Bolted slotted beam web connection designs

Abstract

A structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection includes a column having a column flange and a beam. The beam includes a first beam flange and a second beam flange. The beam also includes a beam web extending between the first beam flange and the second beam flange. The beam web defines at least one slot that extends from a distal end of the beam along a length of the beam and terminates at a stress relief hole. The connection includes an end plate. The beam is welded to the end plate and the end plate is bolted to the column flange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection, comprising:
 a column having a column flange;   a beam comprising:
 a first beam flange and a second beam flange; and 
 a beam web extending between the first beam flange and the second beam flange, wherein the beam web defines at least one slot that extends from a distal end of the beam along a length of the beam and terminates at a stress relief hole; and 
   an end plate, wherein:
 the beam is welded to the end plate; and 
 the end plate is bolted to the column flange. 
   
     
     
         2 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the connection eliminates lateral torsion buckling of the beam in a region of the connection. 
     
     
         3 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the connection provides a near uniform state of stress and strain in the first beam flange and the second beam flange in a region of the connection. 
     
     
         4 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the connection eliminates beam flange shear forces in the connection. 
     
     
         5 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the connection obtains a near uniform stress distribution across and through the first beam flange and the second beam flange in the connection. 
     
     
         6 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the connection eliminates field welding of the connection. 
     
     
         7 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the end plate is bolted to the column flange using a four bolt arrangement on a top and a bottom of the end plate. 
     
     
         8 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the end plate is bolted to the column flange using a six bolt arrangement on a top and a bottom of the end plate. 
     
     
         9 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the at least one slot is determined by the equation l s <l p +l b /10. 
     
     
         10 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the beam web define two slots that each extend from the distal end of the beam along the length of the beam and that each terminate at a stress relief hole. 
     
     
         11 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 10 , wherein each slot of the two slots is approximately equal in length. 
     
     
         12 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the first beam flange, the second beam flange, and the beam web are each welded to the end plate. 
     
     
         13 . The structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection of  claim 1 , wherein the stress relief hole is round and has a larger dimension than a width of the at least one slot. 
     
     
         14 . A method of forming a bolted slotted web beam-to-column connection, comprising:
 welding an end plate onto a distal end of a beam; and   bolting the end plate to a flange of a column.   
     
     
         15 . The method of forming a bolted slotted web beam-to-column connection of  claim 14 , wherein bolting the end plate comprises using a four bolt arrangement on a top and a bottom of the end plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of forming a bolted slotted web beam-to-column connection of  claim 14 , wherein bolting the end plate comprises using a six bolt arrangement on a top and a bottom of the end plate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of forming a bolted slotted web beam-to-column connection of  claim 14 , further comprising forming at least one slot in a beam web of the beam, wherein the at least one slot extends from a distal end of the beam along a length of the beam and terminates at a stress relief hole. 
     
     
         18 . The method of forming a bolted slotted web beam-to-column connection of  claim 17 , further comprising forming a second slot in the beam web, wherein the second slot extends from the distal end of the beam along the length of the beam and terminates at a second stress relief hole. 
     
     
         19 . The method of forming a bolted slotted web beam-to-column connection of  claim 18 , wherein the slot and the second slot are approximately equal in length. 
     
     
         20 . The method of forming a bolted slotted web beam-to-column connection of  claim 14 , wherein welding the end plate onto the distal end of the beam comprises welding a first beam flange, a second beam flange, and a beam web onto the end plate.