DESIGN OF TEE FRAMING SHEAR CONNECTIONS

Abstract

An analytical study was performed to establish the shear-rotation relationship that will exist in the connections of simply supported beams. A computer program was developed and used to simulate increased monotonic uniform loading of a beam supported by simple connections until the beam collapsed. The computer program was used to perform inelastic analyses of beams having all the cross sections from W16 to W33 that are listed in the AISC Manual. That realistic testing of tee connections indicates that considerable shear yielding occurs in the stem and flange of the tee prior to failure. Tee connections that were studied were flexible enough to be considered type II (simple connections). The limit states that were observed during the testing were: bolt shear fracture, tee stem yielding, tee flange yielding tee stem fracture, bolt hole bearing failure and weld fracture. Other study findings are presented and discussed.