| Steel connections detailing (beam/beam or beam | | | | top of the beam and the first bolt row will be 90mm |
| column) is an important exercise when planning | | | | below the top of the beam. A standard bolt pitch of |
| definite distribution of loads transmitted from one | | | | 70mm is applied wherever possible. These |
| structure member to another. This article helps you | | | | recommended standards need to be customized for |
| to become familiar with the more simple ways of | | | | small components and for heavily loaded members. |
| joining steel components like beams and columns in a | | | | To form beam-beam connections it is essential to |
| building frame. Basic design routines used for steel | | | | notch the top and sometimes the bottom of the |
| connection detailing purposes are: flexible end plates, | | | | supported beam to clean up the flanges of the |
| bolted angle cleats and fin plates. All three of these | | | | supporting beam. The BCSA standards utilize a 50mm |
| are the most useful for steel beam/column or beam | | | | deep notch rather than the lowest notch depth |
| beam connections. | | | | specified in the property tables of steel section. |
| In steel connection detailing process connections are | | | | BCSA proposes use of fully threaded bolts or screws |
| assumed not to transmit any load from the target | | | | which are appropriate for 80-90% of connections in a |
| beam to another beam or column and for this to | | | | typical steel frame. This means that there will be |
| occur the connection must allow a small amount of | | | | threads in the shear plane of the bolt so the |
| rotation. With web cleats this happens from slip in the | | | | threaded area of the bolt is used in estimating its |
| connected members and buckling of the cleats. Fin | | | | shear capacity. |
| plates and End plates are purposely constructed of | | | | When detailing steel beam connections or column |
| relatively thin material that will deform rather than | | | | connections you need to examine the CAD program |
| transmitting any considerable moment. | | | | output closely to make sure that the recommended |
| To reduce steel fabrication expenses, the BCSA | | | | design can be physically constructed and that there is |
| (British Constructional Steelwork Association) has | | | | sufficient room to tighten the bolts. All steel |
| proposed a number of standardized angle web cleat, | | | | connections are only as strong as the weakest link |
| fin plate and end plate connections and you should | | | | – hence the information provided here will enable |
| follow this for building steel frames. These fittings will | | | | you to avoid major slip-ups in steel framing and |
| usually be made of Grade 43 steel. In general the | | | | building design. |
| tops of all the fittings are placed 50mm below the | | | | |