5/5/2011

CENG 6507-
Steel Structures

CENG 6507 - Steel Structures

Course Instructor: Dr.-techn. Medhanye B.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING CHAIR

ETHIOPIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
MEKELLE UNIVERSITY

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COURSE CONTENTS
1. Manufacture of Structural Steel Sections for
constructional purposes

2. Plastic analysis and design

3. Structural joints and connections:

detailing, end plate connections

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3. STRUCTURAL JOINTS
AND CONNECTIONS

WHY/WHEN DO WE USE STRUCTURAL JOINTS

AND CONNECTIONS?
• Cross/secondary beam-to-main beam/girder
• Beam-to-Beam; Beam-to-column
• Bracket-to-column; Column-to-column
• Member-to-member & member-to-gusset plate
connection of truss systems; Purlin-to-rafter
• Braces-to-columns/beams
• Flange-to-web connection in plate girders
• Stiffeners in plate girders
• Stiffener plates at column joints
• Column base-to-concrete core

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Joints and connections

Typical beam-to-column joints

(a) Simple joint; (b) Semi-rigid joint; (c) Rigid joint

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pinned

Simple joint (pinned)

rigid, full strength

Rigid joint (continuous)

Frame rigidity

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Simple/semi-rigid beam-to-column connections

Rigid beam-to-column connections

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Simple/semi-rigid beam-to-beam connections

Rigid beam-to-beam connections

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Typical bracing connections

Horizontal bracing connections

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Vertical bracing connections

Typical Column splices

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Typical Column bases

Typical Column base-to-concrete core joints

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Requirements of a good joint

• It should be rigid enough to avoid
fluctuating stresses which may cause
fatigue failure.
• It should be such that there is the least
possible weakening of the parts to be
joined.
• It should be easy to install, inspect and
maintain

Types of joints and connections

The components which make up the completed steel
member or structure are fastened together by means
of:
• Riveted joints
• Bolted joints
• Welded joints
• Combination of
the above types
• Pin joints

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Pin joint

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Riveted joints
• In the past, hot-driven rivets were extensively
used in structural joints. Rivets fill completely the
holes in which they are driven
• They were often used in the same way as
ordinary structural bolts are used in shear,
bearing and in tension joints.
• Nowadays, rivets are rarely used in steel
structures
• In EBCS-3 rivets are treated in a similar fashion
to bolts

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Bolted joints
Two types of bolts are commonly used for steel
structures:
• Ordinary (or unfinished, rough, common…) bolt

Non-preloaded bolt. Satisfactory for use in building frames
not subject to shock or vibration. Various types of locknuts
can be used to prevent loosening where shock and
vibration are a consideration.

It is popular because of its low cost, both to buy and to
install.
• High-strength bolt

Tightened to large tensions which produce high clamping
forces between the connected parts.

Bolts

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• Bolt holes are made larger than the bolt diameter to

facilitate erection and to allow for inaccuracies.

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Bolt & plate forces

Bolts in direct shear

Bolts may be arranged to act in single shear or
double shear:

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Bolts in direct shear

Bolts may be arranged to act in single shear or
double shear:

Bolts in direct shear

Bolts in direct shear can fail in the following four
ways:
1. By shear on the bolt shank
2. By bearing on the member or bolt
3. By tension in the member
4. By shear at the end of the member

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Bolts in direct shear

1. By shear on the bolt shank

Bolts in direct shear

2. By bearing on the member or bolt

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Bolts in direct shear

2. By bearing on the member or bolt

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Bolts in direct shear

3. By tension in the member

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Determination of the Net Area

The net width dn can be computed by using the following formula
which is known as “the chain formula”. as 2
d n = total width − nd +
4p
where: n – number of holes in the chain of holes
a – number of diagonal space p in the chain
s – is the pitch, the spacing of the centers of two
consecutive holes in the chain measured parallel to
the member axis
p – is the spacing between the centers of the holes
measured perpendicular to the ember axis
d – diameter of holes.
The net area should, therefore, be the net width x thickness of
the plate: Net area = dn x t.

