The following designations are used herein to identify plates and welds in the Side-Plate connection shown in Figures 11.14 through 11.21:
11.6.1 Plates/Angles
- {A} Side plate, located in a vertical plane parallel to the web(s) of the beam, connecting frame beam to column.
- {B} Beam flange cover plate bridging between side plates {A}, as applicable.
- {C} Vertical shear plate.
- {D} Horizontal shear plate (HSP). This element transfers horizontal shear from the top and bottom edges of the side plates {A} to the web of a wide-flange column.
- {E} Erection angle. One of the possible vertical shear elements {F}.
- {F} Vertical shear elements (VSE). These elements, which may consist of angles and plates or bent plates, transfer shear from the beam web to the outboard edge of the side plates {A}.
- {G} Longitudinal angles welded to the side plates {A} for connecting the beam flange cover plate (field-bolted connection).
- {H} Longitudinal angles welded to the beam flange for connecting to the side plates {A} (field-bolted connection).
- {T} Horizontal plates welded to the side plates {A} for connecting the beam flange cover plate as an alternative for angle {G} (field-bolted connection).
11.6.2 Welds
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{1} Shop fillet weld connecting exterior edge of side plate {A} to the horizontal shear plate {D} or to the face of a built-up box column or HSS section.
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{2} Shop fillet weld connecting inside face of side plate {A} to the tip of the column flange or to the corner of an HSS or built-up column section; and for biaxial dual-strong axis configurations connects outside face of secondary side plates to outside face of primary side plates.
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{3} Shop fillet weld connecting horizontal shear plate {D} to wide-flange column web. Weld {3} is also used at the column flanges where required to resist orthogonal loads through the connection due to collectors, chords, or cantilevers.
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{4} Shop fillet weld connecting vertical shear elements {F} to the beam web, and where applicable, the vertical shear plate {C} to the erection angle {E}.
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{5} Shop fillet weld connecting beam flange tip to cover plate {B}/angles {H}.
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{5a} Shop weld connecting outside face of beam flange to cover plate {B} (or to the face of the beam flange with the angles {H}).
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{6} Field vertical fillet weld connecting vertical shear element (angle or bent plate) {F} to end of side plate {A} (field-welded connection).
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{7} Field horizontal fillet weld connecting the cover plate {B} to the side plate {A}, or connecting HSS beam corners to side plates (field-welded connection).
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{8} Shop weld connecting the longitudinal angles {G} or horizontal plate {T} to the side plate {A} (field-bolted connection).
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{9} Shop fillet weld connecting side plate {A} to HSS/built-up box column in bi-axial configuration.
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{10} Shop weld connecting the intersecting orthogonal side plates to construct the side plate interlock assembly.
Figure 11.14 shows the connection detailing for a one-sided moment connection configuration in which one beam frames into a column (A-type). Figure 11.15 shows the connection detailing for a two-sided moment connection configuration in which the beams are identical (B-type). Figure 11.16 shows the connection detailing for a two-sided moment connection configuration in which the beams differ in depth (C-type). Figures 11.17 and 11.18 show the beam assembly shop detail for the field-welded and field-bolted connections, respectively. Figure 11.19 shows the beam-to-side plate field erection detail. If two beams frame into a column to form a corner, the connection detailing is referred to as a D-type (not shown). The connection detailing for a three-sided and four-sided moment connection configuration is referred to as an E-type and F-series, respectively (not shown). Figures 11.14, 11.15, and 11.16 show the field-welded connection. The same details are applicable to the field-bolted connection by using the beam end details for the field-bolted connection.
11.6.3 Bolts
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(1) Bolts shall be arranged symmetrically about the axis of the beam.
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(2) Types of holes
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(a) Standard holes shall be used in the horizontal angles {G} and {H}.
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(b) Either standard or oversized holes shall be used in the side plates and cover plates.
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(c) Either standard or short-slotted holes (with the slot parallel to the beam axis) shall be used in the angle of the vertical shear element (VSE), if applicable.
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(3) Bolt hole fabrication using thermal cutting is not permitted for plates thicker than 2 in. (50 mm).
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(4) All bolts shall be installed as pretensioned high-strength bolts.
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(5) Bolts shall be pretensioned high-strength bolts conforming to ASTM F3125/ F3125M Grade A490 or A490M, or Grade F2280 or ASTM F3148 for fixed spline assemblies. The bolt diameter is limited to 1½ in. (36 mm) maximum.
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(6) The use of shim plates between the side plates and the cover plate or angles is permitted at either or both locations, subject to the limitations of the RCSC Specification.
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(7) Faying surfaces of side plates, cover plates, and angles shall have a Class A slip coefficient or higher.
User Note: The use of oversized holes in the side plates and cover plates with pretensioned bolts that are not designed as slip critical is permitted, consistent with AISC Seismic Provisions Section D2.2. Although standard holes are permitted in the side plate and cover plate, their use may result in field modifications to accommodate erection tolerances.