Title Slide

STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY

a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY :

a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

Structural Steel Connections

STEEL
S T E E L

American Institute of Steel Construction1

STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY PRODUCTION TEAM College of Architecture
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture UNC - Charlotte
Project Director
Slide Design & Graphics David Thaddeus, AIA

Modeling & Animations Deborah J. Arbes, RA

Joe Corsi
Dave Mayo
Production Assistants

Jennifer August
Brittany Eaker
Kathy Phillips
IT Coordination
Photography
Matt Parker
David Thaddeus, AIA
Software John Cerny
S T E E L

For additional information, PowerPoint

please contact: Photoshop
College of Architecture, Cinema 4D (Mac)
UNC-Charlotte
David Thaddeus, AIA, Associate Professor
Thaddeus@[Link]

2
Structural Steel Connections | CREDITS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Acknowledgements

 This project was made possible through funding from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
with support from the College of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte

 Special thanks to the following people at AISC for their support and help over the duration of the project:
Fromy Rosenberg,PE, Director, AISC University Programs
Megan Maurer, Coordinator, AISC University Programs

 The following people have my sincere gratitude for serving on the Focus Group and offering their
comments and feedback in the development of this project :
Kurt Baumgartner, AIA, JIA, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Terri Meyer Boake, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
Thomas Fowler, Associate Professor, California Polytechnic State University
Harry Kaufman, PE, NCARB, Professor, Southern Polytechnic State University
Kemp Mooney, Kemp Mooney Architects Tim Mrozowski, AIA,
Professor, Michigan State University
S T E E L

Ryan Smith, Assistant Professor, University of Utah

 The following AISC members have provided invaluable insight into the content of this teaching aid:
Ron Bruce, PE, President, Builders Steel Company, North Kansas City, MO
Lawrence Kruth, PE, Engineering & Safety Manager, Douglas Steel, Lansing, MI
David McKenzie, PE, Vice President - Engineering, SP International, North Kansas City, MO

3
Structural Steel Connections | ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
Terms

 The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) is a non-profit technical

institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel
design community and construction industry in the United States.
AISC is offering this teaching aid and learning tool for educational purposes only.
The data and information in this presentation is not intended for use in the
physical construction of steel structures.
The information presented here is considered public information and as such may
be distributed or copied. The use of appropriate credit to for images, byline,
animations, and content is requested.
 We hope that you and your students will find this information useful.
S T E E L

 Please contact Fromy Rosenberg (rosenberg@[Link]) for further information

on AISC or for feedback on this teaching / learning product.
 Please contact David Thaddeus (thaddeus@[Link]) for questions or
comments on the content of this project.

4
Structural Steel Connections | TERMS
 Contents
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Structural Steel Connections
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

Steel to Steel Connections

 Overview
Bolted Connections
Welded Connections
Comparison
 Shear Connections
 Moment Connections
 Column Splices

 Additional Animations

Roller Connection
Curtain Wall to Steel Frame
S T E E L

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Module III
Contents :
Structural Steel Connections | CONTENTS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
Steel Connections | Overview

 Connections are the glue that

holds a steel structure together.
 Historically, most major structural failures have
been due to some form of connection failure.

Connections depend on:

S T E E L

 Type of loading
 Strength and stiffness
 Economy
 Difficulty or ease of erection

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Structural Steel Connections | OVERVIEW
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

 Steel connections have a direct influence

on the cost of the framing system.

 While a connection may be efficient in the use

of material, it may still be very expensive to erect.

 Repetitive connection design may save costs.

S T E E L

7
Structural Steel Connections | OVERVIEW
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture  Most connections have the connecting material (plates,angles, …) attached
to one member in the fabrication shop and to the other members in the field.
 It is a common practice to weld shop attachments and to bolt field attachments.
 If the supporting girder and a supported beam have the same depth,
the supported beam must be double coped.
 End-plate connections are always shop welded.
S T E E L

8
Structural Steel Connections | OVERVIEW
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Bolted Connections

 Bolting is the preferred method of

connecting members on the site.
Staggered bolt layout allows easier
access for tightening with a pneumatic
wrench when a connection is all bolted .
 High strength bolts may be snug-tightened
or slip-critical.
 Snug-tightened connections are referred
to as bearing connections
 Bolts in a slip-critical connection act like
S T E E L

clamps holding the plies of the material

together.

