CONNECTIONS

IN STEEL
STRUCTURES

By: Naveed Ahmad

2005-MS-STR-C-86
 CONNECTION

Connections are the devises which are used to join elements

of a structure together at a point such that forces can be
transferred between them safely.

TYPES OF CONNECTIONS

BASED ON MEANS OF CONNECTION

WELDED CONNECTIONS
RIVITED CONNECTIONS
BOLTED CONNECTIONS
 BASED ON FORCES TO BE TRANSFERED
TRUSS CONNECTIONS

FULLY RESTRAINED CONNECTONS

PARTIALLY RESTRAINED CONNECTIONS

SPLICES

BARCKETS

BASED ON PLACEMENT OF PARTS TO BE JOINED

LAP JOINTS

BUTT JOINTS
 TRUSS CONNECTIONS

In truss connections only the axial forces are to be transferred. These

are simplest in all types of connections which may either be welded
or bolted.
 FULLY RESTRAINED/MOMENT CONNECTIONS

These connections are particularly used when continuity

between the members of the building frame is required to
provide more flexural resistance and reduce lateral deflection
due to wind loads. In this type of connection both the webs
and flanges are connected. In this connection greater than 90%
moment can be transferred with full transfer of shear and
other forces
 PARTIALLY RESTRAINED CONNECTIONS

These connections have rigidity less than 90%. The srcinal

angles between the connected members may change up to a
certain limit some
can transfer after the application
percentage of loads.
of moment These
along connections
with full shear
force.

SIMPLE\SHEAR CONNECTIONS
These connections have less than 20% rigidity. These are
considered flexible and beams become simply supported. In
this case only the web is connected with the other member
because most of shear stresses are concentrated in the web.

SEMI-RIGID CONNECTIONS
These types of connections provide rigidity in between fully
restrained and simple connections and approximately 20% to
90% moment compared with ideal rigid joint may be
transferred. These type of connections are mostly used in
practice because their performance is exceptionally well under
cyclic loads and earthquakes
 SPLICES
These are used to extend the length of a particular member.
These connections may be bolted or welded.
 BRACKETS

These are the connections which used to transfer moment

besides other type of forces. The term bracket is generally used
for an extra plate projecting out of column and acting like a
seat for the beam.
COLUMN BASE CONNECTIONS
These connections can either be pined or fixed depending upon the type
of forces to be transferred.