3 CALCULATION OF DESIGN

ACTIONS

Applied design actions at a connection are assumed to be those shown in Figure 2

• a design bending moment about the section x-axis M*
• a design shear force parallel to the section y-axis V*
• a design axial force parallel to the member z-axis N*

FIGURE 2 DESIGN ACTIONS AT SPLICE (Positive directions shown)

The design action effects at the connection can be determined from either:
(a) elastic analysis (Clause 4.4 of AS 4100) which could in turn be either—
(i) a first order elastic analysis with moment amplification (Clause 4.4.2 of AS 4100);
or (ii) a second order elastic analysis (Appendix E of AS 4100);
or
(b) plastic analysis (Clause 4.5 of AS 4100).

design guide 13: 7

splice connections, first edition
 Design Guide 13
Splice connections

by

T.J. Hogan

contributing author

N. van der Kreek

first edition—2009
 AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE
(ABN)/ACN (94) 000 973 839

Design Guide 13
Splice connections

Copyright © 2009 by AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE

Published by: AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE

All rights reserved. This book or any part thereof must not be reproduced in any form without
the written permission of Australian Steel Institute.
Note to commercial software developers: Copyright of the information contained within this publication is
held by Australian Steel Institute (ASI). Written permission must be obtained from ASI for the use of any
information contained herein which is subsequently used in any commercially available software package.
FIRST EDITION 2009 (LIMIT STATES)
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry:
Hogan, T.J.
Design Guide 13: Splice connections
st
1 ed.
Bibliography.
ISBN 978 1 921476 16 7 (pbk.). This publication originated as part of
ISBN 978 1 921476 17 4 (pdf.). Design of structural connections
First edition 1978
1. Steel, Structural—Standards – Australia.
Second edition 1981
2. Steel, Structural—Specifications – Australia.
Third edition 1988
3. Joints, (Engineering)—Design and construction.
Fourth edition 1994
I. van der Kreek, N.
II. Australian Steel Institute.
III. Title
(Series: Structural steel connection series).

Also in this series:

Design capacity tables for structural steel. Volume 3: Simple connections—Open sections
Handbook 1: Design of structural steel connections
Design Guide 1: Bolting in structural steel connections
Design Guide 2: Welding in structural steel connections
Design Guide 3: Web side plate connections
Design Guide 4: Flexible end plate connections
Design Guide 5: Angle cleat connections
Design Guide 6: Seated connections
Design Guide 10: Bolted end plate beam splice connections
Design Guide 11: Welded beam to column moment connections
Design Guide 12: Bolted end plate to column moment connections
Design capacity tables for structural steel. Volume 4: Rigid connections—Open sections
Disclaimer: The information presented by the Australian Steel Institute in this publication has been
prepared for general information only and does not in any way constitute recommendations or
professional advice. While every effort has been made and all reasonable care taken to ensure the
accuracy of the information contained in this publication, this information should not be used or relied
upon for any specific application without investigation and verification as to its accuracy, suitability and
applicability by a competent professional person in this regard. The Australian Steel Institute, its officers
and employees and the authors of this publication do not give any warranties or make any representations
in relation to the information provided herein and to the extent permitted by law (a) will not be held liable
or responsible in any way; and (b) expressly disclaim any liability or responsibility for any loss or damage
costs or expenses incurred in connection with this publication by any person, whether that person is the
purchaser of this publication or not. Without limitation, this includes loss, damage, costs and expenses
incurred as a result of the negligence of the authors or publishers.
The information in this publication should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent due
diligence, professional or legal advice and in this regards the services of a competent professional person
or persons should be sought.

