Cebu Technological University-MC

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CE 522 – Steel Design

Connection Design : Shear

Connection

Casul, Sidney Patrick B.

ID # 1140749
Student
 Engr. Jejomar Duque
Instructor

Abstract
The program aims to provide a fast and accurate solution to design problems

regarding welded/bolted narrow tee connection to a HSS column. It shows a step-

by-step solution meant to solve the unique problem of welded/bolted narrow tee

connection to a HSS column. In the case of this program, the bolts used and the

thickness of the weld is constant all through out the problems solved. Its main

purpose is to find out if the connection you want has the enough weld strength to

withstand the shear loads.

As you go through the program, you will learn or understand the techniques

of what sections of beams, columns and tee you should use.

Below is the problem which this program is referred to.

Verify a connection for an ASTM A992 W16x50 beam to an ASTM A500 Grade C HSS8x8x4
column using an
ASTM A992 WT5x24.5 with fillet welds against the flat width of the HSS, as shown in Figure K.2-
1. Use 70-ksi
weld electrodes. Design assuming a flexible support condition for the following vertical shear
loads:
PD = 6.2 kips
PL = 18.5 kips
Problem Statement

The purpose of this program is to provide an easy way to solve a narrow tee

connection to an HSS column. Specifically, this program sought to answer the

following:

1. Does the connection have enough strength to withstand the

given shear loads?

2. What is the minimum HSS wall thickness to match the weld

strength?

3. Does the weld controls the connection rather than the shear

rupture of the flange of the tee?

The narrow tee is selected which will permit filler welds on the flat face of

the column. The problem is assumed to have a flexible support.

Weld shear strength

 ASD 𝑹𝒏 /Ω

LRFD 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓𝑹𝒏

where Ω = 2.00

Minimum HSS Wall Thickness to match Weld Strength

𝟎𝟗𝒏
𝒕𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝟑.
𝑭𝒖

where 𝒕𝒎𝒊𝒏 is the minimum HSS wall thickness, n is the number of bolts, Fu

is the strength of the column

Implementation of the computer program

The program can be easily used. You just find the type of steel

beam, steel column and the tee connection you want to use. After looking

for it, you just need to input the number of bolts you want to use, its

diameter and the distance of the two outer bolts. Next is you need to type

the thickness of the weld. You can also pick the yield strength of the bolt

and its ultimate stress. After this, you can check if the connection’s weld

shear strength can withstand the given shear loads.

 Flowchart of a Welded/Bolted Narrow Tee Connection to a HSS Column

Start

Collect Data

ASD ASD or LFRD

LFRD

Collect Data Fy, Fu, Ω, Collect Data Fy,

& Steel Section Used Load Factors & Fu

Find Required Strength Find Required Strength

𝑃𝑢 = 𝑃𝐷 + 𝑃𝐿 𝑃𝑢 = 1.2𝑃𝐷 + 1.6𝑃𝐿

Find Maximum Find Maximum

Fee Flange Fee Flange
Width Width

Pick a new No Is bf < Bcol − Is bf < Bcol − No Pick a new

section with shelf dimensions shelf dimensions section with
on each side? on each side?
larger Bcol larger Bcol

Yes Yes
Find Minimum Find Minimum
Width of Weld Width of Weld

Find Minimum Find Minimum

Thickness of Thickness of
Weld Weld

Pick a larger No Rn No Pick a new

section of Is > Pu ? Is 0.75 R n
Ω
> Pu ? section with
beam, column
and/or tee larger Bcol
Results and Discussions
Yes Yes

Is stripped Weld Ductility Minimum HSS Weld Shear

flange<𝑩𝒄𝒐𝒍- Wall to Match Strength
shelf Shear
dimensions Strength
Column HSS10x10x0.313
ASD = 118.7
Beam W36x247 Yes 𝒘𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓 𝒕𝒎𝒊𝒏=0.213
LRFD = 178.08
Tee W5x16

Column HSS20x12x0.375
No(pick
Beam W36x247 another
section with
Tee W10x15 larger 𝑩𝒄𝒐𝒍)

Column HSS14x14x0.625
ASD = 66.78
Beam W30x391 Yes 𝒘𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒎𝒊𝒏=0.213
= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎𝟔 LRFD = 100.17
Tee W6x9

Column HSS9x7x0.55
No(pick
Beam W27x94 another
section with
Tee W6x25 larger 𝑩𝒄𝒐𝒍)

Column HSS20x12x0.375
ASD = 155.82
Beam W12X65 Yes 𝒘𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒎𝒊𝒏=0.213
= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓𝟔 LRFD = 233.73
Tee W8X21
Note: The 𝑭𝒚 and 𝑭𝒖 used are constant to all problems(36ksi and 58ksi respectively).

The thickness of weld is also constant(0.56in).

It can be observed that the 𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛 is the same for all of the samples. This

is because 𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛 is only affected by changing the number of bolts and the 𝑭𝒖

of the bolt. As we can see in the table, the value of the weld shear strength

changes drastically when a larger section of tee. This is because the larger

the length of the tee, the bigger its strength.

To have more understanding on how the problems were solve, here

are the solutions to some problems:

1. Column-HSS20x12x0.375

Beam-W12x65

Tee-W8x21

ASD 𝑷𝒖 =𝑷𝒅+ 𝑷𝒍 =24.7kips

LRDF 𝑷𝒖 =𝟏. 𝟐𝑷𝒅+𝟏.𝟔 𝑷𝒍 =37.04kips

Maximum Tee Flange Width

Connection offset= (𝒕𝒘𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒎 /𝟐) + (𝒕𝒘𝒕𝒆𝒆 /𝟐) = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟐

Is stripped flange<flat face of tube-shelf dimensions on each

sides?
 8<12-2(0.56)-2(1/2)-2(0.32) (yes)

Weld Ductility

b=(stripped flange-2𝒌𝟏 )/2 = 3.44

𝟐
𝒃𝟐
𝒘𝒎𝒊𝒏 = (𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟓𝟓)(𝑭𝒚 ∗ 𝒕𝒇 )( 𝟐 + 𝟐)/𝒃
𝒍

=0.156

Minimum HSS Wall Thickness to Match Weld Strength

𝟑. 𝟎𝟗𝒏
𝒕𝒎𝒊𝒏 =
𝑭𝒖

=0.21310

Available Weld Shear Strength

𝑹𝒏 = 𝑪𝑪𝟏 𝑫𝒍

=311.64

ASD 𝑹𝒏 /Ω = 155.82>24.7 (Satisfactory)

LRFD 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓𝑹𝒏 = 233.73>37.04 (Satisfactory)

Note: The 𝑭𝒚 and 𝑭𝒖 used are constant to all problems(36ksi and 58ksi

respectively). The thickness of weld is also constant(0.56in).

Conclusion and Recommendation

In using relatively smaller or not much difference between 𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑙 and the

stripped flange, the condition stripped flange<𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑙 -shelf dimensions cannot be

met. I recommend to choose a section of column with higher 𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑙 than the stripped

flange width of the tee section.

I conclude that when using a connection of column, beam and tee, you have

to make sure that there is enough weld strength in your connection. You have to

be wary of the sections you want to use because this can affect the strength of the

connection.