SINGLE PLATE CONNECTIONS FOR STEEL BEAMS

by
URS WYSS
B.

Eng. Swiss F e d e r a l

I n s t i t u t e of T e c h n o l o g y ,

A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF APPLIED
i n the

SCIENCE

Department
of

Civil

We a c c e p t t h i s
required

Engineering

t h e s i s as conforming to

standard

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

APRIL,

1967

the

1963

In presenting

t h i s thesis i n p a r t i a l f u l f i l m e n t of the requirements

for an advanced degree at the U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h Columbia, I agree

that die L i b r a r y s h a l l make i t f r e e l y available f o r reference and
study.

I further agree that permission f o r extensive copying of t h i s

thesis f o r s c h o l a r l y purposes may be granted by the Head of my

Department or by his representatives.

I t i s understood that copying

or p u b l i c a t i o n of t h i s thesis f o r f i n a n c i a l gain s h a l l not be allowed

without, my written permission.

Department of

Civil

Engineering

The U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h Columbia
Vancouver 8 Canada
S

ABSTRACT
S i n g l e p l a t e c o n n e c t i o n s f o r s t e e l beams, connected by
h i g h s t r e n g t h b o l t s t o the beam web and welded t o the column,
were i n v e s t i g a t e d t o determine
T e s t s were performed
i n the presence
rigidity

their, b e h a v i o u r .

on the c o n n e c t i o n s i n the absence and

o f shear, and shear was found not t o a f f e c t the

of the c o n n e c t i o n s .

V a r y i n g the gauge d i s t a n c e , the weld s i z e ,

the p i t c h and

the number of b o l t s i n the t e s t specimens, showed t h a t o n l y

the p i t c h and the number of b o l t s i n f l u e n c e d the r i g i d i t y
of the c o n n e c t i o n s .
b o l t s causes

An i n c r e a s e i n the p i t c h and the number of

an i n c r e a s e i n the r i g i d i t y

In a l l cases

of the c o n n e c t i o n s .

the major s l i p v a l u e was g r e a t e r than the

u s u a l l y assumed v a l u e .
Under the a c t i o n of pure moment the c e n t r e of r o t a t i o n
was

found

t o be s l i g h t l y above the c e n t r o i d of the c o n n e c t i o n ,

whereas under the a c t i o n of moment and shear the c e n t r e of r o t a t i o n

was

s l i g h t l y below the c e n t r o i d of the c o n n e c t i o n .

The maximum moment developed

45 k i p - i n c h e s f o r the two-bolt
f o r the s i x - b o l t

connection.

by the connections v a r i e d

c o n n e c t i o n , to 355 k i p - i n c h e s

from

ii.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE

PAGE

I - INTRODUCTION

Scope
Advantages o f the New Type o f Connections
Aim of the I n v e s t i g a t i o n
E a r l y Work
Method o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n

I I - DESCRIPTION OF TESTS
1.

Pure Moment Set-up

Type of Connections

Investigated

D e s c r i p t i o n of Apparatus
D e s c r i p t i o n of Tests
Observations
Moment-Rotation
2.

Curves

Moment Shear Set-up

Type of Connections

Investigated

D e s c r i p t i o n of Apparatus
D e s c r i p t i o n of T e s t s
a) Without A p p l i e d
b) With A p p l i e d

Rotation

Rotation

Observations
Shear D e f l e c t i o n Curves
Moment-Rotation

Curves

iii.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Cont'd)

TITLE

PAGE

I I I - ANALYSIS AND RESULTS OF TESTS

1.

28

C a p a c i t y of the Connections
Definitions
Slip

2.

Values

R i g i d i t y of the Connections
Definitions
S e m i - R i g i d C o n n e c t i o n F a c t o r s from
Moment and Moment Shear

3.

I n f l u e n c e of the D i f f e r e n t

Pure

Set-up

Variables

on the R i g i d i t y
4.

Centre of R o t a t i o n

IV - DERIVATION OF THEORETICAL CAPACITY AND

35

RIGIDITY OF THE CONNECTIONS

1.

Theoretical Capacity
Derivation
Comparison w i t h

2.

Experiments

D i s c u s s i o n of R i g i d i t y
Approximation of R i g i d i t y
Comparison w i t h

Experiments

V - CONCLUSIONS

40

BIBLIOGRAPHY

42

IV.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Cont'd)

TITLE

PAGE

APPENDIX "A"

44

Moment-Rotation Curves from Pure Moment

Set-up
APPENDIX "B"

50

S h e a r - D e f l e c t i o n Curves from Moment Shear

Set-up without A p p l i e d

Rotation

APPENDIX "C"

56

Moment-Rotation and R e s u l t a n t
Resultant

Bolt

Force-

Displacement Curves from Moment

Shear Set-up w i t h A p p l i e d

Rotation

LIST OF TABLES
PAGE

TABLE
I

Summary of Connections T e s t e d

II

Summary of F a i l u r e s

III

Maximum B o l t F o r c e s a t Major

IV

S e m i - R i g i d Connection F a c t o r s

33

Centres of R o t a t i o n

34

VI

T h e o r e t i c a l C a p a c i t y of Connections

35

VII

Comparison of S e m i - R i g i d Connection

38

Factors

4
22
Slip

31

vi.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND PLATES

FIGURE

PAGE

1.

S i n g l e P l a t e C o n n e c t i o n f o r S t e e l Beams

2.

T y p i c a l Moment R o t a t i o n Curve f o r S e m i - R i g i d

Connection
3.

T e s t Specimens

4.

Pure Moment Set-up

5.

T y p i c a l Moment R o t a t i o n Curves from Pure

12

Moment Set-up
6.

Moment R o t a t i o n Curves from Pure Moment Set-up

13

7.

Moment Shear Set-up

16

8..

T y p i c a l Shear D e f l e c t i o n Curves from Moment

25

Shear Set-up w i t h o u t A p p l i e d
9.

T y p i c a l Moment R o t a t i o n Curves from Moment

Shear Set-up w i t h A p p l i e d

10.

Rotation

Centre of R o t a t i o n

27

Rotation
34

vii.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND PLATES (Cont'd)

PHOTO
1.

PAGE
T e s t Specimen Mounted on the Beam i n the

Pure Moment Set-up

2.

Pure Moment Set-up i n the T i n i u s O l s e n

Testing

3.

Machine

Pure Moment Set-up.

Beam w i t h

Showing

the 21 WF 62

the Test Specimen and the

Distributing
4.

Beam.

T e s t Specimen Mounted i n the Moment Shear

18

Set-up
5.

End View of the Moment Shear Set-up Showing

18

End Frame w i t h Load C e l l s and H y d r a u l i c

Jacks
6.

a t Top

T y p i c a l Test Specimen f o r the Moment Shear

Set-up Showing
Test

the Deformations a f t e r the

23

viii.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author wishes

t o acknowledge g r a t e f u l l y the v a l u a b l e

a i d and guidance a f f o r d e d by h i s a d v i s o r , P r o f e s s o r S.L. L i p s o n ,

throughout the e n t i r e work covered i n t h i s

thesis.

Acknowledgment and thanks a r e a l s o due t o a l l t h e C i v i l

E n g i n e e r i n g ' Department T e c h n i c i a n s f o r t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e throughout
the experiments.

To Messrs. P. Demco, F. Z u r k i r c h e n and J . Sharp

f o r t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e i n p e r f o r m i n g experiments; t o Mr. W.

Schmidt

f o r h i s a i d i n s e t t i n g up e l e c t r o n i c s equipment.
S p e c i a l acknowledgment i s a l s o due t o M i s s L . Cowdell
f o r h e r v a l u a b l e a i d i n the t y p i n g of d r a f t

copies.