design guide 13: ii

splice connections, first edition
 CONTENTS
Page Page
List of figures iv B3 Detailing considerations 48
List of tables v B4 Basis of design model 49
Preface vi B5 Recommended design model—
About the author vii Summary of design checks 50
About the contributing author vii B6 Recommended design model—
Acknowledgements viii DESIGN CHECK NO. 1 51
B7 Recommended design model—
1 CONCEPT OF DESIGN GUIDES............... 1 DESIGN CHECK NO. 2 56
1.1 Background 1 B8 Recommended design model—
DESIGN CHECK NO. 3 59
2 AS 4100 REQUIREMENTS ........................ 2 B9 Recommended design model—
2.1 Minimum design actions 2 DESIGN CHECK NO. 4 61
2.2 Member section capacity at splice B10 Recommended design model—
location 3 DESIGN CHECK NO. 5 65
2.3 Full contact splices in columns 6 B11 Recommended design model—
DESIGN CHECK NO. 6 67
3 CALCULATION OF DESIGN ACTIONS ..... 7
B12 Recommended design model—
4 REFERENCES ......................................... 12 DESIGN CHECK NO. 7 68
B13 Recommended design model—
PART A BOLTED COVER PLATE SPLICE.. 13 DESIGN CHECK NO. 8 69
A1 Description of connection 13 B14 Design example 70
A2 Typical detailing of connection 14 B15 Design capacity tables 76
A3 Detailing considerations 16
A4 Basis of design model 17 PART C FULLY WELDED SPLICE ...............82
A5 Recommended design model— C1 Description of connection 82
Summary of design checks 19 C2 Typical detailing of connection 83
A6 Recommended design model— C3 Detailing considerations 84
DESIGN CHECK NO. 1 20 C4 Basis of design model 85
A7 Recommended design model— C5 Recommended design model—
DESIGN CHECK NO. 2 26 Summary of design checks 86
A8 Recommended design model— C6 Recommended design model—
DESIGN CHECK NO. 3 28 DESIGN CHECK NO. 1 87
A9 Recommended design model— C7 Recommended design model—
DESIGN CHECK NO. 4 32 DESIGN CHECK NO. 2 88
A10 Recommended design model— C8 Recommended design model—
DESIGN CHECK NO. 5 33 DESIGN CHECK NO. 3 89
A11 Recommended design model— C9 Recommended design model—
DESIGN CHECK NO. 6 34 DESIGN CHECK NO. 4 91
A12 Design example 35 C10 Design example 93
A13 Design capacity tables 39 C11 Design capacity tables 96

PART B BOLTED/WELDED COVER APPENDICES

PLATE SPLICE .............................. 45 A Limcon software 99
B1 Description of connection 45 B ASI Design Guide 13
B2 Typical detailing of connection 46 comment form 108

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splice connections, first edition
 LIST OF FIGURES
Page Page

Figure 1 Flange hole configurations............ 3 Figure B4 Typical detailing in tension

Figure 2 Design actions at splice ................ 7 member .......................................47
Figure 3 Section dimensions— Figure B5 Geometry of flange splice plates .53
Symmetrical section ..................... 8 Figure B6 Fillet weld arrangement at
Figure 4 Alternative stress distributions flanges.........................................57
in section due to M* .................... 10 Figure B7 Single line of bolts—Bolt forces
Figure 5 Design factors for acting towards an edge ...............61
unsymmetrical sections .............. 11 Figure B8 Double line of bolts—Bolt forces
Figure 6 Design moment at a column acting towards an edge ...............62
splice .......................................... 11 Figure B9 Geometry and design actions
Figure 7 Preferred column splice location. 11 on web weld ................................65
Figure A1 Bolted cover plate splice............. 13 Figure B10 Geometry of web cover plates .....67
Figure A2 Typical detailing in flexural Figure B11 Design example—Column splice
member ...................................... 14 not prepared for full contact.........70
Figure A3 Typical detailing in Figure B12 Section with holes in one
column/beam-column ................. 15 flange—Elastic section ................74
Figure A4 Typical detailing in tension Figure B13 Section with holes in one
member ...................................... 15 flange—Plastic section ................75
Figure A5 Eccentricity in flange cover Figure C1 Fully welded splice ......................82
plates.......................................... 18 Figure C2 Typical detailing of welded
Figure A6 Geometry of flange splice plates 22 splice ...........................................83
Figure A7 Single line of bolts—Bolt forces Figure C3 Use of backing strips ...................84
acting towards an edge............... 28 Figure C4 Preferred splice location in
Figure A8 Double line of bolts—Bolt column.........................................84
forces acting towards an edge .... 29 Figure C5 Staggering of flange and
Figure A9 Geometry of web cover plates .... 32 web splice locations ....................85
Figure A10 Design example—Beam splice ... 35 Figure C6 Design actions on flange welds ...87
Figure B1 Bolted/welded cover plate Figure C7 Web cover plate dimensions .......89
splice .......................................... 45 Figure C8 Geometry and design actions
Figure B2 Typical detailing in flexural on web weld ................................91
member ...................................... 46 Figure C9 Design example—Beam splice....93
Figure B3 Typical detailing in Figure C10 Web fillet weld geometry for
column/beam column.................. 47 design example ...........................94

