Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 398-421 (2012)
THE EFFECTS OF FRAME DEFORMATION ON WELDED GUSSET PLATES
FOR DIAGONAL BRACING ELEMENTS LOADED IN TENSION
J. Kent Hsiao 1,*, Donald W. Tempinson 2 and Jianming Li 3
1 Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, USA
2 Former Graduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, USA
3 Graduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, USA
*(Corresponding author: E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Received: 10 February 2012; Revised: 17 April 2012; Accepted: 27 April 2012
 View Article |
Export Citation: Plain Text | RIS | Endnote |
ABSTRACT
The effects of frame deformation on a gusset plate in a braced frame can be defined as the increases in stress in the gusset plate caused by the deformations of the beams and the columns of the braced frame. The hand-calculated approach for the design of gusset plates for diagonal bracing elements loaded in tension has traditionally neglected the frame deformation effects. A design example for a brace-beam-column gusset plate connection using the traditional hand-calculated approach is given in this paper. Two finite element approaches (one neglects the effects of frame deformation on the gusset plate while the other one considers the effects) are used to investigate the adequacy of the gusset plate designed by the hand-calculated approach. This study concludes that frame deformation effects have caused the increases in the von Mises and the first-principal stresses located at the Whitmore section of the gusset plate, as well as the increase in the combined effects of the factored tension and shear forces at the gusset edges. The traditional hand-calculated approach which neglects the frame deformation effects, therefore, may result in an under-design of the gusset plate.
KEYWORDS
Finite element method, Nonlinear analysis, Rigid frames, Stress concentration, Tensile strength, Welded connections, Yield stress
REFERENCES
[1] SEAOC, “2006 IBC Structural/Seismic Design Manual, Building Design Examples for Steel and Concrete”, Structural Engineers Association of California, Sacramento, Calif., 2006.
[2] Thornton, W.A., “Bracing Connections for Heavy Construction”, Engineering Journal, American Institute of Steel Construction, 3rd Quarter, 1984, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 139-148.
[3] Richard, R., “Analysis of Large Bracing Connection Designs for Heavy Construction”, Proceedings of the 1986 National Engineering Conference, AISC, Nashville, June 12-14, 1986.
[4] Astaneh-Asl, A., “Seismic Behavior and Design of Gusset Plates”, Steel Tips Report, Structural Steel Educational Council, Moraga, Calif., 1998.
[5] Cheng, J.J.R., Grondin,G.Y. and Yam,M.C.H., “Design and Behavior of Gusset Plate Connections”, Steel Connection IV Workshop, Roanoke, VA., 2000.
[6] Whitmore, R.E., “Experimental Investigation of Stresses in Gusset Plates”, Bulletin No. 16, Engineering Experiment Station, Univ. of Tennessee, TN., 1952.
[7] AISC, “Steel Construction Manual”, 14th Edition, American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc., Chicago, IL., 2011.
[8] Thornton, W.A., “On the Analysis and Design of Bracing Connections”, National Steel Construction Conference Proceedings, AISC, Chicago, IL., 1991, pp. 26.1-26.33.
[9] AISC and SSEC, “Seismic Design Manual”, American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc., Chicago, IL., 2006.
[10] AISC, “Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings”, American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc., Chicago, IL., 2005.
[11] NISA, “NISA User’s Manual”, Engineering Mechanics Research Corporation, Troy, Michigan, 1998.
[12] Salmon, C.G., Johnson, J.E. and Malhas F.A., “Steel structures, design and behavior”, 5th Ed., Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 2009.
[13] The Lincoln Electric Company, “The Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding”, 13th Ed., The Lincoln Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio., 1994.