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minimum capacity of the connections design

minimum capacity of the connections design

minimum capacity of the connections design

(OP)
hey

is there any limitation on the capacity of the connections in steel structures, i mean for example do i have to design the splice to hold a certain percentage of the beam capacity even if the actual load is less than that???

RE: minimum capacity of the connections design

There are no explicit code requirements, although a lot of people will design for at least 50% of the beam capacity to be sure they don't create an accidental weak link. With today's multiplicity of load combinations that are generated, a hard limit becomes less of a concern because there is enough variation in the locations of maximum moments and inflection points that there is rarely a super-low moment point across all of the combinations. Keep in mind also that any particular limit that is established should be viewed as a limit for only those beams that are designed primarily for strength. For example, if you have overdesigned a beam by a factor of 2 to accommodate a deflection or serviceability issue, the concept of designing a connection for minimum percentage levels becomes somewhat moot. If you have twice as much beam as you needed for strength, then design a connection for 50% of that value, you have effectively designed the connection for the full original required strength of the beam at any location, not just the specific location of the splice. The caveat to this is "don't design a connection for no or minimal load just because whatever analysis has been performed shows that as a maximum load, unless you are also analyzing the structure to create a hinge point at that location, or otherwise intentionally creating a point that is not meant to transfer the full gamut of forces that might exist."

RE: minimum capacity of the connections design

(OP)
ajh1: Thank you that was useful . :)

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