Frames and Eccentrically Braced

Design and Author

Frames. The seismic design
Detailing of T erry Lundeen is a principal
with the structural engineering
firm of Coughlin Porter Lundeen,
approach and details are based
on practical implementation of the
Seismic Inc., in Seattle. His experience current provisions on numerous
over the past 20 years includes commercial, industrial, education-
Connections for the design of numerous building al and residential buildings.
Braced Frame structures as well as deep water
offshore platforms and large air-
Structures craft assembly facilities. He
received his bachelor of science
in civil engineering from Bradley
University in 1980 and his master
of science in civil engineering
from the University of Houston in
1985.
Mr. Lundeen has a special
interest in seismic design and
retrofit of structures, he is active
in the development of seismic
design provisions for the Uniform
Building Code through the
Structural Engineers Association
of Washington and for the federal
NEHRP documents through the
Building Seismic Safety Council
Terry R. Lundeen and the American Society of Civil
Engineers. He contributes to the
preparation of the Western States
Structural Engineers Exam and
lectures on the seismic design of
steel structures at the University
of Washington. He is a registered
structural engineer in California,
Washington and British Columbia.

Summary
s a result of lessons learned
A from recent earthquakes
(Loma Prieta, Northridge, Kobe)
as well as on-going research, the
seismic design and detailing of
braced frame connections has
evolved significantly over the past
ten years.
Using an example office build-
ing, this paper presents the
design of braced frame connec-
tions according to the recently
released 1997 Edition of the
Seismic Provisions for Structural
Steel Buildings by AISC. The
examples include various types of
brace connections and column
splices for Specially
Concentrically Braced Frames,
Ordinary Concentrically Braced
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 DESIGN AND DETAILING OF SEISMIC CONNECTIONS
FOR BRACED FRAME STRUCTURES
TERRY R. LUNDEEN

INTRODUCTION
This paper presents the design and detailing of The overall forces on the structure are based on the
braced frame connections for seismic loading. A 1997 Edition of the Uniform Building Code. The
prototype 4-story office building in Seismic Zone 3 design of steel members and connections is based
is used as the basis for the examples. A typical on the AISC Seismic Provisions for Steel
floor framing plan with braced frame locations is Buildings, dated April 17, 1997. A list of the
given in Figure 1. general design criteria is given in Table 1.
The examples include the three basic braced frame While most of the new code provisions are similar
types: Special Concentrically Braced Frames to those of older versions, there have been some
(SCBF), Ordinary Concentrically Braced Frames changes and updates. These changes include
(OCBF), and Eccentrically Braced Frames (EBF). explicit consideration of material overstrength and
A variety of brace types are provided including more direct integration of the AISC Seismic
pipes, structural tubes, and wide flanges. Provisions into the model building codes.
Additionally, both welded and bolted connections Additional, more detailed, revisions are also
are provided for reference. presented in this paper.
While the subject of the paper is connection design,
Table 1
General Criteria brace and column member issues that directly
effect the connections are discussed. The detailed
Code: • AISC Seismic Provisions for design of these members, however, is not provided.
Structural Steel Buildings
• AISC Manual for Load &
Resistance Factor Design
Structure: • Office building
• Located in Seismic Zone 3
• Soil profile type Sc
• The frame configuration are
as follows:
1. Special Concentrically
Braced Frame; R = 6.4
2. Ordinary Concentrically
Braced Frame; R = 5.6
3. Eccentrically Braced
Frame; R = 7
Material • Steel framing A572, Grade 50
Specifications: • High-strength A325/A490
bolts
• Welding Electrodes: E70
Loads: • Roof Dead Load = 20psf
• Roof Live Load = 25psf Figure 1 - Typical Floor Plan
• Floor Dead Load = 80psf
• Floor Live Load = 80psf
(reducible)

