Moment connections for structural steel frames and construction methods thereof
An assembly for a moment connection between a steel beam and a steel column includes a bracket and a clamp. The bracket and the clamp can be made of steel and are configured to be slidably connected to one another. The bracket is configured to be affixed to the column. The clamp is configured to be affixed to an end of the beam. The bracket has an elongated body. The clamp includes a hollow structural member extending laterally to the length direction of the beam. The clamp also includes first to third bars extending from a vertical sidewall of the hollow structural member in the length direction of the beam, toward the bracket. The first to third bars define a space between them that houses the bracket inside. The first to third bars surround the bracket in a way that forms a moment connection between the clamp and the bracket.
1 . An assembly for a moment connection between first and second structural members, the assembly comprising:
a bracket having an elongated body and configured to be connected to the first structural member; and
a clamp configured to be connected to the second structural member,
wherein the clamp includes:
a hollow structural member extending in a first direction, the hollow structural member including a plurality of sidewalls connected to one another and defining a cavity of the hollow structural member in the first direction;
a first bar protruding from a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls of the hollow structural member, the first bar extending in a second direction that intersects the first direction, the first sidewall of the hollow structural member being arranged between the cavity of the hollow structural member and the first bar;
a second bar protruding from said first sidewall and extending in the second direction, the second bar being spaced apart from the first bar, the first sidewall of the hollow structural member being arranged between the cavity of the hollow structural member and the second bar; and
a third bar protruding from said first sidewall and extending in the first direction, the first sidewall of the hollow structural member being arranged between the cavity of the hollow structural member and the third bar, the third bar connecting the first and second bars to one another such that the first to third bars define a space configured to selectively receive the elongated body of the bracket therealong to selectively connect the bracket and the clamp to one another.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls of the hollow structural member includes a first cavity and the elongated body of the bracket includes a first cavity,
wherein, the first cavity of the first sidewall and the first cavity of the elongated body of the bracket are configured to be aligned with one another when the elongated body of bracket is selectively received in the space defined by the clamp.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a first fastener, the first fastener being configured to be engageably received in the first cavity of the first sidewall and in the first cavity of the elongated body of the bracket to connect the bracket and the clamp to one another.
4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first fastener is a bolt, and the first cavities of the first sidewall and the elongated body of the bracket, respectively, have threads matching threads of the bolt.
5 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls of the hollow structural member further includes a second cavity spaced apart from the first cavity thereof, and the elongated body of the bracket further includes a second cavity spaced apart from the first cavity thereof,
wherein, the second cavity of the first sidewall and the second cavity of the elongated body of the bracket are configured to be aligned with one another when the elongated body of bracket is selectively received in the space defined by the clamp,
the assembly further comprising a second fastener, the second fastener being configured to be engageably received in the second cavity of the first sidewall and in the second cavity of the elongated body of the bracket to connect the bracket and the clamp to one another.
6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamp further includes a fourth bar extending from the third bar, the fourth bar extending at a direction that crosses the direction in which the third bar extends, and
wherein the elongated body of the bracket further includes a notch, wherein the notch is configured to receive the fourth bar therein when the clamp and the bracket are selectively connected to one another.
7 . A method for producing a moment connection in a metallic frame, the method comprising:
providing a bracket;
affixing the bracket to a metallic column;
providing a clamp;
affixing the clamp to an end of a metallic beam; and
slidably engaging the bracket and the clamp to one another along their respective lengths, wherein the step of slidably engaging the bracket and the clamp to one another includes raising the clamp above an elevation of the bracket and lowering the clamp onto the bracket to engage the bracket and the clamp to one another, wherein the slidable engagement between the bracket and the clamp enables gravitational loads, a bending moment and/or axial load to be transferred from the beam to the column,
wherein the bracket has an elongated body and is configured to be connected to the first structural member;
wherein the clamp includes:
a hollow structural member extending in a first direction, the hollow structural member including a plurality of sidewalls connected to one another and defining a cavity of the hollow structural member in the first direction;
a first bar protruding from a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls of the hollow structural member, the first bar extending in a second direction that intersects the first direction, the first sidewall of the hollow structural member being arranged between the cavity of the hollow structural member and the first bar;
a second bar protruding from said first sidewall and extending in the second direction, the second bar being spaced apart from the first bar, the first sidewall of the hollow structural member being arranged between the cavity of the hollow structural member and the second bar; and
a third bar protruding from said first sidewall and extending in the first direction, the first sidewall of the hollow structural member being arranged between the cavity of the hollow structural member and the third bar, the third bar connecting the first and second bars to one another such that the first to third bars define a space configured to selectively receive the elongated body of the bracket therealong to selectively connect the bracket and the clamp to one another,
wherein the step of slidably engaging the bracket and the clamp to one another includes inserting the elongated body of the bracket in the space defined by the first to third bars.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the assembly further includes a plurality of dampers,
wherein the bracket further includes a ledge protruding from the first side surface of the plate, and
wherein, when the bracket and clamp are selectively connected to one another, the plurality of dampers is arranged between the ledge and a second sidewall of the hollow structural member of the clamp.