T h i s p o s t - g r a d u a t e study was sponsored by the Canadian

I n s t i t u t e of S t e e l C o n s t r u c t i o n .

1.
1INTRODUCTION

Scope.-

This t h e s i s covers the behaviour of s i n g l e p l a t e

connections f o r s t e e l beams, connected by high strength b o l t s

to the beam web and welded to the column, (see F i g . 1)
Advantages of t h i s Type of Connections.-

Compared w i t h the

r i v e t e d or bolted standard, double angle, connections as they

are recommended i n the Manual of S t e e l Construction by the
A.I.S.C. and C.I.S.C., the s i n g l e p l a t e connections with high
strength b o l t s are more economical f o r the following reasons:
1.

I n the case of high strength b o l t s of the f r i c t i o n type,

bearing s t r e s s i s not the governing f a c t o r f o r the number
of b o l t s , and f o r the thickness of the connection plate>
as i t i s f o r the double angle connections.

2.

Easy e r e c t i o n c o n d i t i o n s : the connection p l a t e w i l l be

shop welded to the column and f i e l d b o l t e d to the beam web.
Connecting the beam i n the f i e l d would be very simple.
Aim of the I n v e s t i g a t i o n s . -

The behaviour and the features

of the s i n g l e p l a t e connections f o r s t e e l beams have been

i n v e s t i g a t e d under d i f f e r e n t conditions and v a r i a b l e s . Qf
s p e c i a l I n t e r e s t are the capacity and r i g i d i t y

of these

connections.
Early Work.-

In the 1930's, C. Batho and H.C.

Rowan i n

1
2
Great B r i t a i n , and J.C. Rathbun i n the United States
conducted
t e s t s to f i n d a r e l a t i o n s h i p between the moment applied to a
r i v e t e d connection and the corresponding r o t a t i o n .

2.
A s e r i e s of t e s t s to compare the r i g i d i t y of welded
r i v e t e d c o n n e c t i o n s were conducted
i n 1934

3
i n Canada .

by C R .

J . L . Brandes and R.M.

and

Young and K.B.

Jackson

Mains r e p o r t e d t e s t s
4

of welded t o p - p l a t e and s e a t c o n n e c t i o n s i n 1944

r e p o r t , p u b l i s h e d i n 1947

A progress

by the American I n s t i t u t e of S t e e l

C o n s t r u c t i o n , recommended t h a t a dependable percentage

of r e s t r a i n t

of s e v e r a l types of s e m i - r i g i d c o n n e c t i o n s c o u l d be used i n
design^.
A l l t h i s e x p e r i m e n t a l r e s e a r c h has been undertaken
the behaviour

of such c o n n e c t i o n s , and

to i n v e s t i g a t e

p o s s i b i l i t y of i n c l u d i n g t h e i r e l a s t i c r e s t r a i n t
of s t r u c t u r a l framework.

The

t o study

the

i n the d e s i g n

f i n d i n g s of these r e s e a r c h groups

i n d i c a t e t h a t an approximate l i n e a r r e l a t i o n s h i p e x i s t s w i t h i n
a s p e c i f i c r e g i o n between the a p p l i e d moment and

the

relative

r o t a t i o n of the beam and column, as shown i n F i g . 2.

Method of I n v e s t i g a t i o n . - The s i n g l e p l a t e

connections

f o r s t e e l beams have been t e s t e d under t h r e e d i f f e r e n t c o n d i t i o n s ,

i n o r d e r to i n v e s t i g a t e , t h e i r behaviour
1.

In the "Pure Moment Set-up"

completely:

each c o n n e c t i o n was

to a pure bending moment i n the absence of

subjected

shear.

(see F i g . 4)
2.

In the "Moment Shear Set-up"

the same c o n n e c t i o n s were

t e s t e d under r e a l i s t i c beam end shears and

rotations,

(see F i g . 7)
3.

In the same "Moment Shear Set-up"

t e s t e d a l s o i n the presence
very small r o t a t i o n s only.

the c o n n e c t i o n s were

of beam end s h e a r s , but under

F i g . 2 - Typical Moment Rotation Curve for Semi-Rigid Connection.

4.
>/

'X /

<\

0
/

jr
j

/ V

4'v

>

/\
\?

/\
\/

/\
\/

/\
\

/s

*4

>

\?

/s
\?

(\

F i g . 3 - Tes t
A.

F o r Pure Moment Set-up

B.

F o r Moment Shear Set-up

Size
of
Weld
in.

in.

in.

Pure Moment

2 1/2
1 3/4
1 3/4

3
3
2 1/4

1/4
1/4
1/4

Moment Shear
no r o t a t i o n

2 1/2
1 3/4
4
2 1/2
1 3/4

3
3
3
2 1/4
2 1/4

1/4
1/4
1/4
1/4
1/4

Method
Tested

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Specimens

Series
No.

9
10
11
12

?
\

\/

&

/\

Moment Shear 2 1/2

w i t h r o t a t i o n 1 3/4
2 1/2
2 1/2

3
3
3
3

1/4
1/4
3/16
1/4 one s i d e

TABLE I - SUMMARY OF CONNECTIONS TESTED

11DESCRIPTION OF TESTS
1. Pure Moment

Set-up

Type o f Connections

Investigated.-

The type o f c o n n e c t i o n s

i n v e s t i g a t e d were s i n g l e p l a t e c o n n e c t i o n s f o r s t e e l beams aB
shown i n F i g . 1.

The v a r i a b l e s were the number of b o l t s , the

gauge d i s t a n c e and the p i t c h ; they v a r i e d as shown i n T a b l e I .

Each s e r i e s c o n s i s t e d of f i v e specimens w i t h d i f f e r e n t numbers
of b o l t s , from two b o l t s t o s i x , i n c l u s i v e .

The t h i c k n e s s o f

the c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e s was 1/4 i n . f o r a l l specimens and the

s i z e of the f i l l e t welds was 1/4 i n . f o r a l l cases except s e r i e s 11
The b o l t s employed i n a l l t e s t s were A.S.T.M. A-325 h i g h
strength b o l t s .

Each b o l t was t i g h t e n e d t o a torque o f 356 f t . l b s

u s i n g a c a l i b r a t e d torque wrench.
D e s c r i p t i o n of Apparatus.-

I n o r d e r t o o b t a i n the moment

r o t a t i o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of the c o n n e c t i o n s under the a c t i o n of

pure bending

and no shear, the t e s t specimens (see F i g . 3A and

Photo #1) were mounted i n the middle

simple beam.

pf a s y m m e t r i c a l l y loaded

Two s h o r t wide f l a n g e s e c t i o n s (21 WF 62) were

b o l t e d t o each s i d e of the t e s t specimen, which c o n s i s t e d of

two 1/4 i n . c o n n e c t i o n - p l a t e s , welded on e i t h e r s i d e t o a 1 i n .
intervening

plate.

The beam was p l a c e d on the bed of the 200,000 l b . c a p a c i t y

T i n i u s O l s e n t e s t i n g machine, and was supported on h i g h r o c k e r s
at e i t h e r end.

The beam was then s y m m e t r i c a l l y loaded, l ' - 6 "

on e i t h e r s i d e o f the c o n n e c t i o n c e n t r e by means of a d i s t r i b u t i n g
beam and r o c k e r s .

(see F i g . 4 and Photo #2,#3)

6.

fApp//ea /-OOc/ fnorn

t//oper< L/eacJ )

Z)/sfa'buh!ng Beam

Beam

PL

MachmB

L - fosbo?
Bed

SC770N

J-A

F i g . 4 - Pure Moment Set-up.