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Bolts in direct shear

4. By shear at the end of the member

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Bolts in direct tension

Bolt forces:

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Bolts in direct tension

Prying force:

Bolts in Eccentric connections

There are two principal types of eccentrically loaded
connections:
1. Bolt group in direct shear and torsion; and
2. Bolt group in direct shear and tension

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Bolts in Eccentric connections

1. Bolt group in direct shear and torsion

Bolts in Eccentric connections

2. Bolt group in direct shear and tension

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Welded joints
Welding is the process of connecting metal pieces by
application of heat (i.e. fusion) with or without
pressure.
According to their position, welding can be divided into:

Flat welding: it is the one that is made right on top, the electrode
being used vertically downward

Horizontal welding: it is made on a horizontal side, the electrode
being in a horizontal plane or only slightly inclined

Vertical welding: it is made from the bottom upward on a vertical
plane

Overhead welding: it is made from below looking up, the electrode
being upward in an almost vertical plane

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Welding process
• Electric-arc welding is the most widespread method of
connecting the elements of steel members. The welding
process is shown in the following figure.

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Advantages of welding
• No hole is required for welding, hence no reduction of
area. Therefore, structural members are more effective
in resisting loads
• In welding filler plates, gusset plates, connecting angles
etc. are not used, which leads to reduced overall weight
of the structure
• Welded joints are more economical as less labor and
less material is required
• Complete rigid joints can be produced with welding
process
• Any shape of joint can be made easily

Disadvantages of welding
• Welded joints are more brittle and therefore their fatigue
strength is less than the members joined
• Due to uneven heating and cooling of the members
during welding, the members may distort resulting in
additional stresses
• Skilled labor is required for welding
• The inspection of welded work is more difficult and
costlier than bolted work
• Defects like internal air pocket, slag inclusion and
incomplete penetration are difficult to detect.

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Welded Connections

•Where there are favorable

working conditions, welding is
the most economical way to
make strong connections.
Therefore, workshop
connections are usually
welded.
•Where site connections are
necessary (erection) they are
usually bolted

Lap joint

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TYPES OF WELDS
• In welded construction for buildings approximately 80% of the
welds are fillet welds and 15% are butt welds. The remaining
5% are plug, slot and spot welds.

Butt Welds

Fillet Welds
A fillet weld is a weld of approximately triangular cross-section applied to the
surface profile of the plates

b) Tee joint

Plug and Slot Welds

• Slot and plug welds, are seldom used in building structures.
• They principally prevent buckling or separation of lapped plates.

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• For design, two

geometrical weld
parameters are used:
– The throat thickness, a, is
the minimum distance
from the root to the weld
face ignoring the convex
zone
– The length L is the
longitudinal weld
dimension in the
direction of the welding
arc displacement.

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Eccentric welded joints

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Grades of steel
• According to EBCS – 3, 1995

Thickness, t (mm)
Nominal
steel t ≤ 40 mm 40 mm < t ≤ 100 mm
grades
fy (Mpa) fu (Mpa) fy (Mpa) fu (Mpa)

Fe 360 235 360 215 340

Fe 430 275 430 255 410
Fe 510 355 510 335 490

Design Strengths for Fillet welds

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Design Strengths for Class-4.6 Ordinary Bolts

Spacing of Holes in Beams, Columns,

Joists and Tees

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Spacing of Holes in Angles

Spacing of Holes in Channels

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Example: The connection shown in the below is subjected

to a design tensile force of 240 kN. The steel Grade is Fe-
430, the bolt Grade 8.8 and its diameter is 20 mm. Check
that the connection is adequate.

Solution:
Check for the geometry.
• Bolts M20; Grade 8.8
→fyb = 640 N/mm2 ; fub = 800 N/mm2
• Diameter of the holes: (see Table 6.1).
→ The hole diameter shall be d0 = d + 2 mm = 20 + 2 = 22 mm.

Minimum edge dis tan ce e1 = 1.25d 0 = 1.25 x 22 = 27.5 mm < 50 ok!

Minimum hole dis tan ce p1 = 2.5d 0 = 2.5 x 22 = 55 mm < 80 ok!
Maximum edge dis tan ce e1 = 12t = 12 x7 = 84 mm > 50 ok!
Maximum hole dis tan ce p1 = 14t = 14 x7 = 98 mm > 80 ok!

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Shear capacity of bolts.

• Bolt shear area: -
– There are two shear planes per bolt.
– Assumption: threads are in the shear plane i.e; As = 245 mm2
• Shear capacity of a bolt.
2 x0.6 f ub As 2 x0.87 f yb As
Fv , Rd = f vd As = ≤
γ Mb γ Mb
2 x0.6 x800 x 245 x10 −3
= = 188 kN (Governs the design)
1.25
2 x0.87 x640 x 245 x10 −3
and = = 218 kN
1.25
• Therefore, because there are 2 bolts:
240
188kN > = 120kN OK !
2

Bearing capacity of members and bolts.