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SPECIAL CONCENTRICALLY BRACED
FRAME (SCBF) CONNECTION DESIGN
For this system, a frame consisting of welded pipe
braces and a frame consisting of bolted wide flange
braces are provided. Frame elevations for both
configurations are given in Figures 2 and 3. The
braces are arranged in a Chevron pattern both
because it represents the most commonly used
arrangement and because of the additional design
considerations given in the Provisions.
For a building of this size, the welded pipe
configuration is preferable both from a design and
construction perspective. The bolted wide flange
configuration is given as a reference for large
structures with brace forces that cannot be
accommodated with pipes. Similarly, the strong
axis column orientation given in the first frame is
desirable; however, a weak axis column
arrangement is also provided for reference.
The SCBF is a newer version of the traditional
steel braced frame. This system was developed to
provide documented ductility, both analytically and
through testing. In general, yielding and column Figure 2 - SCBF Elevation
buckling of the braces provide this ductility. In
order for this behavior to be achieved, local
buckling in the braces or connections cannot occur.
Another requirement to guarantee the desirable
behavior of this system is to preclude plastic hinge
formation in Chevron beams under unbalanced
brace buckling and yielding forces. Also, the beam
flanges at Chevron connections must be braced
out-of-plane.
The connections in SCBF's must be stronger than
the yielding members. For this system, the
connections must also have either the strength to
develop a strong axis plastic hinge or be arranged
to allow a weak axis yield line to form under the
cyclic yielding and buckling of the braces.
A final consideration for this system is with the
columns. In addition to having the strength to
resist axial forces from the amplified earthquake
load combinations, the columns and splices are
designed for a nominal shear force in the column.
This shear strength requirement is provided
because plastic hinges formed in the columns at
large story drifts in some of the initial analytical Figure 3 - Frame Elevation
analyses of the system.

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WELDED PIPE BRACE-TO-WIDE FLANGE Brace-to-Gusset Weld
COLUMN CONNECTION (Fig. 4) The required weld thickness for the brace-to-
gusset, assuming 12 in. of weld along (4) edges:
Required Strength
The required strength of bracing connections, per
AISC Sec. 13.3.a, is determined from the least of
the following equations:
1. Bracing member's nominal axial tensile
strength:

where equals 1.1 per AISC

Sec. 6.2. Use 12" of ½" weld on (4) edges

• The weld thicknesses are relatively large to

limit the extension of the gusset plates beyond
the yield line.

Gusset-to-Beam and Column Welds

Using the Uniform Force Method as recommended
per LRFD Vol. II Part 11, the axial force from the
brace is resolved into the corresponding moment,
horizontal, and vertical forces on the gusset plate.
This is shown on the free body diagram of the
gusset plate Fig. 5.

Figure 4 - Welded Pipe Brace-to-Wide Flange • As can be seen, the connection force to the
Column Connection beam is much larger than that to the column.
As such, larger welds are used at the beam
2. Maximum force, transferred to brace flange to control the size of the gusset plate.
by system as determined by analysis

• Case 1 is normally used in design since Case 2

basically requires static push-over analysis or
non-linear time history analysis to establish
the maximum system force.
• This connection was designed with a "yield
line" a distance of 2t from the brace in lieu of
the flexural strength requirements of Section
13.3c.

Figure 5 — Gusset-to-Beam and Column Weld

Forces

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Weld of gusset-to-beam flanges Gusset Plate Thickness
Per AISC Sec. 13.3.b: The design tensile strength,
determined from the limit states of tension rupture
and block shear rupture strength per LRFD Chapter
D, shall be greater than or equal to the required
strength, as determined from above.
Also, the design compression strength, determined
from the plate buckling limit state, shall be greater
than the buckling strength of the brace which is
given from the following:

Use ½" weld for gusset to beam flanges.

Finally, the plate must have adequate shear
Weld of gusset to column yielding strength for the designed fillet weld sizes.