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splice connections, first edition
 LIST OF TABLES
Page Page

Table 1 Universal beams Grade 300— Table B5 Values of φVbf and φVbi ................56
Design section moment and Table B6 Design strengths of cover plates .60
shear capacities............................ 4
Table B7 Design moment capacity of
Table 2 Parallel flange channels— bolted/welded single cover plate
Grade 300—Design section splice, Universal beam sections
moment and shear capacities ....... 5 < 400 deep, M20 bolts, 6 fillets
Table 3 Welded beams— to flange plates, 5 fillets to web
Grade 300—Design section plates...........................................77
moment and shear capacities ....... 5 Table B8 Design moment capacity of
Table A1 Summary of design actions from bolted/welded single cover plate
Section 3 .................................... 19 splice, Universal beam sections
Table A2 Reduction factor for lap > 400 deep, M24 bolts, 8 or 6
connections (kr) .......................... 21 fillets to flange plates, 5 fillets
to web plates ...............................78
Table A3 Strength limit state 8.8/TB,
8.8/TF bolting categories ............ 21 Table B9 Design moment capacity of
bolted/welded three cover plate
Table A4 Serviceability limit state
splice, Universal column
8.8/TF bolting category ............... 22
sections, M24 bolts, 6/8 fillets
Table A5 Values of φVbf and φVbi ............... 25 to flange plates and 6 fillets
Table A6 Design strengths of cover plates 27 to web plates ...............................79
Table A7 Design moment capacity of Table B10 Design moment capacity of
bolted single cover plate splice— bolted three cover plate splice,
Universal beam sections 700WB/800WB welded beam
< 400 deep—M20 bolts .............. 40 sections, M24 bolts, 6/8 fillets
Table A8 Design moment capacity of to flange plates and 5 fillets
bolted ingle cover plate splice— to web plates ...............................80
Universal beam sections Table B11 Design moment capacity of
> 400 deep—M24 bolts .............. 41 bolted/welded three cover plate
Table A9 Design moment capacity of splice, 900WB/1000WB welded
bolted three cover plate splice— beam sections, M24 bolts,
Universal column sections— 8 or 6 fillets to flange plates
M24 bolts.................................... 42 and 6 fillets to web plates ............81
Table A10 Design moment capacity of Table C1 Summary of design actions
bolted three cover plate splice from Section 3 .............................86
700WB/800WB Welded beam Table C2 Design strengths of web cover
sections—M24 bolts ................... 43 plates...........................................90
Table A11 Design moment capacity of Table C3 Universal beams—Grade 300—
bolted three cover plate splice design section moment and
900WB/1000WB Welded beam shear capacities ..........................96
sections—M24 bolts ................... 44 Table C4 Welded beams—Grade 300—
Table B1 Summary of design actions Design section moment and
from Section 3 ............................ 50 shear capacities ..........................97
Table B2 Reduction factor for lap Table C5 Universal columns/welded
connections (kr) .......................... 52 columns—Grade 300—Design
Table B3 Strength limit state—8.8/TB, section moment and shear
8.8/TF bolting categories ............ 52 capacities ....................................98
Table B4 Serviceability limit state—
8.8/TF bolting category ............... 53

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