The bearing capacity of the bolts is:
Fbb, Rd = d t f bb, d
where t = 14 mm (the gusset plate is not the critical member
since t = 15 mm > 2 x 7 = 14 mm)

Fbb, Rd =
[
dt 0.9( f ub + f yb ) ]
γ Mb
20 x14 x0.9(800 + 640 )x10 −3
=
1.25
240
= 290.3 kN ( per bolt ) > OK
2

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Bearing capacity of members and bolts (Cont’d).

The bearing capacity of the gusset plate is:
1
Fbp , Rd = d t f bp , d ≤ e1 t f bb, d ( per bolt )
2

Fbp , Rd =
[ ]
dt 0.8( f u + f y )
γM2
20 x15 x 0.8(430 + 275)x10 −3
Fbp , Rd =
1.25
240
= 135.36 > = 120 kN . Ok! ( governs design)
2
1 50 x15 x0.8(430 + 275)x10 −3
and x = 169.2 > 135.36 OK !
2 1.25

Bearing capacity of members and bolts (Cont’d).

The bearing capacity of one angle is:

d t [0.8( f u + f t )] 1
Fbp , Rd = ≤ e1t f bp ,d
γM 2
20 x7[0.8(430 + 275)]x10 −3
=
1.25
240
= 63.2 kN > = 60 kN ( per angle)
2 x2
1 50 x7 x0.8(430 + 275)x10 −3
and x 79.0 > 63.2 OK!
2 1.25

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Example: Calculate the net cross-sectional area of the

plate shown below which is subject to a tensile force. The
plate is 20 mm thick and contains four lines of staggered
holes drilled for 24 mm diameter holes.

Solution:

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Example: Check that the secondary girder to primary

girder connection by means of angles shown in the figure
below is adequate. All data required are provided in the
figure.

• Main girder, Secondary girder and Angles L 90 x 9 with Steel Grade Fe -

430, fu = 275 N/mm2.
• Bolts Grade 8.8, fyb = 640 N/mm2, fub = 800 N/mm2; Diameter 22 mm.
• Bolt area at the bottom of the thread: As = 303 mm2.
• Applied load: Shear force V = 890 kN (at the centreline of the web of the
main girder).

Solution:
• Diameter of holes
d0 = d + 2 = 22 + 2 = 24 mm.
• Minimum edge distance,
e1 = 1.25 d0 = 1.25 x 24 = 30 mm < 40 mm. OK!
• Minimum hole distance,
p1 = 2.50 d0 = 2.50 x 24 = 60 mm = 60 mm OK!
• Maximum edge distance,
e1 = 12 t = 12 x 9 = 108 mm > 40 mm OK!
• Maximum hole distance,
p1 = 14 t = 14 x 9 = 126 mm > 60 mm OK!

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Shear capacity of bolts.

• Bolt shear area: -
– One shear area per bolt.
– Assumption: threads are in the shear plane i.e; As = 245 mm2
• Shear capacity of a bolt.

0.6 f ub As 0.87 f yb As
Fv , Rd = f vd = ≤
γ Mb γ Mb
0.6 x800 x303 x10− 3 890
= = 116.4 > = 49.4 kN
1.25 2 x9
0.87 x640 x303 x10−3
and = 135 > 116.4 kN OK
1.25

Capacity of connection: main girder and connection angle.

Bearing capacity of bolts.
Since the web thickness of the beam tw = 18.5mm is
greater than the angle leg thickness ta = 9 mm, the angle is
the critical member.

Fbb , Rd = d t f bb ,d =
[ ]
dt 0.9( f ub + f yb )
γ Mb
22 x9 x0.9 x(800 + 640 )x10 −3
=
1.25
= 205.3 kN > 49.4 kN OK !

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Bearing capacity of angle.

Fbp , Rd =
[ ]≤ 1 e t f
dt 0.8( f u + f y )
γ Mb 2
1 bp , d

22 x9 x 0.8(430 + 275)x10 −3
=
1.25
= 89.3 kN > 49.4 OK
1 40 x9 x0.8(430 + 275)x10 −3
and = x
2 1.25
= 81.2 < 89.3 but > 49.4 kN OK !

