Page 57 - Modern Steel Construction (April 2019)

Fig. 12. A paddle plate-bolted
moment connection.

15. Chose bolted ange-plate moment

connections over eld-welded connec-

tions for beams. Most of the time, the

EOR speci es eld-welded complete-

joint-penetration (CJP) moment connec-
tions in lieu of bolted moment connections.
Field-welded connections are typically
more costly and time-consuming since
they involve special end preparation for
the beams, masking paint at beam ends and
columns, the actual welding, thorough eld

inspection of welds and repainting. Hence,
it is preferable to provide paddle plate-
bolted moment connections, which can
reduce fabrication efforts, erection time
and cost (see Figure 12). The EOR should
design the section sizes such that this type
of bolted moment connection can be easily
designed for given loads.
16. Size beams so that normal con-
nections can be used. For beams with
heavy shear plus axial loads, the EOR
should size the beams in such a way that
normal connections can be designed.
Normal connections are those that avoid
costly added elements like stiffeners, web
doublers, beam haunches, multiple col-

umns of bolts, ange extension plates, etc.
In order to facilitate normal connections,
the EOR must precisely select section
sizes, design sample connections for actual
loads to ensure that these sections really
deliver the intended results and provide
precise loads to the connection designer PLASMA. PRECISELY.
for connection design. This may entail a
higher beam/column material cost, but it
will lower connection material and fabri-
cation costs as well as expedite connection
design and detailing.
Effective connection design is often
said to be more of an art than an exact sci-
ence. These tips—and many more found
in AISC’s myriad design resources at
www.aisc.org/publications (where you
can also access the various publications
mentioned in this article)—can help you ELEVATE YOUR CUTTING GAME WITH X-DEFINITION PLASMA
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Rules of Connection Design” at the 2019
NASCC: The Steel Conference, taking
place April 3–5 in St. Louis. For more
information, visit www.aisc.org/nascc,
where you can also view a recording of the PLASMA | LASER | WATERJET | AUTOMATION | SOFTWARE | CONSUMABLES
presentation approximately 45 days after
the show.
Modern Steel Construction | 57