Table 2
Required Gusset Plate
Criteria Thickness (in)
Block Shear .42
Tension Yielding .41
Plate Buckling .54
Shear Yielding at
Fillet Welds .71

Use ¾" gusset plate

Use ¼" weld for gusset to column. • Once the overall dimensions of the gusset
plate are established by the welds and yield
line, the thickness is determined from the
various remaining criteria.

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 WELDED PIPE BRACE-TO-BEAM Gusset Plate Thickness
CONNECTION (Fig. 6)
The minimum gusset plate thickness follows the
same procedures as for the pipe-to-column
• The beam flanges of this connection must be connection.
braced out-of-plane per AISC Sec. 13.4a.4.
Perpendicular floor beams or angle bracing Check minimum thickness of gusset
similar to that shown in the EBF section can
be used to provide this bracing.

Required Strength From pipe to gusset:

The required strength is the same as for the pipe-to-

column connection.
From gusset to beam:
Brace-to-Gusset Weld
The brace-to-gusset weld is the same as for the
pipe-to-column Connection.

Gusset-to-Beam Weld
• The Chevron beam is quite deep to
provide the required strength for the
unbalanced brace loads. This depth
results in a relatively long gusset plate
with large bending stresses.
• The angle between the brace and the
gusset plate has been limited to 30° to
Figure 7 - Gusset-to-Beam Weld Forces recognize shear lag effects at the plate-to-
beam weld.
• A stiffener plate has been added at the
center of the gusset plate to help develop
the yield line.

Weld size required

Figure 6- Welded Pipe Brace-to-Beam Connection

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BOLTED WIDE FLANGE BRACE-TO-WIDE Brace-to-Gusset Connection
FLANGE COLUMN CONNECTION (Fig. 8)
Using the connection layout shown, the following
basic LRFD requirements are checked:
Required Strength
The required strength follows the same provisions Table 3
and procedures as for the pipe-to-column Item
connection.
Single shear of brace 308 354
flange bolts
Flange plate gross 308 405
section yielding
Flange plate net section 308 356
rupture
Flange plate block shear 308 397
Bearing of bolts in brace 308 524
flange
Single shear of brace 176 265
web bolts
Web plate gross section 176 276
yielding
Web plate net section 176 203
rupture
Web plate block shear 176 367
Bearing of bolts in brace 176 239
web

Figure 8 - Bolted Wide Flange Brace-to-Wide Note that the flange and web are sized to have a
Flange Column Connection slightly higher sections than the brace flanges and
web are therefore acceptable by inspection.
Distribute brace force in proportion to web and
flange areas The flange plate-to-gusset weld follows the same
procedures as for the pipe-to-column connection.
Force in flange
Assume 15" weld along all (4) edges of the plate.

Force in web Use 15" of ¼" weld for the flange plate-to-
gusset connection on (4) edges.

• While potentially easier to erect, the bolted

• While the strength requirements are the
same as for the welded pipe, the bolted wide
flange produces much higher connection
forces due to lower buckling-to-yield ratios
(brace design based on buckling and
connection design based on yielding).
connection requires a much more extensive
design effort as well as increased fabrication
cost.
• For a bolted connection such as this, the net
section of the brace will by definition be the
weak link in the connection. This situation
occurs because the Provisions require the
remaining portions of the connection to be
sized for 110% of the tensile yield of the
brace gross section.

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Gusset-to-Beam Welds Gusset-to-Column Bolts
The gusset-to-beam welds follows the same
procedures as for the pipe-to-column connection.
However, since the column is bending about its
weak axis, is taken as approximately zero
resulting in the moment and horizontal component
of the column being approximately zero. The
forces are shown on the free body diagram of the
gusset plate in Fig. 9.