7.
In o r d e r to measure the r e l a t i v e r o t a t i o n of the
p l a t e w i t h r e s p e c t t o the beam web,
(4) were mounted on the web

connection

d i a l gauges ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) , (3)

of the beams.

and

These gauges were

b e a r i n g on s m a l l aluminum angles screwed to the c o n n e c t i o n - p l a t e ,

(see Photo

#1)

Description ofJTests.-

I n the f i r s t

s e t of specimens t e s t e d ,

s p e c i a l s l o p e - d e v i c e s were mounted on the top f l a n g e of the beam

on e i t h e r s i d e of the c o n n e c t i o n , i n order to get the
r o t a t i o n of the beam.

In the second and

absolute

t h i r d s e t s these

devices

were not used, but d i a l gauges were i n s t a l l e d as shown i n F i g . 4.

Finally

the same type of specimens as i n the f i r s t

s e t were t e s t e d ,

u s i n g the d i a l gauges i n s t e a d of the s l o p e - d e v i c e s , and

these

r e s u l t s r e p l a c e d the s l o p e d e v i c e r e a d i n g s from the f i r s t

The

same beams were used f o r a l l specimens.

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a p i t c h of 2 1/4
wide-flange

i n . the two

For

set.

the

other ends of

the

beams were used to a t t a c h to the specimen, so t h a t

the c o n d i t i o n of the f a y i n g s u r f a c e s f o r the 3 s e t s of specimens

were somewhat d i f f e r e n t .

The beam ends to which the specimens

w i t h a 3 i n . - p i t c h were a t t a c h e d , had been used i n e a r l i e r

and

t h e r e f o r e the f a y i n g s u r f a c e had become p o l i s h e d .

each new
two

specimen was

i n , were o r i g i n a l l y p a i n t e d .

removed w i t h a s p e c i a l l i q u i d and

brushed.

The b r u s h i n g was

The

connections
The p a i n t

the s u r f a c e was

repeated b e f o r e each

Before

w i r e brushed.

other ends of the beams, which were used f o r the

w i t h a p i t c h of 2 1/4
was

mounted, the s u r f a c e was

tests,

test.

wire

Photo #1 - Test Specimen Mounted on the Beam

i n the Pure Moment Set-up.

Photo #2 - Pure Moment Set-up i n t h e T i n i u s

T e s t i n g Machine.

Olsen

Photo #3 - Pure Moment Set-up.

Showing the

21 WF 62 Beam w i t h the T e s t
and the D i s t r i b u t i n g

Beam.

Specimen

The l o a d was a p p l i e d i n i n c r e m e n t s .

As soon as the r e l a t i o n

between a p p l i e d l o a d and r o t a t i o n was no more l i n e a r , s m a l l e r

increments were chosen.

A f t e r each increment

the machine was

stopped and the d i a l gauges were observed and noted.

was i n c r e a s e d u n t i l

The l o a d

c l e a r a n c e s or l a r g e deformations made any

f u r t h e r r o t a t i o n i m p o s s i b l e , then the c o n n e c t i o n s were unloaded

i n two or t h r e e increments and r e a d i n g s were a g a i n taken.
Observations.-

When t h e c o n n e c t i o n s were b e i n g b o l t e d

t o g e t h e r i t was noted t h a t the beams tended t o m i s a l i g n .

This

was due t o the f a c t t h a t the c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e s were not welded

e x a c t l y i n a r i g h t angle t o the i n t e r v e n i n g p l a t e .

Because

of the v e r y s m a l l e x c e n t r i c i t y i t was n o t found t o be n e c e s s a r y

to p r e v e n t o r measure any l a t e r a l movements.
N o t i c e a b l e c o n n e c t i o n s l i p s were u s u a l l y observed on;the
machine l o a d d i a l :

w h i l e the l o a d i n g r a t e was m a i n t a i n e d the

l o a d dropped o f f or c o u l d not be i n c r e a s e d .

I n most cases the

l o a d drop o f f was accompanied w i t h a c r a c k i n g n o i s e .

This

observed v a l u e i s shown on the v a r i o u s c u r v e s .

In many cases the l o a d i n g was c o n t i n u e d to g i v e a l a r g e
deflection.

I n these cases the d e f o r m a t i o n i n the c o n n e c t i o n

p l a t e s was marked, e s p e c i a l l y a t the h o l e s where b o l t s were

bearing.

The deformations were b i g g e r on the t e n s i o n s i d e of

the c o n n e c t i o n and the magnitude i n c r e a s e d w i t h the number of

bolts.

11.

Moment-Rotation Curves.-

I n order t o determine

of these c o n n e c t i o n s i t was of f i r s t
are developed

the behaviour

i n t e r e s t t o know what moments

d u r i n g an a p p l i e d beam r o t a t i o n .

The developed

moments were c a l c u l a t e d from the a p p l i e d l o a d f o r each

and

increment,

the c o r r e s p o n d i n g beam r o t a t i o n s were o b t a i n e d from the d i a l

gauge r e a d i n g s .

Moments were p l o t t e d v e r s u s r o t a t i o n s f o r a l l

t e s t s made, and the complete s e t of these graphs i s r e c o r d e d i n

Appendix A.
Only

the v a r i a t i o n of the p i t c h produced

d i f f e r e n c e i n the developed

a considerable

end moment.

The moment r o t a t i o n curves f o r the same p i t c h

(3 i n . ) but

d i f f e r e n t gauge d i s t a n c e s (2 1/2 i n . and 1 3/4 i n . ) agree

each other q u i t e w e l l .

E x c l u d i n g the two b o l t

connections, i t

can be s t a t e d t h a t f o r any one r o t a t i o n the developed

d i f f e r by maximum

moments

15% o f the h i g h e r v a l u e , but no c o n s i s t e n c y

can be noted i n the magnitude o r s i g n of t h i s d i f f e r e n c e .

statement

i s v a l i d up to the t e s t e d d e s i g n r o t a t i o n .

f o r t h i s range:

with

This'

(Limits

see page 2Q)

The moment r o t a t i o n curves f o r the same gauge d i s t a n c e

(1 3/4 i n . ) but d i f f e r e n t p i t c h e s (3 i n . and 2 1/4:'in.) show
f o r the same r o t a t i o n a d i f f e r e n c e i n moments between 20% and
50% of the h i g h e r v a l u e .

The s i g n o f t h i s d i f f e r e n c e i s i n a l l

cases the same; the moment f o r the c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the 2 1/4: i n . p i t c h i s always s m a l l e r .

The v a l i d i t y of t h i s o b s e r v a t i o n goes

a l s o as f a r as the maximum d e s i g n r o t a t i o n .

13.

0.00/

OOOS.
0.003
S?OrAT/OA/
{RAZD/ANS
)

o.oov

F i g . 6 - Moment R o t a t i o n Curves from Pure Moment Set-up.

14.
The diagrams seem t o be curved r i g h t away from the o r i g i n ,
but the f i r s t p a r t o f the curves can be approximated
line.

by a s t r a i g h t

The s l o p e o f t h i s l i n e which g i v e s an i n d i c a t i o n f o r the

rigidity

of the c o n n e c t i o n , seems t o v a r y w i t h the p i t c h and the

number o f b o l t s o n l y .

With a decrease

i n the p i t c h or number of

b o l t s , the s l o p e and t h e r e f o r e the r i g i d i t y decreases a l s o .

The

steep range of the moment-rotation curves i s f o l l o w e d by a s h a l l o w e r

p a r t , i n d i c a t i n g the major s l i p

of the c o n n e c t i o n .

A further

i n c r e a s e i n r o t a t i o n b r i n g s the b o l t s i n t o b e a r i n g which shows

i n the moment-rotation curves as an i n c r e a s i n g s l o p e .

15.
2.