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Structural Steel Connections | BOLTED CONNECTIONS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

 Bearing type connections may have

threads Cy Twombly Gallery. Houston, Texas
Renzo Piano
included ( Type N ) or excluded ( Type X )
from the shear plane(s).
 Including the threads in the shear plane
reduces the strength of the connection
by approximately 25%.
 Loading along the length of the bolt
puts the bolt in axial tension.
 If tension failure occurs, it usually takes
S T E E L

place at the threaded section.

Milwaukee Art Museum. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Santiago Calatrava

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Structural Steel Connections | BOLTED CONNECTIONS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

 Three types of high strength bolts

A325, A490 (Hexagonal Head Bolts),
and F1852 (Button Head Bolt)

 A325 may be galvanized

Slotted holes allow for thermal
A490 bolts must not be galvanized expansion / contraction
F1852 bolts are mechanically galvanized
 High strength bolts are most commonly
available in 5/8” – 1 ½” diameters
 Bolting requires punching or drilling of
holes
S T E E L

 Holes may be standard size holes,

oversize holes, short slotted holes,
long slotted holes

Oversize holes allow for tolerance

in assembling the frame

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Structural Steel Connections | BOLTED CONNECTIONS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Welded Connections
 Due to high costs of labor, extensive field -welding
is the most expensive component in a steel frame.
 Welding should be performed on bare metal.
 Shop welding is preferred over field welding.
 The weld material should have a higher strength than the pieces being connected.
S T E E L

De Menil Collection Museum BCE Place Galleria

Houston . Texas Toronto . Canada
Renzo Piano Santiago Calatrava10

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Structural Steel Connections | WELDED
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

 Single-pass welds are more economical

than multi-pass welds.

 The most economical size weld

that may be horizontally deposited
in one pass has 5/16”.
Miller Outdoor Theater
 Fillet welds and groove welds make up Houston . Texas.
the majority of all structural welds.

 The strength of a fillet weld is directly

proportional to the weld’s throat dimension.
S T E E L

 The capacity of a weld depends on the

weld’s throat dimension and its length

Crown Hall at IIT Campus

Chicago . Illinois
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

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Structural Steel Connections | WELDED CONNECTIONS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Shear Connections
 Shear connections are the most prevalent
type of connections in a steel frame building.
 Shear connections are called simple connections –
Since they are assumed not to transfer bending moment,
thus allowing end rotation of the member.
 Shear connections may be made to the web of the
supported member while the flanges remain unconnected.
S T E E L

Cantilevered Beam with Shear splice Shear Connections transfer load from beam web
to column flange. No moment transfer occurs
since the flanges are free to rotate

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR CONNECTIONS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

The Corning Museum of Glass

Corning . New York
Smith - Miller + Hawkinson

 The weld
Seat or material
hangershould have a higher
connections strength
are the onlythan
typetheofpieces
shearbeing connected. that connect to the
connections
flange
of the supported beam.
S T E E L

 Angles for shear connections may be attached to supporting members by bolting or

welding.
 Although single plate connections, are the most economical, they must always be
evaluated
for eccentricity.
 Single angle connections maintain end-rotation for flexible connections.
 Single angle connections tend to have lower load capacities than double-angle
connections. 15
Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR CONNECTIONS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Moment Connections

 Moment connections are also called rigid connections.

 Moment connections carry a portion or the full
moment capacity of the supported member thus
preventing any end-rotation of the member.
 Moment connections are typically designed
to also carry the shear component of the load.
S T E E L

The Royal Ontario Museum

Toronto . Canada
Daniel Libeskind

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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT CONNECTIONS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

 Moment connections provide continuity

between
the supported and supporting members.
 Relative rotation between the supporting
and supported members is negligible.
 The flanges of the supported member are
attached to either a connection element or
directly to the supporting member.
S T E E L

The De Menil Collection Museum

Houston . Texas
Renzo Piano

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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT CONNECTIONS
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Steel Connections | Welding vs. Bolting

WELDING BOLTING

Advantages: Advantages:

• Eliminates need for punching or • Easy method of connecting members

drilling. on the site.
• Simplifies complicated joints. • Field-bolting is cheaper than
field-welding.
S T E E L

Disadvantages:
Disadvantages:
• Greater level of skill required
for welding than bolting • Requires drilling or punching through
• More expensive than bolting. all plies.

