Joints in steel construction

Phil Peacock

Technical Manager – Scotland

Construction Services and Development

Tel +44 (0)1968 661534
Mobile +44 (0)7885 483948

philip.peacock@corusgroup.com

IStructE Graduates’ Workshop 2008 – Glasgow – 16 April 2008

 Agenda

• Introduction
• Code requirements
• Manufacturing process
• Bolting and welding
• Design of joints
• Worked examples
• Sources of information
St Mary Axe (formerly Swiss Re), London
Falkirk Wheel - A steel
boat lift in the form of
a wheel
Barajas Airport,
Madrid
Barajas Airport,
Madrid
How did they erect that?
Varying
geometrical set
out in 3D on
Roped access used for
Swansea Sail
installation and maintenance
Bridge
 Neat and tidy
connections on
Malmö swing bridge
Neat and tidy group of
connections visible at
mast head
 Agenda

• Introduction
• Code requirements
• Manufacturing process
• Bolting and welding
• Design of joints
• Worked examples
• Sources of information
Principles – design methods

3 frame solutions in accordance with BS 5950-1:2000

• Simple construction
• Semi-continuous braced frames
– Wind-moment frames (Semi-continuous unbraced frames)
• Continuous frames

Connections are critical to each method

Principles

Economic considerations are required by the Standard

(Clause 2.1.1) –also, safety, erection, maintenance,
demolition, recycling and reuse

The design should consider rationalisation, optimum

combination of materials and workmanship
Principles – connections 1

Simple design
“the joints should be assumed not to develop
moments adversely affecting either the
members or the structure as a whole”
Principles – connections 2

Semi-continuous design
“this method may be used where the joints
have some degree of strength and stiffness,
but insufficient to develop full continuity”
Principles – connections 3

Continuous design
–“the joints should have sufficient rotational
stiffness” (elastic)
–“the joints should have sufficient moment
capacity” (plastic)
Principles – all connections

Clause 2.1.2.1 “The details of the joints should be

such as to fulfil the assumptions made in the
relevant design method”

Clause 6.1.1 “Connections should be designed on

the basis of realistic assumptions of the distribution
of internal forces, and that those assumptions
should take account of the relative stiffnesses of
the various components”.
Joints in simple design

Clause 2.1.2.2
• The joints should be assumed not to develop moments
adversely affecting either the members or the structure
as a whole

Clause 6.1.4… Joints should be capable of transmitting

the calculated forces …. be capable of accepting the
resulting rotation… They should not develop significant
moments that adversely affect members of the
structure
 Agenda

• Introduction
• Code requirements
• Manufacturing process
• Bolting and welding
• Design of joints
• Worked examples
• Sources of information
 Circular saw

Work flow
Coping
system

Multi spindle drill

Back to back
saw and drill

Coping
system
Angle punch crop

Drilling & burning centre

Plate punch centre
Multi-spindle drilling machine
Saw Cutting
Holing

Multi spindle/axis drill

Punching
Manual flame cutting
Automated Flame Cutting
Welding
Components

Fittings
 Agenda

• Introduction
• Code requirements
• Manufacturing process
• Bolting and welding
• Design of joints
• Worked examples
• Sources of information
Benefits of standardisation
Benefits of standardisation

The mixing of different grades of bolt in the same

diameter on any one project should be avoided
 Beam spices

Welded (staggered)

Bolted (torque control bolts to resist slip)

Torque controlled bolts (TCB/HSFG)

TCB, Grade S10T (Prior to Preloading)

Non-preloaded bolt arrangement

 Torque controlled bolts (TCB/HSFG)

Preloaded TCB Arrangement

Idealised distribution of
bearing pressure at faying
surface in a friction
connection
 Agenda

• Introduction
• Code requirements
• Manufacturing process
• Bolting and welding
• Design of joints
• Worked examples
• Sources of information
Green Books

P212 Simple P212 Moment P213 Composite

Green Books - simple
Green Books - simple
Green Books – simple standard details
Green Books – simple standard details
Green Books – simple bases

Figure 8.3 Calculated effective area for a rolled section

Green Books – bracing connections
Green Books – beam tensile forces
Green Books – moment connections
Green Books – moment connections
Green Books – methods of frame
design
Green Books – moment connections
distribution of bolt forces
Green Books – moment connections
3 modes of failure
 Agenda

• Introduction
• Code requirements
• Manufacturing process
• Bolting and welding
• Design of joints
• Worked examples
• Sources of information
 Green Books – One for you!
1 2 3 4

5 6
7
 Green Books – One for you!
8 10
9

12
11 13
 Worked examples

• Initial sizing of simple end plate connections

• Fin plate beam-to-column-flange
• End plate beam-to-column-flange
• Portal frame eaves
• Bolted connection of an angle brace in tension to a
gusset plate
• Column base connection under axial compression
• Axially loaded baseplate design spreadsheet
 Agenda

• Introduction
• Code requirements
• Manufacturing process
• Bolting and welding
• Design of joints
• Worked examples
• Sources of information
 Sources of information

• Steel Designers’ Manual

• BCSA
– www.steelconstruction.org
• SCI
– www.Steelbiz.org - Google type search engine
– www.access-steel.com
• Overview of Corus Resources for Universities
 Sources of information

• If all else fails………….

Phil Peacock
Technical Manager – Scotland
Construction Services and Development

Tel 01968 661534

Fax 01968 661538
Mobile +44 (0)7885 483948
philip.peacock@corusgroup.com
www.corusconstruction.com
Any questions ?