Splice connectors for hollow structural segments and methods of making the same

Abstract

A connector for coupling first and second hollow structural section (HSS) column segments includes a plurality of splice plates including first and second splice plate pairs. Each splice plate pair includes an interior splice plate configured to couple against an interior surface of a respective HSS column wall and an exterior splice plate configured to couple against an exterior surface of the wall. A plurality of plate fastener openings is defined in each of the splice plates of the first and second pairs. A plurality of fasteners is each configured to be received in a respective aligned series of openings such that the column segments are securely coupled together. Each respective aligned series of openings includes a plate fastener opening defined in one of the exterior splice plates, an opening defined in one of the column walls, and a plate fastener opening defined in one of the interior splice plates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector for coupling a first hollow structural section (HSS) column segment to a second HSS column segment at an interface between adjoining ends of the HSS column segments, wherein each of the HSS column segments includes first and second opposing walls and third and fourth opposing walls, the third and fourth opposing walls orthogonal to the first and second opposing walls, and wherein a plurality of wall fastener openings is defined in each of the first and second walls of the first and second column segments, said connector comprising:
 a plurality of splice plates comprising:
 a first splice plate pair comprising an interior splice plate configured to couple against an interior surface of the first wall and an exterior splice plate configured to couple against an exterior surface of the first wall; and 
 a second splice plate pair comprising an interior splice plate configured to couple against an interior surface of the second wall and an exterior splice plate configured to couple against an exterior surface of the second wall, wherein a plurality of plate fastener openings is defined in each of said splice plates of said first and second splice plate pairs; and 
   a plurality of fasteners each configured to be received in a respective aligned series of openings such that the first and second column segments are securely coupled together and immobile relative to each other, wherein each respective aligned series of openings comprises one of said plate fastener openings defined in one of said exterior splice plates, one of the wall fastener openings, and one of said plate fastener openings defined in one of said interior splice plates.   
     
     
         2 . The connector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each of said splice plates of said first and second splice plate pairs is configured to extend across the interface when each of said plurality of fasteners is received in said corresponding aligned series of openings. 
     
     
         3 . The connector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said plate fastener openings of said splice plates of said first splice plate pair are positioned in a substantially identical row and column arrangement as said plate fastener openings of said second splice plate pair. 
     
     
         4 . The connector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of expansion bolts. 
     
     
         5 . The connector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said plate fastener opening of said interior splice plate and the wall fastener opening of the aligned series of openings are threaded on a single cooperating thread path, and wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises threaded bolts configured to be threadably received by the single cooperating thread path. 
     
     
         6 . The connector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of splice plates further comprises:
 a third splice plate pair comprising an interior splice plate configured to couple against an interior surface of the third wall and an exterior splice plate configured to couple against an exterior surface of the third wall; and   a fourth splice plate pair comprising an interior splice plate configured to couple against an interior surface of the fourth wall and an exterior splice plate configured to couple against an exterior surface of the fourth wall, wherein said plurality of plate fastener openings is further defined in each of said splice plates of said third and fourth splice plate pairs.   
     
     
         7 . The connector in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein each said splice plate of said first, second, third, and fourth splice plate pairs comprises an identical number of said plate fastener openings arranged in an identical number of rows and columns, and wherein a longitudinal position of said rows on each said splice plate of said third and fourth splice plate pairs is offset from a longitudinal position of said rows on each said splice plate of said first and second splice plate pairs by an offset distance, said offset distance is about half of a longitudinal spacing between adjacent ones of said rows. 
     
     
         8 . A column for a moment-resisting frame, said column comprising:
 a first hollow structural section (HSS) column segment;   a second HSS column segment coupled to said first HSS column segment at an interface between adjoining ends of said HSS column segments, wherein each of said HSS column segments includes first and second opposing walls and third and fourth opposing walls, said third and fourth opposing walls orthogonal to said first and second opposing walls, and wherein a plurality of wall fastener openings is defined in each of said first and second walls of said first and second column segments;   a plurality of splice plates comprising:
 a first splice plate pair comprising an interior splice plate coupled against an interior surface of said first wall and an exterior splice plate coupled against an exterior surface of said first wall; and 
 a second splice plate pair comprising an interior splice plate coupled against an interior surface of said second wall and an exterior splice plate coupled against an exterior surface of said second wall, wherein a plurality of plate fastener openings is defined in each of said splice plates of said first and second splice plate pairs; and 
   a plurality of fasteners each received in a respective aligned series of openings such that said first and second column segments are securely coupled together and immobile relative to each other, wherein each said respective aligned series of openings comprises one of said plate fastener openings defined in one of said exterior splice plates, one of said wall fastener openings, and one of said plate fastener openings defined in one of said interior splice plates.   
     