Moment-Shear Set-up
Type of Connections

Investigated.-

was t e s t e d i n t h i s s e t - u p .

The same type of connections

The s i z e of the weld was i n t r o d u c e d as

a new v a r i a b l e .
D e s c r i p t i o n o f Apparatus.were t e s t e d i n the presence

I n t h i s arrangement the c o n n e c t i o n s

of shear as w e l l as moment, i n order

to s i m u l a t e the c o n d i t i o n s o c c u r i n g i n a c t u a l p r a c t i c e .

I t was

d e c i d e d t o use the same set-up as had been used b e f o r e , by

R.C. S t a r r , who t e s t e d the s i n g l e angle beam web
(see F i g . 7)

connections,

The c o n n e c t i o n assembly was b o l t e d t o a v e r y

column, t o develop

a maximum end moment.

rigid

In the v i c i n i t y o f the

beam c o n n e c t i o n s , the column had web s t i f f e n e r s between i t s 1 i n .

t h i c k f l a n g e s i n o r d e r t o prevent any l o c a l f l a n g e d e f o r m a t i o n s .
For the column and f o r the beam the deformations
without

i n f l u e n c e , s i n c e o n l y the r e l a t i v e r o t a t i o n o f one w i t h

r e s p e c t t o the other was d e s i r e d .

pitches

were s m a l l and

Because of the two d i f f e r e n t

(3 i n . and 2 1/4 i n . ) , two d i f f e r e n t beams were employed,

both were 21 WF 62 s e c t i o n s of the same l e n g t h .

The f i r s t s e t

w i t h a 3 i n . - p i t c h was t e s t e d , having a s u r f a c e smoothed down by

earlier test.
beam used

A f t e r t h i s s e t the beam was sand b l a s t e d .

t o t e s t the c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h a 2 1/4 i n . - p i t c h was

sand b l a s t e d t o s t a r t w i t h .
wire

The

A f t e r each t e s t the s u r f a c e was

brushed.
The

column frame was p l a c e d on the bed of the 200,000 l b .

T i n i u s O l s e n t e s t i n g machine.

The beam was then r a i s e d above

S'-

SB

7&f

r
- Frxjme

J? fApp//ed
fcy//'*- Upper
-

-foac/Ce/Zs

load)

/Jeoc/

T5

Pocfrer

63"

/2W=/06
O
2/

//////

Z2.

B e a m

fV=VO

r
'TV / V,
k

Bed af 7esf/s?g
Mach/ne

Co/umn Frame

17.
t h i s frame and b o l t e d t o the column f a c e u s i n g the t e s t

specimen.

T h i s specimen c o n s i s t e d of the c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e welded t o a

1 in.-plate.

(see F i g . 3B)

The 1 i n . - p l a t e was b o l t e d t o the

column u s i n g twice as many b o l t s as f o r the c o n n e c t i o n i t s e l f , and

therefore very l i t t l e
expected.

displacement

r e l a t i v e t o the column was

D i a l gauge No. 4 (see F i g . 7) i n d i c a t e s d i r e c t l y

this

d e f l e c t i o n of the c o n n e c t i o n r e l a t i v e t o the column and the

maximum observed

v a l u e s a r e 0.002 i n . a t working l o a d and 0.048 i n .

at maximum l o a d .
In the case where no r o t a t i o n was a p p l i e d t o the c o n n e c t i o n ,
the o t h e r end of the beam was supported
arrangement a t i t s top f l a n g e .

on a double

screw

For the other case, where r o t a t i o n

was a p p l i e d , the screws were r e p l a c e d by a p a i r o f h y d r a u l i c

jacks.

Each screw or j a c k was connected

the whole arrangement was supported

bed of the machine.
D i a l gauges

t o a l o a d c e l l , and

on a frame connected

t o the

(see Photo #5)

(1) and (2) were a t t a c h e d t o the web of the

beam and were b e a r i n g on s m a l l aluminum

angles screwed t o the

c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e , i n o r d e r t o measure the r o t a t i o n of the beam

web r e l a t i v e t o the c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e .

A d d i t i o n a l gauges

(3) and

(4) were r e q u i r e d t o measure the v e r t i c a l d e f l e c t i o n o f the beam

r e l a t i v e t o the c o n n e c t i o n , and of the specimen r e l a t i v e t o the
column.

A s l o p e - d e v i c e was mounted a t the end of the beam as

an a i d i n a p p l y i n g l o a d and r o t a t i o n a t the same time.

Photo #4)

(see

Photo #4 - T e s t Specimen Mounted i n the

Moment Shear S e t - u p .

Photo #5 - End View of the Moment Shear Set-up Showing End Frame
w i t h Load C e l l s and H y d r a u l i c Jacks at T o p .

19.
D e s c r i p t i o n of T e s t s . -

a) Without A p p l i e d R o t a t i o n

B e f o r e any l o a d was a p p l i e d the screw arrangement was s e t

so t h a t

h a l f of the weight of the beam was c a r r i e d by each s u p p o r t ,

order to impose no i n i t i a l moment on the c o n n e c t i o n .

in

The l o a d

was a p p l i e d i n i n c r e m e n t s , w h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g the same screw

setting

throughout the whole t e s t .

At each l o a d increment

r e a d i n g s were r e c o r d e d i n the f o l l o w i n g manner:

amount of l o a d was a p p l i e d ,

all

When the d e s i r e d

the machine was stopped and the l o a d

c e l l v a l u e s were immediatly r e a d , u s i n g a two-way s w i t c h and the

Budd d a t r a n d i g i t a l s t r a i n i n d i c a t o r .

These r e a d i n g s were taken

w i t h i n the space of seconds i n o r d e r to a v o i d any drop o f f

by c r e e p .

A f t e r w a r d s a l l the d i a l gauge r e a d i n g s were

caused

recorded.

N o t i c e a b l e c o n n e c t i o n s l i p s were u s u a l l y c h a r a c t e r i z e d by
a sudden l o a d drop o f f on the machine l o a d d i a l ,
with a cracking n o i s e .

accompanied

T h i s i s an i n d i c a t i o n of a sudden or

i n c r e a s e d r a t e of v e r t i c a l movement.

The l o a d i n g was c o n t i n u e d

u n t i l a l a r g e d e f o r m a t i o n of the c o n n e c t i o n - p l a t e was r e a c h e d ,

at

t h i s stage the r e l a t i v e v e r t i c a l d e f l e c t i o n s of the beam w i t h

r e s p e c t to the 1 i n . t h i c k p l a t e
1/5

to 1/2

connected to the column were

in.
b) With A p p l i e d R o t a t i o n

B e f o r e the b o l t s were t i g h t e n e d ,
screws were set
horizontally.

at

the j a c k s which r e p l a c e d

the

t h e i r maximum t r a v e l and the beam was a d j u s t e d

Then a f t e r the b o l t s were t i g h t e n e d , a s m a l l

adjustment had to be made by means of the screw c o n n e c t i n g

the

20.
l o a d c e l l t o the w i r e s t r a n d , to get h a l f of the weight of the
beam on each s u p p o r t .
As the l o a d was

a p p l i e d , the v a l v e of the j a c k s was

opened

to a l l o w the beam r o t a t i o n t o be a p p l i e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h
the i n c r e a s e of l o a d .