Figure 10 — Gusset-to-Column Bolt Forces

From LFRD Vol II, Table 8-19

Figure 9 - Gusset-to-Beam Weld Forces

• This connection has been configured for shop

welding the gusset plate to the beam and From table
field bolting the beam/gusset to the column.
• For the weak axis column connection,
stiffeners have been added at the top and Use (5) 1" A490-x bolts in two vertical
bottom of the gusset to preclude local rows
buckling.
Gusset Plate Thickness
Weld of gusset to beam flange The minimum thickness of the gusset plate is
determined following the same provisions and
procedures discussed earlier for the pipe-to-column
connection.

Table 4
Required Gusset Plate
Criteria Thickness (in)
Use ¾" weld for gusset to beam flange.
Tension Yielding .60
Weld of shear tab to column
Plate Buckling .73
Shear Yielding @ 1.09
Fillet Welds

Use gusset plate

Use ¼" weld for shear tab to column.

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BOLTED WIDE FLANGE BRACE-TO-BEAM Gusset Plate Thickness
CONNECTION (Fig. 11)
The minimum thickness of the gusset plate follows
the same procedures as for the pipe-to-column
Required Strength
connection.
The required strength is the same as for the bolted
wide flange brace-to-weak axis wide flange
column. Use 1" gusset plate

Brace-to-Gusset Connection
WIDE FLANGE COLUMN SPLICE (Fig. 13)
The wide flange brace-to-gusset connection
follows the same procedures as that for the bolted
wide flange brace-to-weak axis wide flange
column.

Gusset-to-Beam Weld

Figure 13 - Wide Flange Column Splice

Web Plate and Weld
Figure 12 - Gusset-to-Beam Weld Forces
Per AISC Sec. 13.5.b: Splices shall be capable of
The gusset-to-beam weld follows the same developing nominal shear strength of smaller
procedures for welded pipe brace-to-beam section.
connection.

Figure 11 — Bolted Wide Flange Brace-to-Beam Connection

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Size weld of plate-to-column web using LRFD Per AISC Sec. 8.3a.2: The minimum required
Table 8-42. strength for each flange shall be 0.5 times

Partial penetration weld

Try complete penetration weld

Flexural Strength Check

Per AISC Sec. 13.5.b: Splices shall develop 50
percent of the nominal flexural strength of the
smaller section.

Use fillet weld

• Design the weld plate to resist the column

shear and the flange welds to resist the axial
tension force.
• Load condition 4-2 becomes significant for
taller, more slender frames.
Figure 14 — Splice Flexural Forces
• It is difficult for partial-penetration welds to
comply with the column splice requirements.
• Although base plates have not been included
in this paper, there is strong analogy
between the strength and weld requirements
of column splices and base plates.

Flange Welds
Per AISC Sec. 8.3a.1: If partial penetration weld
used, the design strength of the joints must be at
least 200 percent of the required strength per
equation 4-2.
Equation 4-2 does not include the redundancy
factor.

Try partial joint weld

Since Equation 4-2 negligible, not
applicable.

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ORDINARY CONCENTRICALLY
BRACED FRAME (OCBF) CONNECTION
DESIGN
This system is the basic steel braced frame that has
been a part of seismic codes for many years. The
frame is configured with welded pipe braces (see
Figure 15) for a direct comparison with the SCBF
in the previous section.
As opposed to the ductility approach for the SCBF,
the design basis for the OCBF is primarily based
on strength. The provisions require braces with
greater stiffness (lower kl/r ratios) and greater
strength (lower system R factor and 80% reduction
of design strength). In addition to these
requirements, new provisions have been added to
preclude local buckling of the braces.
The OCBF system also has special requirements
for Chevron configurations. Instead of requiring
increased beam strength for unbalanced brace Figure 15 - OCBF Elevation
forces, the OCBF provisions amplify the design
forces on the braces, resulting in even stronger,
stiffer braces. WELDED TUBE BRACE-TO-WIDE FLANGE
The connections have slightly lower demands than COLUMN CONNECTION (Fig. 16)
those of SCBF's. The design force can be based on
the amplified seismic load combination if it is
lower than the yielding of the brace. Also, until
recently, there were no requirements for plastic
hinge formation or out-of-plane yielding of the
connection. These requirements were added to the
current version of the Provisions. Even though the
requirements are slightly less, the actual
connections will be larger in the OCBF because of
the larger forces in the stronger, stiffer braces.
Column splices must be designed for the amplified
earthquake load combinations, but have no special Figure 16 — Welded Tube Brace-to-Wide Flange
shear strength requirements. As for SCBF, the Column Connection
Provisions include special requirements for splices
made with fillet welds or partial-penetration groove Required Strength
welds.
The required strength of bracing connections, per
AISC Sec. 14.3.a, is determined from the least of
the following equations:
Bracing member's nominal axial tensile strength:
where equals 1.1 per AISC Sec. 6.2
Force in the brace resulting from the following
Load Combinations per AISC Sec. 4.1
Eqn. (4-1)

