CONNECTORS AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME

1 . A connector comprising:

a flange defining an opening;

an insert comprising a plurality of plates, wherein each of said plates extends through the opening of said flange; and

an actuator coupling said insert to said flange, wherein said plurality of plates are movable relative to said flange by operating said actuator.

2 . A connector in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said connector is a moment-resisting connector.

3 . A connector in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said plurality of plates comprises a pair of substantially L-shaped plates.

4 . A connector in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises a threaded bolt.

5 . A connector in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said plurality of plates are movable along said threaded bolt when said threaded bolt is turned relative to said plates.

6 . A connector in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a housing sized to contain said flange and said actuator.

7 . A method of assembling a connector, said method comprising:

positioning an insert within an opening of a flange; and

coupling the insert to the flange via an actuator, wherein the insert has a plurality of plates that extend through the opening of the flange such that the plates are movable relative to the flange by operating the actuator.

8 . A method in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising fabricating said connector as a moment-resisting connector.

9 . A method in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising fabricating said plurality of plates as a pair of substantially L-shaped plates.

10 . A method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein coupling the insert to the flange via an actuator comprises coupling the insert to the flange via a threaded bolt.

11 . A method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein coupling the insert to the flange via a threaded bolt comprises coupling the insert to the flange such that the plates are movable along the threaded bolt when the threaded bolt is turned relative to the plates.

12 . A method in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising coupling a housing to the flange such that the flange and the actuator are contained within the housing.

13 . A column for a moment-resisting frame, said column comprising:

a first hollow structural section (HSS) column segment;

a second HSS column segment; and

a connector coupling said first HSS column segment to said second HSS column segment, wherein said connector comprises:

a flange coupled between said HSS column segments and defining an opening;

an insert comprising a plurality of plates that extend through the opening of said flange and into said HSS column segments such that said plates are spaced apart from one another;

an actuator coupling said insert to said flange such that said plates are movably coupled to said actuator; and

a plurality of fasteners coupling said plates to said HSS column segments to prevent movement of said plates relative to said flange via said actuator.

14 . A column in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said connector is a moment-resisting connector.

15 . A column in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said plurality of plates comprises a pair of substantially L-shaped plates.

16 . A column in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said actuator comprises a threaded bolt.

17 . A column in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said threaded bolt comprises a grip that is external to said flange.

18 . A column in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said connector further comprises a housing coupled to said flange to contain said flange and said actuator therein.

19 . A column in accordance with claim 13 , wherein each of said first column segment and said second column segment is fabricated from structural steel.

20 . A column in accordance with claim 19 , wherein said connector is coupled to said first column segment and said second column segment without welding said connector to said first column segment or said second column segment.