Web Openings & Moment Connections

[SteveGregory]

Does anyone know of any guidelines, buiding code requirements, AISC specs or AISC Design Guide #2 recommendations against putting web openings in beams/girders with moment connections?

These beams are part of the lateral load resisting system and they have moment connections.

 

[JAE]

Just don't put the web opening directly at or adjacent to the moment connection.

 

[rscassar]

It would not be advisable in the actual panel zone of the moment connection because of the transverse stresses that develope as the moment is transferred through the connection. If the openings are some distance from the connection (say span/6 from the moment connection) I don't forsee any great issues that would arise.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

There is some moment shear interaction for these types of members (per equation 3-3 through 3-5 of Design Guide 2). So, you will probably want to avoid doing this type of penetration directly adjacent to your moment connection. But, if you can shift the opening further away from the support, then I think you should be okay.

If you cannot move it away from the moment connection, then you will probably have to have a much stronger beam than would have otherwise been required.