     
         9 . The column in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein each of said splice plates of said first and second splice plate pairs extends across said interface. 
     
     
         10 . The column in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said plate fastener openings of said splice plates of said first splice plate pair are positioned in a substantially identical row and column arrangement as said plate fastener openings of said second splice plate pair. 
     
     
         11 . The column in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of expansion bolts. 
     
     
         12 . The column in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said plate fastener opening of said interior splice plate and said wall fastener opening of said aligned series of openings are threaded on a single cooperating thread path, and wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises threaded bolts configured to be threadably received by said single cooperating thread path. 
     
     
         13 . The column in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of splice plates further comprises:
 a third splice plate pair comprising an interior splice plate coupled against an interior surface of said third wall and an exterior splice plate coupled against an exterior surface of said third wall; and   a fourth splice plate pair comprising an interior splice plate coupled against an interior surface of said fourth wall and an exterior splice plate coupled against an exterior surface of said fourth wall, wherein said plurality of plate fastener openings is further defined in each of said splice plates of said third and fourth splice plate pairs.   
     
     
         14 . The column in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein each said splice plate of said first, second, third, and fourth splice plate pairs comprises an identical number of said plate fastener openings arranged in an identical number of rows and columns, and wherein a longitudinal position of said rows on each said splice plate of said third and fourth splice plate pairs is offset from a longitudinal position of said rows on each said splice plate of said first and second splice plate pairs by an offset distance, said offset distance is about half of a longitudinal spacing between adjacent ones of said rows. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a connector for coupling a first hollow structural section (HSS) column segment to a second HSS column segment at an interface between adjoining ends of the HSS column segments, wherein each of the HSS column segments includes first and second opposing walls and third and fourth opposing walls, the third and fourth opposing walls orthogonal to the first and second opposing walls, and wherein a plurality of wall fastener openings is defined in each of the first and second walls of the first and second column segments, said method comprising:
 forming a plurality of splice plates, wherein the plurality of splice plates includes:
 a first splice plate pair including an interior splice plate configured to couple against an interior surface of the first wall and an exterior splice plate configured to couple against an exterior surface of the first wall; and 
 a second splice plate pair including an interior splice plate configured to couple against an interior surface of the second wall and an exterior splice plate configured to couple against an exterior surface of the second wall; and 
   forming a plurality of plate fastener openings in each of the splice plates, wherein a respective aligned series of openings including one of the plate fastener openings defined in one of the exterior splice plates, one of the wall fastener openings, and one of the plate fastener openings defined in one of the interior splice plates is configured to receive a corresponding one of a plurality of fasteners, such that the first and second column segments are securely coupled together and immobile relative to each other.   
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said forming the plurality of splice plates comprises sizing the splice plates of the first and second splice plate pairs to extend across the interface when each respective series of openings is aligned to receive the corresponding one of the plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said forming the plurality of plate fastener openings in each of the splice plates comprises forming a diameter of the plate fastener openings to receive the fasteners that include expansion bolts. 
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said forming the plurality of plate fastener openings in each of the splice plates comprises positioning the plate fastener openings of the splice plates of the first splice plate pair in a substantially identical row and column arrangement as the plate fastener openings of the second splice plate pair. 
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said forming the plurality of plate fastener openings in each of the splice plates comprises positioning the plate fastener openings on each splice plate in a row and column arrangement based on a width of a flat portion of the interior surfaces of the first and second walls, a minimum spacing between the plate fastener openings, and a minimum spacing of the plate fastener openings from any edge of the splice plate. 
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said positioning the plate fastener openings on each splice plate in the row and column arrangement further comprises positioning the plate fastener openings based on a net section rupture strength of a corresponding cross-section of the first and second column segments in which one of the rows is defined.