Eqn. (4-2)

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where for OCBF per UBC Table 16-N Weld of gusset-to-beam flanges
and does not include the redundancy factor

• The connection design for this OCBF is based

on the amplified seismic forces instead of the
brace yield force.

Maximum force, transferred to brace by system

as determined by analysis
Use weld for gusset-to-beam flange

• Because the connection cannot rotate freely

Brace-to-Gusset Weld
The required weld length for the brace to the gusset
follows the same procedures as for the SCBF pipe-
to-column connection.
• This connection is arranged with the brace
terminating close to the beam flange, resulting
in a smaller gusset plate.
out-of-plane, the new version of the Provisions
requires the welds to be designed for an
additional force based on the plastic moment
Strength of the brace. This additional
requirement results in very large welds and a
thick gusset plate.
Weld of gusset-to-column

Assume 15in of weld along (4) edges.

Use 15in of weld on (4) edges

Gusset-to-Beam and Column Welds

The gusset-to-beam and column connections
follow the same procedures used for the SCBF
pipe-to-column connection. However, per AISC
Sec. 14.3c, an additional plastic moment equal to
will be included when the analysis
indicates the brace will buckle.
Use 1¼" weld for gusset-to-beam column
Gusset Plate Thickness
Determining the thickness of the gusset plate
follows the same procedures as for the SCBF pipe-
to-column connection.

Table 5
Required Gusset
Criteria Plate Thickness (in)
Block Shear .32in
Tension Yielding .33in
Plate Buckling .42in
Shear Yielding @
Fillet Welds 1.92in
Figure 17 — Gusset-to-Beam and Column Weld
Forces Use 2" gusset plate

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 WELDED TUBE BRACE-TO-BEAM
CONNECTION (Fig. 18)

Required Strength
The required strength is the same as for the tube-to-
column connection.

Brace-to-Gusset Weld
The brace-to-gusset weld is the same as for the
tube-to-column connection.

Gusset-to-Beam Connection
Gusset Plate Thickness
The gusset-to-beam connection follows the same The gusset plate thickness follows the same
procedures for the SCBF pipe-to-column procedures as for the SCBF pipe-to-column
connection. Also included is the additional plastic connection.
moment as discussed in the previous section.

