Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
(OP)
Hi All,
I am currently evaluating a gusset plate, and the Whitmore section confuses me:
Typically, the Whitmore section can be easily found by the two 30-deg angles, like shown in the figure:

However, I meet a case that the truss member is all the way welded along the gusset plate, and the Whitmore section becomes not clear to me. I tried to draw my confusions in the following figure:

Can someone advise what should be the appropriate Whitmore section for the second figure? Thank you in advance!
Yochael
I am currently evaluating a gusset plate, and the Whitmore section confuses me:
Typically, the Whitmore section can be easily found by the two 30-deg angles, like shown in the figure:

However, I meet a case that the truss member is all the way welded along the gusset plate, and the Whitmore section becomes not clear to me. I tried to draw my confusions in the following figure:

Can someone advise what should be the appropriate Whitmore section for the second figure? Thank you in advance!
Yochael
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
https://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=...
If you're able to obtain this spread sheet (see images below), it is very helpful as well:
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
For compression buckling an effective length concept is usually applied. The average of the three lengths shown below is sometimes used for buckling.
Have a search on the internet, plenty of advice out there on these concepts.
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
Thank you for replying!
I was aware that the Whitmore section typically refers to the last line of the bolt/weld, however, in the case that I drew, the Whitmore section intersecting with the last line of the weld is complete out of the connection plate, as shown below. From what I understand, the Whitmore section should be on the connection plate - does it mean that this connection has a Whitmore length of 0? I personally don't believe so but I don't know what should be the proper Whitmore section...Please advise!
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
Thank you for replying!
Yes, I would agree with you that an effective buckling shape cannot be developed for this connection plate.
In this case, I am evaluating the tensile capacity (Whitmore section yielding). It looks to me that the Whitmore yielding is not likely to happen in this case as well, but I am still wondering what would be the proper Whitmore section for such cases where the connection (i.e., riveted, bolted, or welded part) is very long. The reason why I am confused is that the Whitmore section is determined based on the last line of the connector, but when the connectors are very long, the Whitmore section becomes out of the connection plate, potentially resulting in a really small Whitmore length. Two simple examples are shown below. Could you please advise what would be the proper Whitmore section in these cases?
Thank you in advance!
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
Thank you for replying!
Yes, I am talking about the yield line surface. It is good to know about the upper limit. Could you advise what is the reference for this limit (20 x t / 50 x t)?
Additionally, I am not worry about the upper limit - I am worried about if the Whitmore section is too small when the connection is too long, such as the case shown below. Could you please advise? Thank you!
Sincerely,
Yochael
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
Check the link and download the book. There is a chapter with the background + example. Pages 261, 262 (271 of the PDF)
Link
I remember when I was researching stuff at university came across this in some ASCE publications for Buckling Restrained Brace (BRB) frames for earthquakes. Don't remember the specific papers anymore.
RE: Gusset Plate Whitmore Section
Just to clarify the formulas are for the interaction of axial force and bending.
"A limiting width of 20t is needed, except for gusset plates supported
on two edges, where wguss can be up to 50t. Designers will find these widths
exceed the traditional ‘Whitmore’ width for the majority of conventional
designs."
Link