Design of Steel Structures II, Prof. S.R.Satish Kumar & Prof.A.R.Santha Kumar





1. BEAM – COLUMN CONNECTIONS

1.1 Introduction:

Beam-to-column connections are neither ideally pinned nor ideally fixed and posses a finite non-zero stiffness. However they are classified as simple (pinned), semi-rigid and rigid (fixed) depending on the connection stiffness (Fig. 1.1). Such a classification helps in simplifying the analysis of frames. A connection having a small stiffness can be assumed as pinned while a connection having a large stiffness can be assumed as fixed. In the former case, the actual mid-span bending moments will be less than what is designed for while in the latter case the mid-span deflection will be more than what is calculated. Traditionally, certain configurations are idealized as pinned and certain other configurations are idealized as fixed but with a variety of new configurations being used it is important to have guideline indicating the range of stiffness for which the idealization can be used without serious discrepancy between analysis and actual behaviour. This is done by means of connection classification.


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