Moment resisting connection apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention comprises a moment resisting connection that comprises a column connection, a girder connection, and a field weld that couples the column connection to the girder connection. The column connection includes a column and a pair of column side plates in which each column side plate is coupled to the flanges of the column. The girder connection comprises a girder and a pair of girder side plates in which each girder side plate is operatively coupled to a doubler plate that is coupled to each girder flange. Alternatively, each girder side plate is joined to each girder flange. The field weld is performed by positioning the girder connection so that it may be welded to the column connection. The present invention also teaches a method comprising the steps of welding each column side plate to the flanges of the column. Additionally, the steps of fixedly coupling each girder side plate to the flanges of the girder is described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A moment resisting connection, comprising; 
 a column connection including, 
 a column having two column flanges, and  
 a pair of column side plates, each of said pair of column side plates is joined to each said column flange;  
   a girder connection including, 
 a girder having two girder flanges, and  
 a pair of girder side plates, each of said pair of girder side plates is fixedly coupled to each said girder flange; and  
   a field weld that joins said column connection to said girder connection.    
     
     
         2 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 1  wherein said fixedly coupling of said pair of girder side plates to said girder flange further comprises a doubler plate that is joined to one of said girder flanges.  
     
     
         3 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 2  wherein one of said girder side plates is joined to said doubler plate.  
     
     
         4 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 1  wherein said column connection comprises at least one stiffener plate that is joined to each of said column flanges.  
     
     
         5 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 1  wherein said girder connection comprises at least one stiffener plate that is joined to each of said girder flanges.  
     
     
         6 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 4  wherein said at least one stiffener plate is joined to each of said column flanges with an electroslag weld.  
     
     
         7 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 5  wherein said at least one stiffener plate is joined to each of said girder flanges with an electroslag weld.  
     
     
         8 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 1  wherein said field weld is an electroslag weld.  
     
     
         9 . A moment resisting connection, comprising; 
 a column connection including, 
 a column having two column flanges, and  
 a pair of column side plates, each of said pair of column side plates is joined to each said column flange;  
   a girder connection including, 
 a girder having two girder flanges,  
 two doubler plates wherein each doubler pate is joined to one of said girder flanges, and  
 a pair of girder side plates, each of said pair of girder side plates is joined to each said doubler plate; and  
   a field weld that joins said column connection to said girder connection.    
     
     
         10 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 9  wherein said column connection comprises at least one stiffener plate that is joined to each of said column flanges.  
     
     
         11 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 9  wherein said girder connection comprises at least one stiffener plate that is joined to each of said girder flanges.  
     
     
         12 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 10  wherein said at least one stiffener plate is joined to each of said column flanges with an electroslag weld.  
     
     
         13 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 11  wherein said at least one stiffener plate is joined to each of said girder flanges with an electroslag weld.  
     
     
         14 . The moment resisting connection of  claim 9  wherein said field weld is an electroslag weld.  
     
     
         15 . A method for generating a moment resisting connection, comprising, 
 generating a column connection having a column side plate joined to each flange of a column;    generating a girder connection having a girder side plate configured to be fixedly coupled to each flange of a girder; and    performing a field weld that joins said column connection and said girder connetion by joining said girder side plate to said column side plate.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising inserting a first stiffener into said column connection before joining said column side plate to said flange of said column.  
     
     
         17 . The method  claim 16  further comprising inserting a second stiffener into said girder connection before joining said girder side plate to said flange of said girder.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising joining a doubler plate to each said girder flange after having inserted said second stiffener and then joining said girder side plate to said doubler plate.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said field weld is performed by electroslag welding.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said first stiffener is joined to said column by electroslag welding.