I t was

attempted

to m a i n t a i n a f i x e d

r a t i o of beam r o t a t i o n to end shear throughout

the two

i n c h maximum t r a v e l of the j a c k s was

time the l o a d only was

a p p l i e d i n increments.
was

kept

constant.

increased.
The

the t e s t ,

until

reached, a t which

Load and r o t a t i o n were

l o a d i n g or s t r a i n r a t e of the machine

The machine was

stopped

a t each

increment,

w h i l e a l l r e a d i n g s were r e c o r d e d .
A r e l a t i o n s h i p between l o a d and end r o t a t i o n had
determined,

i n order to apply r o t a t i o n s t o the t e s t beam.

c a l c u l a t i o n was
connections^.
boltforce

t o be

done a l r e a d y t o t e s t the s i n g l e web

This

angle

Based on these r e s u l t s and on the a l l o w a b l e

(6.6 k i p s ) i t was

d e c i d e d t o apply the r o t a t i o n as

follows:
No. of b o l t s
i n connection

r o t a t i o n i n r a d . per
k i p end s h e a r :

2 or 3

0.00057

0.00048

0.00032

0.00040

As b e f o r e n o t i c e a b l e c o n n e c t i o n s l i p s were noted a l s o as
a sudden l o a d drop

o f f on the machine l o a d d i a l ,

accompanied

w i t h c r a c k i n g n o i s e s , but t h i s time i t i s an i n d i c a t i o n of a
sudden or i n c r e a s e d r a t e of r o t a t i o n .

21.

Observations.-

During

l o a d c e l l r e a d i n g s was
c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e and

the t e s t s a d i f f e r e n c e i n the

noted, which was

due

two

to the f a c t t h a t the

t h e r e f o r e a l s o the beam web

was

not e x a c t l y

vertical.
From the moment where the c o n n e c t i o n s t a r t e d to s l i p

to the

end of the t e s t , c r a c k i n g n o i s e s were observed w h i l e l o a d i n g f o r

most c o n n e c t i o n s .
how

These n o i s e s were very much dependent

the j a c k s were r e l e a s e d .
In the case without

a p p l i e d r o t a t i o n very large

of the c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e were o b t a i n e d .
u n t i l the end shear reached

The

l o a d was

The

i s g i v e n i n the standard s p e c i f i c a t i o n s as 6.6

f o l l o w i n g modes of f a i l u r e have been

F a i l u r e type A:
immediatly
F a i l u r e type B:

Crack

times
one

connection

kips.
observed:

i n the t e n s i o n edge of the p l a t e ,

a d j o i n i n g the toe of the weld.

Crack

at a d i s t a n c e 3/4
F a i l u r e type C:

increased

d e s i g n v a l u e of

i n . A-325 h i g h s t r e n g t h b o l t i n a f r i c t i o n type

The

deformations

a magnitude of about t h r e e

the d e s i g n v a l u e of the c o n n e c t i o n .
3/4

on

i n the t e n s i o n edge of the p l a t e ,

i n . away from the 1 i n . - p l a t e .

V e r t i c a l c r a c k a t the lower edge of

the

c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e , d i r e c t l y under the b o l t h o l e .
F a i l u r e type D:
the

plate.

Crack

i n the weld at the t e n s i o n edge of

22.

Series
No.

rot.

no

f o r c e per
b o l t at
f a i l u r e kips

24.3

3.7

24.9

3.8

24.1

3.7

25.7

3.9

18.5

2.8

18.9

2.9

18.4

2.8

C + A

21.2

3.2

21.0

3.2

20.0

3.0

1/4 i n .
both s i d e s

no

s i z e of
fillet
weld

1/4 i n .

both s i d e s

5
6
8

no

1/4 i n .
both s i d e s

4
6
12

y es

factor
of
safety

Failure
Type

No. of
bolts

1/4 i n .

17.5

2.6

one s i d e

17.3

2.6

16.6

2.5

21.0

3.2

20.4

3.1

TABLE I I - SUMMARY OF

FAILURES

The " f o r c e per b o l t " i s o b t a i n e d from the t o t a l end shear a t

f a i l u r e d i v i d e d by the number of b o l t s .

D i v i d i n g the " f o r c e

per b o l t " by the d e s i g n v a l u e

leads

(6.6 k i p s )

to the " f a c t o r of

safety".
For each t e s t a new

s e t of h i g h

strength

None of the b o l t s f a i l e d , o n l y v e r y s m a l l
due to b e a r i n g

have been observed.

b o l t s has been used.

local

deformations

Photo #6 - T y p i c a l Test Specimen f o r the Moment Shear

Set-up.
the

Test.

Showing the Deformations

after

24.
Shear D e f l e c t i o n Curves.-

The shear d e f l e c t i o n curves a r e

o b t a i n e d from the t e s t s i n which no r o t a t i o n was a p p l i e d t o the

connections.

These curves have the same g e n e r a l shape as the

moment r o t a t i o n c u r v e s .

The shear f o r c e a c t i n g on the c o n n e c t i o n

was c a l c u l a t e d as the d i f f e r e n c e between the a p p l i e d load and the

r e a c t i o n i n the l o a d , c e l l s , and was p l o t t e d a g a i n s t the r e l a t i v e
d e f l e c t i o n between the beam and the column, o b t a i n e d from
gauge r e a d i n g s .

dial

These graphs a r e r e c o r d e d i n Appendix B.

As was expected, the experiments

show t h a t f o r the same

shear f o r c e the d e f l e c t i o n i n c r e a s e s as the gauge d i s t a n c e

increases.

T h i s f a c t was observed o n l y b e f o r e the s l i p was

reached.
A l i n e a r r e l a t i o n s h i p between shear and d e f l e c t i o n seems t o
occur as f a r as about

50% o f the maximum observed shear.

s l o p e of t h i s l i n e v a r i e s due t o the above mentioned

to the number of b o l t s .

The

f a c t and due

F o r the same gauge d i s t a n c e but i n c r e a s i n g

number o f b o l t s the s l o p e i n c r e a s e s a l s o .
The two p i t c h d i s t a n c e s used d i d not produce

a consistently

d i f f e r e n t b e h a v i o u r f o r the d i f f e r e n t numbers o f b o l t s .
A f t e r the s l i p o f t h e c o n n e c t i o n the shear d e f l e c t i o n
reaches a maximum and then the shear decreases w i t h

curve

increasing

d e f l e c t i o n u n t i l the b o l t s a r e i n b e a r i n g , from then on the

shear i n c r e a s e d a g a i n w i t h i n c r e a s i n g
Moment R o t a t i o n Curves.a p p l i e d l o a d , the weight

deflections.

The moment

c a l c u l a t e d from the

of the beam and the l o a d c e l l

reactions

was p l o t t e d a g a i n s t the r e l a t i v e r o t a t i o n between the beam and

25.

F i g . 8 - T y p i c a l Shear D e f l e c t i o n Curves from

Moment Shear Set-up Without A p p l i e d

Rotation.

26.
the c o n n e c t i o n , which was a p p l i e d by means of the h y d r a u l i c j a c k s .
These diagrams a r e r e c o r d e d i n Appendix C.
Not much c o n s i s t e n c y can be noted i n t h i s s e t o f c u r v e s .
The i r r e g u l a r i t i e s a t the h i g h e r v a l u e s a r e p r o b a b l y due t o the
way

the r o t a t i o n was a p p l i e d .

d i d n o t permit a continuous
have been n e c e s s a r y
increasing

load.

The v a l v e o f the h y d r a u l i c pump

r e l e a s e of the j a c k s , which would

t o a p p l y the r o t a t i o n s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h

The v a l v e had t o be opened i n i n t e r v a l s .

A n e a r l y l i n e a r r e l a t i o n s h i p between moment and r o t a t i o n

occurs w i t h i n about 50% of the maximum moment.

27.

O.OOV

0.008

O.O/2.

ROTAT/OM

0.0/6

O.OSO

RADiAMS)

F i g . 9 - T y p i c a l Moment R o t a t i o n Curves from Moment

Shear Set-up w i t h A p p l i e d

Rotation.