Capacity of connection: Secondary Girder and connection Angle

(welded).

•Design Moment Msd = V * e = 890 x 9 = 8010 kN-cm.

f ye fu
•Resistance condition:f acting , w ≤ f vw,d = 0.63 but ≤ 0.65
γ Mw γ Mw
• Area of welded section = 2 x 0.566 cm x 56 cm = 63.9 cm2
890 kN
∴ f v,w = 2
= 14.04 kN / cm 2
63.9 cm

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Section modulus of the weld section

I weld 2 x0.566 x56 2
Wweld = = = 591.66 cm 3
ymax 6
8010 kN − cm
∴ fb, w = 3
= 13.54 kN / cm 2
591.66 cm
Finally, for point B
f acting ,w = f b2,w + f v2,w

∴ f acting , w = 13.54 2 + 14.04 2

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= 19.51 < 0.65 = 22.36 kN / cm 2
1.25

Example: In the beam to column connection shown in the

figure, the steel plate is supporting a support factored
reaction of 525 KN from the beam. If the size of the weld is
8 mm and steel Grade Fe 360, check if the connection is
adequate.

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Solution:
Geometry, materials and loading.
• Plate t = 16 mm. Fe-360, fy = 235 N/mm2 and fu = 360 N/mm2.
• Size of the welds s = 8 mm.
• Throat thickness: a = 0.707 s = 0.707 x 8 = 5.66 mm.
• Length of the weld l = 2 x 295 + 260 – 6 x 8 = 802 mm.

1). Check the dimension of the chords:

Minimum effective weld length:
l = 40 mm or 6 x a
= 6 x 5.66 = 34 mm < 802 mm. OK.
Maximum effective weld length:
l = 150 a = 150 x 5.66 = 849 mm > 802 OK.

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2) The design strength per unit length is

Fw, Rd = f vw, d a
where
0.63 f ye 0.65 f u
f vw,d = ≤
γ Mw γ Mw
• In most practical cases, the quality of the electrodes are greater than
that of the base metal and then the ultimate tensile strength of the
weaker part joined, that is, the base metal govern the design.
Therefore the second statement of the equation is checked.
0.65 x360
Fw, Rd = x5.66 = 1059.55 N / mm
1.25
• And the total resistance force
F = 1059.55 N / mmx802 mmx10 −3 = 849.75 kN > 525 kN OK

Special case (Eccentrically loaded joint, Unsymmetrical section)

When securing an unsymmetrical section, for example two
angles to a plate, attention is paid to uneven distribution of the
load between the welds transmitting the force field from the
angles to the plate.

The Force F is decomposed into F1 and F2. Taking moment with

respect to point o. F 2 b = F1b ⇒ F1 = 2 F ; Thus F2 = F
3 3 3
Therefore; F1 is taken by two chord (filled weld) length L1each
and F2 is taken by the lower two fillet weld length L2 each.

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Example: Compute the welds required for connecting two

angles 75x75x8 mm to a gusset plate with a thickness 10
mm. The factored tensile force in the angle is 450 kN. The
material is steel Grade 430.
Solution:
Geometry, Materials
Plate and angles Grade 430 steel,
fy = 275 N/mm2 ; fu = 430 N/mm2
Size of the welds ≤ 8 mm; take s = 6 mm.
Throat thickness a = 0.707 x 6 = 4.24 mm.
1). Acting Force F1 and F2.
2 2
F1 = F1 = x 450 kN = 300 kN
3 3
450
F2 = = 150 kN
3

2). Design strength per unit length. (Suppose the weaker

part is the base steel).
0.65 x 430
Fw, Rd = x 4.24 = 948 N / mm.
1.25
3). Length of fillets:
F1 300 x103 N
L1 = = = 158.2 mm
2 ( fillet welds) Fw, Rd 2 x948 N / mm
Actual length, if no round a corner
L1 = 158.2 mm + 2s = 158.2 + 2 x6 = 170 mm each side.
and 158.2
L2 = + 2 x6 = 91.1 mm
2
4). Check the effective lengths of the fillets.
6 x 4.24 < 79.1 and 158.2 < 150 x 4.24 OK

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Joints in beams under the action of bending

moment and shear force.
Suppose a beam such that:

Principle: The flanges take the acting bending

moment and the web takes shear force.

