Steel Walkway Connection
Steel Walkway Connection
(OP)
Steel walkway spans between to portions of a concrete structure which I want to act indpendently of one another for lateral loads. The connection attached below is a regular shear connection. I need a connection that provides gravity restraint but that would allow movement in the direction normal to the plane.






RE: Steel Walkway Connection
How much longitudinal movement do you need to design for?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
I'd suggest using a ledge with a slide bearing detail and a keeper angle to hold the steel beam perpendicular (assuming you don't care about lateral parallel with the concrete beam).
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
Slotted holes would still work with a double angle connection at the end of the beam. Just orient the slots normal to the plane of the walkway, and place the slots at the connection to the building.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
I would recommend a slide bearing, seat connection. Restrictors can used to control direction and distance of movement.
http://www.FerrellEngineering.com
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
Avoid slotted holes. Research the Pittsburgh Convention Center.
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
It shows embed plate in concrete beam and a second steel plate with slotted holes normal to the steel beam to allow for movement out of plane. The bolt holes in the beam are slotted parallel to the steel beam to allow in plane movement. Between the two plates I'm thinking of some neoprene material?
msquared48 is this more or less what you were explaining?
connectegr,hokie66 where could I find a typical guided slide bearing detail?
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
good luck!
http://www.FerrellEngineering.com
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
I don't know where you are located, but RCSC does not allow a non-steel filler in structural connections. This would exclude the use of a teflon fill. And as I mentioned above, RCSC also require at minimum a snug-tight bolt installation.
As Hokie mentioned, the Pittsburg Convention Center is a recent example of the slide connections you are proposing. Most of their connections were double angles with the outstanding legs welded to embeds or columns. When the bolts failed to slip, the axial load broke the welds from the supports. One significant failure dropped a semi truck through the floor. But, many locations showed cracks and other distortions after only a few years of service. Nearly every similar condition was retrofit with stiffened seats and slide bearing pads.
http://www.FerrellEngineering.com
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
I've used this on refinery structures where I wasn't permitted to weld to the vessels. A long time ago, for sure but i didn't get any negative feedback.
Michael.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
Attached is a slide bearing arrangement with welded studs for keepers and a teflon on stainless steel plate arrangement.
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
A stiffened steel seat with a bearing pad.
For that I would have to reduce the section of the steel beam at the support and remove the plate and bolts. I am wondering if a neoprene bearing pad would be adequate?
Thanks again.
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
In your detail what are the welded studs exactly for?
Can I replace the teflon for a neoprene bearing pad?
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
I have used 2 clip angles welded to the support and free against the web as an alternate.
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
Not sure where you are located, but neoprene or natural rubber bearings may be a possibility, but whatever type you use, consult with a reputable bearing manufacturer first. Granor is a company which supplies a lot of bearings in Australia, not sure about in other countries.
http://www.granor.com.au/
RE: Steel Walkway Connection
As slickdeals noted, the studs are keepers and can be replaced with alternative options. We don't want the beam fully slipping off the support (bad day).