0.02V

28.
IllANALYSIS

AND RESULTS OF TESTS

1. C a p a c i t y o f t h e Connections
Definitions.-

Slip:

S l i p i n the c o n n e c t i o n takes p l a c e

as soon as the r e l a t i o n between l o a d and d e f o r m a t i o n

i s no l o n g e r

l i n e a r o r i n other words as soon as the s l o p e of the l o a d deformation

changes.

curve

(moment-rotation o r s h e a r - d e f l e c t i o n curve)

T h i s i s v a l i d o n l y as long as the c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e

i s stressed w i t h i n the e l a s t i c

range.

For the c o n n e c t i o n t e s t e d , d i s t i n c t i o n has t o be made between

the g r a d u a l and n o t v e r y s u b s t a n t i a l s l i p , which seems t o occur
more or l e s s from the b e g i n n i n g

of the t e s t , and the major

slip

which i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a sudden appearance and by very

considerable displacements.

I d e a l l y the major s l i p would appear

as an i n c r e a s i n g d e f l e c t i o n under constant

l o a d , r e p r e s e n t e d by

a h o r i z o n t a l l i n e i n the moment-rotation o r s h e a r - d e f l e c t i o n
c u r v e s , u n t i l the b o l t s go i n t o b e a r i n g .
The

f i r s t s l i p p i n g has been observed

groups"^, and i n comparison w i t h

substantial.

the major s l i p , was not v e r y

The c o n d i t i o n t h a t the c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e has t o be

s t r e s s e d i n the e l a s t i c range t o observe

fulfilled

the f i r s t s l i p p i n g , i s

i n a l l t e s t s performed.
Maximum B o l t f o r c e :

determined

by other r e s e a r c h

The maximum b o l t f o r c e i s

i n t h r e e d i f f e r e n t ways c o r r e s p o n d i n g

t o the three

methods of i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
a)

F o r the Pure Moment Set-up the maximum b o l t f o r c e s have been

c a l c u l a t e d under the f o l l o w i n g assumptions:

magnitude of b o l t

f o r c e s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e i r d i s t a n c e from the c e n t r e of

29;.

r o t a t i o n , which i s assumed t o be i n the c e n t r e of the

connection.
The c e n t r e o f r o t a t i o n o b t a i n e d from d i a l gauge r e a d i n g s
i s i n a l l cases s l i g h t l y above the c e n t r e o f the c o n n e c t i o n ,
but w i t h i n reasonable
each o t h e r .

l i m i t s t o say t h a t they agree w i t h

(see Table V)

Based on the assumption t h a t the b o l t f o r c e s are

p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e i r d i s t a n c e from the c e n t r o i d o f the
c o n n e c t i o n , a r e l a t i o n s h i p i n which the moment i s expressed
as a f u n c t i o n of the number o f connectors n, the p i t c h p
and the maximum c o n n e c t i o n f o r c e R has been

M = S^Sa R
b

developed:

(I)

The maximum b o l t f o r c e was o b t a i n e d a p p l y i n g t h i s

formula.

For the Moment Shear Set-up where r o t a t i o n was a p p l i e d t o

the beam, the maximum b o l t f o r c e was c a l c u l a t e d as the
r e s u l t a n t o f the f o l l o w i n g two components:

the v e r t i c a l

component was o b t a i n e d , d i v i d i n g the end shear i n the

c o n n e c t i o n by the number of b o l t s , whereas the h o r i z o n t a l
component was c a l c u l a t e d from the developed
formula

end moment u s i n g

( I ) , although the c e n t r e o f r o t a t i o n i s i n a l l cases

s l i g h t l y below the c e n t r o i d of the c o n n e c t i o n .

In the case of the Moment Shear Set-up where no r o t a t i o n was
a p p l i e d t o the beam, the h o r i z o n t a l component c o u l d be
n e g l e c t e d s i n c e t h e developed moment was s m a l l and the c e n t r e
of r o t a t i o n was mostly

f a r o f f the c e n t r o i d of the c o n n e c t i o n .

30.
Capacity:
i s reached

The

c a p a c i t y of the

as soon as the major s l i p

occurs.

connection

The maximum b o l t

f o r c e s c a l c u l a t e d from the v a l u e s of moments and shears a t major

s l i p g i v e the c a p a c i t y of a s i n g l e
S l i p Values.-

bolt.

Attempts have been made to determine

the

maximum b o l t f o r c e a t the major s l i p i n 3 d i f f e r e n t ways:

1.

I n t e r s e c t i o n of the two

2.

For an a r b i t r a r i l y

tangents

chosen,

as shown i n F i g . 2.

small r e s i d u a l deformation

p a r a l l e l l i n e t o the i n i t i a l . t a n g e n t was
s e c t e d w i t h the l o a d - d e f o r m a t i o n
3.

The

inter-

curve.

The r e a d i n g on the machine l o a d d i a l was

at which t h e r e was

drawn and

taken f o r the l o a d

no l o a d i n c r e a s e or even a l o a d drop o f f .

s l i p v a l u e s determined

by the f i r s t method are l i s t e d i n

Table I I I .
None of the methods d e s c r i b e d gave any

consistent results

f o r the f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s :
Inaccuracy

of t e s t

results.

No d e f i n i t e h o r i z o n t a l or n e a r l y h o r i z o n t a l tangent

to the

l o a d - d e f o r m a t i o n c u r v e s , which would i n d i c a t e c l e a r l y
major

the

slip.

The

s l i p v a l u e i s a f u n c t i o n of the c o e f f i c i e n t

of

friction,

and

the main reason f o r the i n c o n s i s t e n c y of the s l i p

values

can be found i n the v a r i a t i o n of these c o e f f i c i e n t s f o r

the same type of s u r f a c e .
shown t h i s f a c t ^ .

A g r e a t number of experiments

For a m i l l s c a l e s u r f a c e the

of f r i c t i o n v a r i e d from 0.16

to

0.46.

have

coefficient

31.

TestMethod

y
in.

in.

2 1/2 3
PureMoment

Max. B o l t Force at
Major S l i p
kips
No. o f b o l t s
2
5
6
3
4

Weld
in.

s i d e s 14.7 11.8 15.2 16.0 17.0

X=14.48 k i p s

1 3/4 3

10.8 13.8 14.2 17.0 15.9

s= 2.15 k i p s

1 3/4 2 1/4

10.0 13.5 14.7 17.5 15.1

v=14.8%

2 1/2
MomentShear
1 3/4
no
4
applied
r o t a t i o n 2 1/2

1/4 bot h

Remarks

1/4 bot h

s i d e s 12.4 13.7 10.8 11.4 12.4

15.2 13.6 13.6 13.8 17.2

X=13.23 k i p s

12.3 14.1 14.3 15.2 15.4

s= 1.50 k i p s

2 1/4

11.7 12.1 12.5 12.4 13.0

v-11.3%

1 3/4 2 1/4

13.6 11.1 14.6 12.9 11.4

Moment- 2 1/2 3
Shear
1 3/4 3
with
applied
2 1/2 3
rotation
2 1/2 3

sides

15.9 15.6 16.7 16.6

X=15.15 k i p s

1/4 both s i d e s

12.8 12.7 14.7 11.2

s= 2.09 k i p s

15,2 15.1 15.5 17.5

v=13.7%

1/4 both

3/16 both

sides

1/4 one s i d e

11.0 16.7 17.3 17.9

TABLE I I I - MAX. BOLT FORCES AT MAJOR SLIP

where X = mean v a l u e
s = standard

deviation

v = c o e f f i c i e n t of v a r i a t i o n
i n c l u d i n g a l l values i n Table I I I :
X = 14.11 k i p s
s =

2.07 k i p s

v = 14.7%

32.
Using the method o f l e a s t squares a smooth curve was c a l c u l a t e d
through the p o i n t s r e s u l t i n g
produce

from the t e s t , but h i s d i d n o t

any g r e a t e r c o n s i s t e n c y .