M is decomposed into a couple of forces F.

F = M/h acting on the flange levels.
Then 284 kN − m
F= = 532 kN .
0.533 m

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Design of cover plates.

The design plastic resistance of the gross section
Af y
N pl , Rd = = 532 kN
γ Mo
γ Mo x532 x103 1.1x532 x103
A = 180tc, p = = = 2128 mm 2
fy 275
2128 mm 2
tc , p = = 11.82 mm take 12 mm.
180 mm
suppose size of the weld 8 mm < 12 mm.
• throat thickness a = 0.707 x8 mm = 5.66 mm
0.65 x 430
• strength per unit length Fw, Rd = x5.66 = 1266 N / mm
1.25
• The length of the filled weld
F 532 x103 N
L1 = = = 210 mm each sides + (round 2 x6 mm)
2 Fw, Rd 2 x1266 N / mm

Design of the central plate for shear.

Strength per unit length

0.65 x 430
Fw, Rd = x 4.24 = 948 N / mm
1.25
The total resistance force
= 948 N / mm x 350 mm x 10 −3 = 331.8 kN > 142 kN OK .

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Example: Rigid column bracket. Determine the

size of the components required to connect the
bracket to the column shown below using Grade
S355 (Fe-510) steel. The forces shown are applied
to one gusset plate at ultimate load.
For the 10 bolts shown of unit cross-sectional area the
properties of the bolt group are:

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The maximum vector force in the direction of the z-z axis

on a bolt furthest from the centroid of the bolt group

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M20 class 8.8 bolt in bearing on the gusset plate (t=10mm)

Bearing strength:

Fbp , Rd =
[ ]≤ 1 e t f
dt 0.8( f u + f y )
γM2
1 bp , d
2
20 x10 x 0.8(510 + 355)x10 −3
=
1.25
= 110.72 kN > 81.77kN OK !
1 40 x10 x0.8(510 + 355)x10 −3
and = x
2 1.25
= 110.72 kN > 81.77kN OK !

Solution (d) using welds

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Fw, Rd = f vw, d a f vw,d =

0.63 f ye
≤
0.65 f u
γ Mw γ Mw
0.65 x 430
Fw, Rd = * 0.707 * 6
1.25
= 0.949kN / mm > 0.554kN / mm OK !

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Potentially weak areas may occur in connections.

If necessary, the moment resistance can be increased by

strengthening the relevant weak areas of the connections

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Assignment problems:
1- Check the size of components for the simple beam-to-
column connection shown in Figure-1 at ultimate load.
2- Determine the size of the components required for the
simple beam-to-beam connection shown in Figure-2. The
beam sizes have been determined from bending
calculations at ultimate load.
3- Determine the size of the components for the axially
loaded base (simple column-to-foundation connection)
shown in Figure-3 at the ultimate limit state. Take concrete
C-25 and class-I works.
4- Determine the size of fillet welds for the ‘rigid’ column
bracket shown in Figure-4 at the ultimate limit state.
5- Determine the size of components for the rigid beam-to-
column connection shown in Figure-5 at ultimate load.

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Assignment problems (Cont’d):

6- Determine the size of components for the rigid beam-to-beam
connection shown in Figure-6 at the ultimate limit state.
7- Determine the size of components for the rigid beam splice
shown in Figure-7 at the ultimate limit state.
8- Determine the size of components for the rigid column splice
shown in Figure-8 at the ultimate limit state.
9- Determine the size of components for the rigid built-up column
base connection shown in Figure-9 at the ultimate limit state
assuming C-25.
10- Check the strength of the rigid rectangular hollow section
(RHS) connection shown in Figure-10 at the ultimate limit state
assuming Grade S355 steel.
11- Check the strength of the rigid knee joint components for a
portal frame shown in Figure-11 at the ultimate limit state.

Figure-1: Simple beam-to-column connection

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Figure-2: Simple beam-to-beam connection

Figure-3: Simple column-to-foundation joint

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Figure-4: Rigid column bracket connection

Figure-5: Rigid beam-to-column connection

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Figure-6: Rigid beam-to-beam connection

Figure-7: Rigid beam splice

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Figure-8:
Rigid column splices

Figure-9: Rigid column-to-foundation joint

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Figure-10: Rigid RHS connection

Figure-11: Rigid knee joint for a portal frame

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CHAPTER
END!

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