Resumen de Composite and Steel Construction compendium - Part 8: Bolted steel connections

SCI Steel Construction Institute

• The choice of connections infl uences the majority of the cost of detailing and fabrication of a steel frame and also impacts the ease and speed of erection. The appropriate selection of beam-to-column and beam-to-beam connections has the potential to substantially reduce the overall cost of a steel frame.

  Simple connections are generally easy to design and economical to fabricate; hence simple construction is a popular framing solution.

  Although moment-resisting connections require more eff ort, they are used where resistance to lateral loads cannot be provided by bracing, e.g. in portal frames.

  In general, the function of a connection is not only to link members together—providing a load path for the design actions applied to the structure—but also for tying the structure together to provide structural integrity.

  This article discusses connection behaviour, design methodology and the classifi cations given in BS EN 1993-1-81. Connection design for structural integrity and the use of preloaded assemblies are introduced. Challenges connected with multi-member or unorthodox connections are also discussed.