2. R i g i d i t y of the Connections
Definitions.-

Rigidity:

be d e f i n e d as i t s a b i l i t y
for

this r i g i d i t y

moment-rotation

The r i g i d i t y

o f a c o n n e c t i o n can,

t o develop a bending moment.

A measure

i s g i v e n by t h e s l o p e of the tangent t o the

curve a t the o r i g i n

( i n i t i a l tangent).

Semi-rigid connection f a c t o r :

The i n v e r s e of

the s l o p e of the assumed s t r a i g h t - l i n e p o r t i o n of the momentr o t a t i o n curve ( i n i t i a l

connection f a c t o r ^ .

tangent) i s d e f i n e d as the s e m i - r i g i d

F o r p r a c t i c a l purposes, <P=Mv\

was

c o n s i d e r e d as an a c c e p t a b l e r e l a t i o n s h i p i n the. d e s i g n of frames
g
with s e m i - r i g i d connections .
are

F o r a l l t e s t s these f a c t o r s

l i s t e d below.
The A's were o b t a i n e d by d i v i d i n g the r o t a t i o n i n r a d i a n s

through the moment i n i n c h - k i p s , both c a l c u l a t e d from the r e a d i n g s

at

the f i r s t

load

increment.

S e m i - R i g i d C o n n e c t i o n F a c t o r s from Pure Moment and Moment

Shear Set-up.-

A l l these f a c t o r s a r e l i s t e d

i n T a b l e IV.

33.

in.

Weld
in.

y
in.

Semi-Rigid Connection F a c t o r
No. of b o l t s i n c o n n e c t i o n
2

io"

3
5

io-

4
5

IO"

IO"

Set-up

6
5

io'

2 1/2

1/4

7.13

2.67 . 1.43

0.88

0.35

Pure-Moment

2 1/2

1/4

9.65

3.21

1.51

0.36

0.28

Moment-Shear

1 3/4

1/4

7.20

3.20

1.56

0.81

0.37

Pure-Moment

1 3/4

1/4

6.12

1.79

1.33

1.22

0.47

Moment-Shear

1/4

11.73

6.40

2.20

1.62

0.64

Pure-Moment

1 3/4

2 1/4

2 1/2

3/16

10.87

6.44

1.67

0.61

0.64

Moment-Shear

2 1/2

5.97

4.63

1.31

0.38

0.43

Moment-Shear

* 1/4 weld on one s i d e o n l y .

TABLE IV - SEMI-RIGID CONNECTION FACTORS

3. I n f l u e n c e o f the D i f f e r e n t V a r i a b l e s on the R i g i d i t y
I n t e r p r e t i n g Table

IV and the graphs i n Appendix A and C

l e a d s to the f o l l o w i n g c o n c l u s i o n s :
Presence o f shear,

gauge-distance and w e l d - s i z e

i n f l u e n c e the r i g i d i t y

of the c o n n e c t i o n s ,

do not seem t o

whereas f o r the

v a r i a t i o n o f the p i t c h and the number of b o l t s the f o l l o w i n g

statements can be made:
I n c r e a s i n g the p i t c h and the number of b o l t s causes an i n c r e a s e
i n the r i g i d i t y

of the c o n n e c t i o n s .

34.

4. C e n t r e of R o t a t i o n
The c e n t r e s o f r o t a t i o n f o r the Pure Moment Set-up and f o r
the Moment-Shear Set-up w i t h a p p l i e d
from the d i a l gauge r e a d i n g s .

No.
of
Bolts

r o t a t i o n were determined

The r e s u l t s a r e shown i n Table. V.

Pure Moment Set-up

series 1
k

series 2
k

MomentShear
Set-up
series 9

series 3
k

-0.033 +0.233 +0.025 +0.142 +0.267 +0.358

+0.017 +0.233 -0.008 +0.158 +0.025 +0.167 -0.017 -0.100

+0.017 +0.167 +0.017 +0.167 +0.025 +0.225

+0.017 +0.150 +0.025 +0.167 +0.075 +0.175 -0.092 -0.142

+0.008 +0.092 +0.017 +0.092 +0.083 +0.175 -0.025 -0.117

-0.092

TABLE V - CENTRES OF ROTATION

of rote?A/or?
1_
CGr77ho/c/ of oo/7/7ec/~/or7

F i g . 10 - Centre of R o t a t i o n .

ii

35.

IVDERIVATION OF THEORETICAL CAPACITY

AND APPROXIMATION OF THE RIGIDITY OF THE CONNECTIONS
1. T h e o r e t i c a l

Capacity

Derivation.-

The c a p a c i t y

of a s i n g l e h i g h s t r e n g t h

bolt

i n a f r i c t i o n type c o n n e c t i o n i s o b t a i n e d by m u l t i p l y i n g the
c o e f f i c i e n t o f f r i c t i o n by the t e n s i o n

f o r c e a c t i n g i n the a x i s

of the b o l t .
The

average c o e f f i c i e n t of f r i c t i o n

i s taken from the

S t e e l Manual (A.I.S.C.):JUL = 0.35, and the r e q u i r e d

for

an A.S.T.M. A-325 h i g h s t r e n g t h

Resulting

bolt

b o l t i s T = 28.5 k i p s .

from these v a l u e s the c a p a c i t y

o f one b o l t i s 10 k i p s .

C o n s i d e r i n g t h i s as the maximum b o l t f o r c e , the c a p a c i t y

c o n n e c t i o n can then be c a l c u l a t e d

P(;+1>
D

of the

as shown i n chapter I I I :

Shear S = n-R
S

Moment

No. of b o l t s

tension

in-kips
P = 2 1/4 i n .

kips.

p = 3 in.

.30

22.5

20

60

45

30

100

75

40

150

112.5

50

210

162

60

TABLE VI - THEORETICAL CAPACITY OF CONNECTIONS.

36.

Comparison w i t h Experiments.The

a)

Pure Moment

set-up

above v a l u e s f o r the moments a r e i n d i c a t e d on the moment-

r o t a t i o n curves.

I n the case of the 2 b o l t - c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

1 3/4 i n . - p i t c h and 2 1/4 in.-gauge d i s t a n c e , the t h e o r e t i c a l

capacity

agrees w i t h the major s l i p , i n a l l other cases the

t h e o r e t i c a l v a l u e i s below the major s l i p v a l u e ,

b)
without

applied

rotation.

Moment Shear set-up

The comparison of the shear d e f l e c t i o n

curves w i t h the v a l u e s o b t a i n e d by m u l t i p l y i n g
capacity

(see Appendix A,)

the t h e o r e t i c a l

of one b o l t by the number of b o l t s shows t h a t a l l these

t h e o r e t i c a l v a l u e s a r e below the major s l i p v a l u e ,

c)
with applied

rotation.

(see Appendix B)

Moment Shear

The maximum b o l t f o r c e was

set-up

calculated

as d e s c r i b e d on pg. 28 and 29 and was p l o t t e d v e r s u s the r e s u l t a n t

d e f l e c t i o n , which was c a l c u l a t e d
displacement

a t the top b o l t .

from

the v e r t i c a l and h o r i z o n t a l

The h o r i z o n t a l d e f l e c t i o n was

o b t a i n e d from the r o t a t i o n , assuming the c e n t r e of r o t a t i o n a t the

centroid

of the c o n n e c t i o n .

t h e o r e t i c a l capacity

Comparing these graphs w i t h t h e

of a s i n g l e b o l t shows a g a i n t h a t

t h e o r e t i c a l v a l u e s a r e below the r e g i o n of the major

(see Appendix C)

these

slip,

37.
2. D i s c u s s i o n o f R i g i d i t y
Rough Approximation of R i g i d i t y . factor

The s e m i - r i g i d

connection

"^ was c a l c u l a t e d on the b a s i s of the f o l l o w i n g i d e a l i z e d

0

conditions:
1.