• Weld inspection is required and is

expensive.

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Structural Steel Connections | WELDING vs. BOLTING
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Bolted Double Angle | Field-Bolted Beam to Girder or Column
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
 Double angles are shop-bolted to the web of the beam.
 If the beam and girder have the same depth, then both
flanges of the beam are coped to meet flush with the top
flange of the girder.
 The double angles are then field-bolted to the web
of the girder.
 The holes on the beam and the girder may be offset
with respect to each other for ease of fastening.
 Some rotation is possible in the gap between the beam
flanges and the column web. This happens by the yielding
of the connection material (the outstanding angle leg)
S T E E L

 This is a shear connection since the double Angles are

fastened to the web, and transfer the load in shear.
 The bolts on the beam web are in double shear.
Those on the girder web are in single shear.

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 1
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Bolted Double Angle | Field-Bolted Beam to Girder or Column
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 1
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Bolted Beam to Girder or Column
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture  Double angles are shop-welded to the web of the beam.
 If the beam and girder have different depth, the top flange of the
beam is coped to meet flush with the top flange of the girder.
 The double angles are then field-bolted to the web of the girder.
 Some rotation is possible in the gap between the beam flanges and the
column web. This happens by the yielding of the connection material
(the outstanding angle leg).
 This is a shear connection since the double angles are fastened to the web,
and transfer the load in shear.
 The bolts on the girder web are in single shear.
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 2
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Bolted Beam to Girder
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 2
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Welded Beam to Column Web
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
 Double angles are shop-welded
to the web of the beam.
 If the beam flanges are too wide to fit in between
the column flanges, the beam flanges will be coped.
 Some rotation is possible in the gap between
the beam flanges and the column web. This
happens by the yielding of the connection
material (the outstanding angle leg)
 This is a shear connection since the double angles
are fastened to the webs of the beam and column.
 The vertical segment of the weld transfers the
S T E E L

load from the beam web to the column web.

 Welding all around the outstanding leg will
inhibit the flexibility of the connection.
 The weld at the top is limited to a weld-return.
 The weld at the bottom is optional.

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 3
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Welded Beam to Column Web
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 3
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Welded Beam to Column Web
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

 End plate is shop-welded to the web of the beam.

 Holes in the end plate are drilled in the shop.
 Some rotation is possible in the gap between the
beam flanges and the column web. This happens
by the yielding of the connection material
(the outstanding angle leg) The end plate is then
field-bolted to the web of the girder.
 This is a shear connection as the end plate is
fastened to the web of the girder (beam flanges
are not secured against rotation)
S T E E L

 The bolts attaching the end plate to the girder

web are in single shear.

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 4
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Double Angle | Field-Bolted Column Web
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 4
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Seat (Unstiffened) | Field-Bolted Seat to Column Flange
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
 The angles are pre-drilled or punched in the shop
before they are welded to the flanges of the girder.
 The bottom angle is called the seat.
 The seat is where the girder transfers its load
to the column in bearing.
 The top angle provides stability to the girder.
 The seat angle is larger and thicker since it
transfers the load from the girder to the column.
 Unlike others, this shear connection is not
made to the web.
S T E E L

 The bolts attaching the seat angle to the column

flange are in single shear.

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 5
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Seat (Unstiffened) | Field-Bolted Seat to Column Flange
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 5
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Shop-Welded Single Plate | Field-Bolted Plate to Beam or Column

 The single plate is pre-drilled or punched and

then shop-welded to the web of the girder.
 The beam may be swung into place instead of
lowered into place.
 The top flange of the beam is coped to match
the girder elevation.
 This is a shear connection since the single plate
is fastened to the web of the beam.
 The bolts shown are in single shear.
S T E E L

 This connection can transfer a small amount of

moment to the supporting member

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 6
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Single Plate | Field-Bolted Plate to Beam Web
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | SHEAR 6
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Flange Plates | Field-Bolted Girder to Column
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
 The top and bottom flange plates are pre- drilled
and then shop-welded to the column.
 The single plate is shop-bolted to the web of the
girder.
 The top and bottom flange plates are field-bolted
to the girder flanges.
 The single plate is field-welded to the column web. The Corning Museum of Glass
Corning . New York
 The flange plates are cut to fill the space between Smith - Miller + Hawkinson

the column flanges.

