode.
Types of welds
Arc-welding process
• The most widely used process of welding for
structural purposes is arcwelding.
In this process the electrode, held in a suitable holder,
is brought close to the metal area to be welded,
forming an arc between the tip of the electrode and
the work. At the instant the arc is formed, a
temperature of 3 500 oC is reached, causing melting
at the tip of the electrode and the local regions of the
parts to be connected.
The molten metal, when exposed to the atmosphere,
combines chemically with oxygen and nitrogen
forming oxides and nitrides. This reduces its ductility
and makes it less resistant to corrosion.
To prevent this, the arc is shielded by an inert gas
which completely envelops the molten metal and the
tip of the electrode.
• The process, as described above, will normally
be used for small scale welding in the shop
and on site; however, if a project is to be
largely welded, then other methods of
welding will be adopted. The most common
are:
Automatic welding using a continuous coated
electrode.
The welding head is fed along the line of the
weld by means of a tractor or carriage, moved
by a small electric motor at a constant speed to
ensure a consistent weld.
Submerged arc-welding (SA)
The submerged arc process is similar to the
automatic process in that a tractor carries the
welding head along the weld, but in this instance
the weld metal is shielded from the air by means
of a flux powder poured onto the molten metal
from a hopper.
Gas shielded welding – metal arc inert gas (MIG)
The gas (MIG) welding process again uses a
moving tractor to carry the welding head but
this time the weld metal is protected by means
of a stream of carbon dioxide gas which flows
continuously round the weld. This process has
very good penetration properties.
Advantages of welding
• Welded structures are lighter, because of the
general absence of bolts, gusset plates and other
joining features.
• In general, welded structures are more economical.
• In external work, joints can be completely sealed by
welding the edges all round and so made safe
against corrosion.
• Welding allows the designer greater freedom
in the selection and the arrangement of the
component parts of a member
• The rigidity of welded structures is greater
than that of bolted ones
• A welded structure may be made more
aesthetically pleasing.
Disadvantages of welding
• There is a tendency for welded structures to
become distorted due to the uneven heating
and cooling caused by the welding.
• More care is called for in fabrication and
greater supervision is required.
• The detection of faults is more difficult and
more expensive than in a bolted construction.
The testing of welds may involve radiography
or magnetic particle, ultrasonic or dye
penetrant techniques.
• Surfaces to be welded must be clean and dry,
and the achievement of these conditions
presents some difficulties on site, in the wet
climate
• After welding, it is essential to see that the
weld and surrounding areas are properly
cleaned and all loose material removed. The
affected areas should then be given full
protection against corrosion to match the
remainder of the structure.
In lap joints the lap length should not be less
than four times the thickness of the thinner
plate;