use 1¼" gusset plate

Figure 19 — Gusset-to-Beam Connection

Figure 18 — Welded Tube Brace-to-Beam Connection

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ECCENTRICALLY BRACED FRAME
(EBF) CONNECTION DESIGN
The EBF system was introduced into the building
codes in the late 1980's and has received moderate
use in steel braced frame buildings since. The
frame in this example uses welded tube
connections similar to the OCBF (see Figure 20 for
a frame elevation).
As for the SCBF and OCBF examples, a Chevron
configuration with the links in the center was
selected. The building codes currently also allow
links to be placed adjacent to columns. For that
configuration, the connection design criteria
currently being developed for welded steel moment
frame connections needs to be considered in
addition to the topics presented in this paper.
The ductility in the EBF system comes from the
rotation and yielding of the link. The link in this
example was configured for shear yielding (short
link) rather than for flexural yielding (long link).
Figure 20 – EBF Elevation
The EBF provisions are based on a capacity design
approach and therefore all members and
connections must be stronger than the link. The WELDED TUBE BRACE-TO-WIDE FLANGE
brace design is based on buckling strength under COLUMN CONNECTION (Fig. 21)
the strain hardened link force. The required
strength of the connection then needs to exceed the
expected strength of the brace in compression.
Additional connection issues with the EBF are
associated with the design and detailing of the link.
To assure stable yielding, web stiffeners are
required at each end of the link and also at
intermediate locations. In general, closer stiffener
spacing is required for shear links than for flexural
links. The Provisions do not allow web doubler
plates or brace gusset plates extending into the link
region. Finally, the Provisions require the flanges
of the link to be braced out-of-plane. Figure 21 – Welded Tube Brace-to-Wide Flange
Column Connection
Column splices must be designed for the amplified
earthquake load combinations, but have no special Required Strength
shear strength requirements. As for SCBF, the
Provisions include special requirements for splices The required strength of brace, per AISC Sec 15.6a
made with fillet welds or partial-penetration groove is determined from the resulting forces generated
welds. by the expected nominal shear strength of the link
increased by 125% to account for strain
hardening.
Next, per AISC Sec. 15.6d, the required strength of
the connection shall be at least the expected
nominal strength of the brace. For the TS 8 x 8 x

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 Resultant
• The required connection strength of the EBF
is the lowest of the various frames shown in
this paper. The reason for this lower demand
is that the EBF has the largest system R factor
and that the connection force is based on
brace compression strength rather than brace Use fillet weld for gusset-to-beam flange
yielding.
Weld of gusset to column

Brace-to-Gusset Weld
The required weld thickness for the brace to the
gusset follows the same procedures as for the
SCBF pipe-to-column connection.
Assuming 14" of weld along (4) edges

Use 14" of weld along (4) edges

Gusset-to-Beam and Column Welds

Use weld (similar to weld along beam) for

gusset to column

• As for the OCBF, the brace extends to the

beam flange to minimize the size of the
gusset plate.

Gusset Plate Thickness

Table 6

Figure 22 - Free Body Diagram of Brace to Required Gusset Plate

Beam/Column Connection Criteria Thickness (in)
Block Shear .33in
Uniform Force Method as recommended per LRFD
Vol. II Part 11, the axial force from the brace is Tension Yielding .21in
resolved into the corresponding moment, Plate Buckling .31 in
horizontal, and vertical forces on the gusset plate.
This is shown on the free body diagram of the Shear Yielding @
gusset plate Fig. 22. Fillet Welds .55in

Weld of gusset-to-beam flanges

Use gusset plate

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 WELDED TUBE BRACE-TO-BEAM
CONNECTION (Fig. 23)

Required Strength
The required strength is the same as the EBF
welded tube brace-to-wide flange column
connection.

Brace-to-Gusset Weld
The required weld length for the brace to the gusset
is the same as the EBF welded tube brace-to-wide
Choose weld
flange column connection.

• Since the gusset plate cannot extend into the

link region, a stiffener is added at the end of
the link to balance the loading on the welds.

Gusset Plate Thickness

Table 7
Required Gusset Plate
Criteria Thickness (in)
Block Shear .33in
Tension Yielding .29in
Figure 24 – Free Body Diagram of Plate Buckling .31in
Brace-to-Beam/Column Connection
Shear Yielding @
Elastic Vector Method Fillet Welds .63in

Use gusset plate

Figure 23 – Welded Tube Brace-to-Beam Connection

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 BEAM LINK (Fig. 23) Link Stiffener Welds
Per AISC Sec 15.3c, fillet welds connecting link
End Link Stiffeners
stiffeners shall have a design strength:
Per AISC Sec. 15.3a, provide full depth web is area of stiffener) for connection
stiffeners on both sides of link at end of braces: of web to stiffener.
• Width for connection of flange to stiffener.
• Thickness or 3/8" whichever is greater Weld For Web
(2) sided, full beam width & depth
Use plate thick

Link stiffener requirements are prescriptive.