 The corners of the flange plates are clipped to eliminate the development
of stress concentrations at the re-entrant (back) corners.
S T E E L

 These corners are left open and are not welded.

 The single plate on the girder web transfers shear to the column.
 The flange plates prevent rotation and thus the transfer of moment forces
to the column
 Allowance for shims must be made. Mill tolerance on beam depth
needs
to be accommodated
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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT 1
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Flange Plates | Field-Bolted Girder to Column
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT 1
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Flange Plates | Field-Bolted Girder to Column
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
 The top and bottom flanges are pre-drilled
and then shop-welded to the column.
 The single plate is shop-bolted to the web of the girder.
 The top and bottom flange plates are field-welded
to the girder flanges.
 The single plate is field-welded to the column web.
 The flange plates are cut to fill the space between
the column flanges.
 The corners of the flange plates are clipped
to eliminate the development of stress
concentrations at the re-entrant (back) corners.
S T E E L

 These corners are left open and are not welded.

 The single plate on the girder web transfers shear to the column
 The flange plates prevent rotation and thus the transfer of moment
forces to the column, which makes this a moment connection
 Allowance for shims must be made.
Mill tolerance on beam depth needs to be accommodated

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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT 2
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Flange Plates | Field-Bolted Girder to Column
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT 2
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
Shop-Welded End Plate | Field-Bolted Girder to Column

 The end plate is pre-drilled and shop-welded

to the end of the girder.
 The corresponding holes in the column flange
are pre-drilled.
 The two transverse stiffener plates are shop-
welded to secure the column flanges against
the load transferred from the girder flanges.
 Extended end-plate connections require
tight fabrication and erection tolerances.
 Extended end plate prevents rotation and thus
transfers moment forces to the column, which
S T E E L

makes this a moment connection.

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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT 3
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded Plate | Field-Bolted Girder to Column
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT 3
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Field-Bolted Moment Splice | Girder to Girder or Column Connection
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
 All holes in this connection are
pre-drilled in the shop.
 The web and flanges of each girder
are pre-drilled.
 (2) Shear plates are field-bolted in
each side of the webs.
The Royal Ontario Museum
 The plates that attach the (2) webs to each Toronto . Canada
Daniel Libeskind
other are responsible for transferring shear.
 Pre-drilled flange plates are field-bolted to
the top and bottom flanges.
S T E E L

 The flange plates are responsible for

transferring
bending moments across the connection.
 The bolts fastening the web plates
are in double shear.
 The flange plates prohibit any rotation
and so this is a moment connection.

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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT 4
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Field-Bolted Moment Splice | Girder to Girder or Column Connection
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | MOMENT 4
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded or Shop Bolted Splice | Connecting Two Different Columns
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

 The plates are pre-punched and then shop-welded

to the lower (larger) column.
 The flange splice plates are field-bolted together.
 If the two columns have the same depth, but different flange thickness,
then a filler plate or shim is used to make up the difference in thickness.
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | COLUMN SPLICE 1
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded or Shop Bolted Splice | Connecting Two Different Size Columns
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | COLUMN SPLICE 1
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture Field - Welded Column Splice

 A temporary plate or erection aid

is either welded or bolted to the
web and / or flange of the lower
(larger) column in the shop.
 Flange plates may also be
required for stability of the
column during erection.
 This plate helps align the upper
and lower columns.
Steel Columns are most economical when
 The upper and lower columns they extend over 2 or more stories
may be of different sizes.
S T E E L

 The flanges and webs of the

two columns are field- welded
to each other.
 This type of weld is called a
groove weld.

Groove welds

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Structural Steel Connections | COLUMN SPLICE 2
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Shop-Welded, Field - Bolted Column Splice
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | COLUMN SLPICE 2
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Thermal Expansion and Contraction for a Highway Girder on a Roller Connection
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | Rock & Roll Connection
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY Curtain Wall Connection to a Steel Frame
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | Envelope to Frame
STRUCTURE OF THE EVERYDAY
a teaching primer for colleges of architecture

the end
S T E E L

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Structural Steel Connections | The American Institute of Steel Construction