The c o n n e c t i o n p l a t e i s t r e a t e d as a c a n t i l e v e r beam.
2

2.

The e n t i r e p l a t e i s e l a s t i c w i t h E = 29,000 k i p s . / i n . .

3.

The p l a t e i s s u b j e c t t o pure moment.

Thus the approximated s e m i - r i g i d

*

E-I

where

I = x + 1.25
0.25f(n-1)-y+2.501
12

c o n n e c t i o n f a c t o r becomes

Comparison w i t h

Experiments.-

X = 2 1/2

y = 3

X = 1 3/4

y = 3

X = 1 3/4

y = 2 1/4,

3.74-10'

1.9

2.6

1.01

2.7

3.2

0.41

3.5

3.7

0.20

4.4

1. 5

0.12

2.9

2. 3

2.99-10

2.4

2. 0

0.81

3.5

2.2

0.33

4.9

3.9

0.16

5.0

6.4

0.09

4.1

5.2

4.63'10~

1.45

4.4

0.63

3.5

0.33

4.9

0.19

3.4

-5

2.5

TABLE V I I - COMPARISON OF SEMI-RIGID CONNECTION FACTORS

where
/\ = a p p r o x i m a t i o n f o r s e m i - r i g i d

connection f a c t o r

7\, = s e m i - r i g i d

connection f a c t o r

from pure moment set-up

^=

c o n n e c t i o n f a c t o r from moment shear set-up

semi-rigid

39.

No consistency can be noted i n Table VII.

Generally the tests

show that the connections are from 1.5 to 6.4 times less r i g i d
than the rough approximations indicate.
It i s believed that this i s due to a combination of the
following:

some small amount of s l i p from the beginning;

p l a s t i c deformation around the holes;

throughout the plate.

some

and effect of shear strains

40.

VCONCLUSIONS
1.

The

feasibility

has been
In

of s i n g l e p l a t e c o n n e c t i o n s f o r s t e e l beams

proven.
a l l cases the major s l i p v a l u e f o r the 3/4 i n .

diameter b o l t s was
of
2.

10 k i p s per

g r e a t e r than the u s u a l l y assumed v a l u e

bolt.

A l l c o n n e c t i o n s were t e s t e d over 2 times t h e i r p e r m i s s i b l e

design value.

The

amount of d i s t o r t i o n at t h i s stage

was

undesirable.
A l l c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h the weld on one
The

f a i l u r e s occured

permissible value.

i n the weld at 2.5

s i d e only

to 3.2

times

failed.
the

In the other c o n n e c t i o n s where f a i l u r e s

were noted, they o c c u r r e d i n : t h e p l a t e a t 2.8

to 3.9

times

the p e r m i s s i b l e v a l u e .
3.

The maximum b o l t f o r c e s at s l i p v a r i e d from 10.0

17.9

4.

k i p s , and

The presence

the mean v a l u e from a l l t e s t s i s 14.1

of the

The

rough approximations

of the

t o 7.6

times s m a l l e r .

causes

connections.

f o r the s e m i - r i g i d

connection

f a c t o r s are compared w i t h the ones o b t a i n e d by

1.8

size

connections.

An i n c r e a s e i n the p i t c h and the number of b o l t s

an i n c r e a s e i n the, r i g i d i t y

6.

kips.

of shear, the gauge d i s t a n c e and the weld

do not seem t o i n f l u e n c e the r i g i d i t y

5.

k i p s to

experiments

41.

7.

Maximum moment developed by the c o n n e c t i o n s v a r i e d

from

45 k i p - i n c h e s f o r the two-bolt c o n n e c t i o n t o 355 k i p - i n c h e s

f o r the s i x - b o l t c o n n e c t i o n .
8.

The c e n t r e of r o t a t i o n v a r i e s w i t h i n the f o l l o w i n g
f o r the Pure Moment Set-up:
f o r the Moment Shear Set-up:

range:

from -0.033'h t o +0.358'h

from -0.117h

where h i s the d i s t a n c e between the extreme

bolts.

t o 0.0-h

42.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.

Batho, C. and Rowan, H.C.

"The A n a l y s i s of the Moments

i n the Members of a Frame Having R i g i d or S e m i - R i g i d

C o n n e c t i o n s , under V e r t i c a l Loads".

Second

Report, S t e e l

S t r u c t u r e s Research Committee, London, England,

2.

Rathburn, J.C.

" E l a s t i c P r o p e r t i e s of R i v e t e d C o n n e c t i o n " .

T r a n s . A.S.C.E. V o l . 101,
3.

Young, C R .

1934.

1936.

and J a c k s o n , K.B.

Welded and R i v e t e d C o n n e c t i o n s " .

"The R e l a t i v e R i g i d i t y of
Canadian J o u r n a l of Research,

N a t i o n a l Research C o u n c i l of Canada, Ottawa, Canada.

V o l . 11 and 12,
4.

1934.

Brandes, J . L . and Mains, R.M.

"Report of T e s t s of Welded

T o p - P l a t e and Seat B u i l d i n g C o n n e c t i o n s " .

American Welding S o c i e t y ; New
5.

Hechtman, R.A.

York, V o l . 23, No.

and J o h n s t o n , B.G.

York,
6.

3,

1944.

P r o g r e s s Report

I n s t i t u t e of S t e e l C o n s t r u c t i o n ,

New

1947.

S t a r r , R.C.

"One

S i d e d S t e e l Beam C o n n e c t i o n s " .

T h e s i s , U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h Columbia, Canada,
7.

Journal,

: " R i v e t e d and Semi-Rigid

Beam to Column B u i l d i n g C o n n e c t i o n s " .

Number I , American

Welding

V a s a r h e l y i , P.P.

and Co.

F a b r i c a t i o n Techniques".
P a r t I I , 1961.

Masters

1965.

" R i v e t s and B o l t s , E f f e c t s of
T r a n s . A.S.C.E., V o l . 126,

43.

8.

Monforton, G.R. and Wu, T.S.

Rigidly Connected Frames".

"Matrix Analysis of Semi-

Journal of the Structural

D i v i s i o n , A.S.C.E., V o l . 89, Dec. 1963.

9.

Gaylord and Gaylord

"Design of Steel Structures", McGraw

H i l l Book Company, 1957.

10.

Cullimore, M.S.G.

" F r i c t i o n Grip Bolt J o i n t s " , C i v i l

Engineering and Public Works Review, A p r i l 1963.

APPENDIX A
MOMENT -

ROTATION CURVES FROM

PURE MOMENT SET-UP

45.

so

^0

I*?

/ /
/ /
//
//
f

II
1

ll

1 i

/o

fheort tlca/

capac/fy

//
o

0.009

O.OOS

2-Bolt Connections from Pure Moment Set-up.

O.OZZ

0,0/4

/
//
//
//
//

-e

rr
/

Afheare h'ca/ capoc/'/y

Os/p on machine, /oadcf/b,

f
o

o.oo<*

QOO8

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SHEAR - DEFLECTION CURVES FROM
MOMENT SHEAR SET-UP WITHOUT
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A P P E N D I X

MOMENT

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CURVES,

AND

RESULTANT

FROM

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RESULTANT

MOMENT

SHEAR

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WITH

D I S P L A C E M E N T

A P P L I E D

CURVES

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4-Bolt Connections from Moment Shear Set-up with Applied Rotation.

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