Design of Shear Connections

In Design of Shear Connections, you'll learn ...

• The role of shear connections in steel structures and their function in transferring shear and axial loads while providing rotational capacity
• The behavioral assumptions and code-based requirements governing shear connection design under AISC 360 using LRFD and ASD
• The comparative characteristics and appropriate applications of single-plate, double-angle, and shear end-plate connections
• How failure modes and physical behavior govern the safe and economical design of steel shear connections

Overview

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Credit: 4 PDH

Length: 84 pages

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of shear connection design in accordance with the AISC Steel Construction Manual (16th Edition), Parts 9 and 10, and AISC 360-22, Chapter J. All design methodologies are presented using both LRFD and ASD formats.

The curriculum prioritizes the physical behavior and failure modes of connection elements over exhaustive manual calculations. By focusing on how a connection actually fails, engineers develop a deeper engineering sense and a more intuitive understanding of how various design parameters influence code equations.

Shear connections are vital components designed to transfer gravity (shear) and axial loads from a beam to its support while maintaining a high rotational capacity. This flexibility ensures that the connection behaves as a "pinned" joint, preventing the transfer of unwanted moments. These connections are essential in various structural applications, including:

• Mezzanine framing.
• Secondary-to-primary beam intersections.
• Beam-to-column joints.
• End-wall column to gable rafter connections.

The course provides an in-depth analysis of three primary connection types: Single-Plate (Fin Plate), Double-Angle, and Shear End-Plate connections. Participants will study the mechanical limits of each component, covering failure modes such as:

• Connection Elements: Bolt rupture, prying action, weld fracture, and plate buckling, ....etc.
• Beam & Plate Limits: Web yielding, block shear, plate rupture, and flexural yielding, ....etc.
• Supporting Member Integrity: Column flange local bending, web crippling, web yielding, and out-of-plane bending, ....etc.

The curriculum concludes with a specialized look at coped beam stability, focusing on web yielding, local buckling, and lateral-torsional buckling. By the end of this course, engineers will be equipped to design bolts, welds, and plates based on a fundamental understanding of Chapter J requirements, ensuring both safety and structural efficiency.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

• The situations in which shear connections are used compared to moment and slotted connections in steel framing systems.
• The classification and selection criteria for common shear connection types based on load demand, constructability, and economy.
• The component-level behavior of bolts, plates, welds, and supporting members in shear connections.
• The identification and evaluation of governing failure modes in single-plate shear connections, including bolt rupture, bearing, tearout, block shear, and plate yielding.
• The design considerations and failure mechanisms associated with double-angle shear connections under gravity and axial loading.
• The design principles and limit states controlling shear end-plate connections for moderate to heavy reactions.
• The influence of connection eccentricity and assumed hinge location on force distribution within bolts, plates, welds, and supporting members.
• The required strength and serviceability checks for supporting members, including column flanges, column webs, and girder webs.
• The stability considerations for coped beams, including web yielding, local buckling, and lateral-torsional buckling.
• How Chapter J provisions of AISC 360 are applied to ensure ductile behavior, structural safety, and constructible shear connection designs.

Certificate of Completion

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 20 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.