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factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

(OP)
what do you use as a factor for approximate weight of connection for steel members.

RE: factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

nothing.

I don't directly account for the weight of the connections I mean. If you were to compare the actual weight of the connections to the total weight of the member being connected, it's likely negligible

RE: factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

I use 5% because that's just what's done at my firm. The actual weight is pretty small, and when you account for the fact that beams are actually shorter than the gridline to gridline distance and coped usually, zero is probably pretty damn close. But 5% of beam selfweight is pretty damn close to zero relative to the other loads on the structure, so I don't think it's a practice worth changing.

RE: factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

Nothing. That's part of the load factor fluff for DL in my opinion.

RE: factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

(OP)
I'm not talking about analysis, but for estimated material take off.

RE: factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

We have used 5% in the past as well for just that reason. Probably actually underestimates the costs somewhat because you are typically looking at a lot of labor to fabricate, plus many of the materials (bolts, nuts, etc.) are obviously some of the more expensive items per pound.

RE: factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

Delagina:
This is a question you should be asking some of your fabricating friends, or fabricators who have worked on your last few jobs. Different fabricators will have developed slightly different numbers for estimating lbs. of connection material/steel per ton of major materials involved on the job. This will also be highly dependant upon the type and complexity of the job. 14' deep plate girders and complex architecturally exposed steel details or trusses, etc. are just radically different in terms of gross tons of steel vs. connection costs. Probably more important than the lbs. of connection material is the estimator’s sharp eye as involves things like the complexity of the details, how well are the details and connections defined on the construction documents, how will are the connection loads shown, are they going to be responsible for the design of the connections, etc., etc. Keeping it clean and simple, on your part, will always buy you some more material, and save many fabrication hours and designing/detailing time on their part, and buy you a less expensive job. Ask some of those fabricators how each one of these types of things figures into the total cost. On large repetitive jobs, we would sometimes go back to the owner or EoR with our own (equal or better) detail, which was more amenable to our fab. methods and equipment set up, if we thought we could save them money, or make life easier for ourselves without any detriment to the quality of the finished project.

RE: factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

14-18% for long span trusses

RE: factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

I read 15% someplace.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

RE: factor of approx weight of connection for steel member?

Varies a great deal by structural system, location, height, etc.

As others have said, you should ask a fabricator. For general numbers you can get some information from RS Means and the like.

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