Intermediate Link Stiffeners Choose a weld

Per AISC Sec. 15.3b: Weld for Flange

1.) Provide intermediate web stiffeners

spaced at; since link length
and link rotation
2.) - Intermediate link web stiffeners shall be
full depth.
-If link depth <25" deep, stiffener is
required on one side only. Choose a weld
- Thickness of 1 sided stiffeners > or
whichever is greater. Lateral support of link
-Width
Per AISC Sec 15.5, lateral support is to be
provided at both the top and bottom of the link
flanges at each end.

Space intermediate web stiffeners at

maximum

Web stiffeners full depth/width

Only required on one side

• Because of the short link and high link

rotation, the intermediate stiffeners must
be closely spaced. Figure 25 – Lateral Support of Link

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Design support for 6% of flange strength Weld at Beam

Lateral support of beam links @ ends of W18x40

Choose a weld with a plate ¼" x 4" x 4"

Choose 3 x 3 x ¼
WIDE FLANGE COLUMN SPLICE @ EBF
• The composite metal deck and concrete
slab provide lateral support of the top
flange.

BEAM-TO-COLUMN CONNECTIONS

Figure 27 — EBF Column Splice

• The column splice for the EBF is essentially

the same as for the OCBF.

Figure 26 - Beam-to-Column Connections Required Strength

Required Strength Per AISC Sec 8.3 the design strength of column
splices shall meet or exceed the required strength
Per AISC Sec. 15.7, these connections shall have of Sec. 8.2:
the strength to resist (2) equal and opposite forces
Eqn. 4-1
equal to 2% of flange capacity - acting
laterally on the beam flanges. Eqn. 4-2
But need not exceed:
a. the maximum load transferred to the
column considering times the
• The Provisions require nominal torsional nominal strength of the member
restraint of the beam away from the link. b. limit as determined form the resistance of
This requirement is met by adding stiffener the foundation to overturning uplift
plates to a typical bolted shear connection.
For this splice, Eqn 4-2 governs

Plates and Welds

Weld at Column:
However, for EBF also check axial tension
when nominal shear strength of links reached,

Choose a weld

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© 2003 by American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. All rights reserved.
This publication or any part thereof must not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.
Flange Welds CONCLUSION
Per AISC Sec. 8.3a and 8.3b: Properly designed and detailed connections are
critical to achieve the expected performance of
Column splices made with fillet and partial joint
braced frames in earthquakes. As can be seen in
penetration groove welds shall not be located
the design examples, there are numerous building
within 4' nor half the column clear height of beam
code provisions that address connection design.
to column connections, whichever is less.
These provisions have evolved over the years as
If subjected to a tensile stress per load combination new braced frame systems have been introduced
4-2 filler metal shall meet requirements of CVN and as more experience has been gained from the
toughness as required by Sec. 7.3b, and behavior of buildings in actual earthquakes.
1.) The design strength of partial joint
penetration welds shall be at least equal to
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
200% of required strength.
2.) The minimum required strength for each The author wishes to acknowledge the considerable
flange shall be efforts of Garo Pehlivanian, Kristie Fromhold,
Steve Curran and Michael Townsend in assisting in
Beveled transitions are not required when changes the development of this paper.
in thickness and width of flanges and web occur.
Initially try a partial penetration groove weld that
will be at least equal to 200% of the required
strength.

Use a complete penetration weld at each flange,

this will satisfy strength requirements of Sec 8.2
and Sec. 8.3a.
Locate splice @ 4' from floor or 14/2 - 7/2 = 3'-6";
4' from floor governs
*provide shear plate to web for erection

25-20
© 2003 by American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. All rights reserved.
This publication or any part thereof must not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.