Each element in a connection shall be designed so that the structure is capable of resisting the design actions. Connections and adjacent regions of the members shall be designed by distributing the design action effects such that the following requirements are satisfied:
- a) Design action effects distributed to various elements shall be in equilibrium with the design action effects on the connection,
- b) Required deformations in the elements of the connections are within their deformations capacities,
- c) All elements in the connections and the adjacent areas of members shall be capable of resisting the design action effects acting on them, and
- d) Connection elements shall remain stable under the design action effects and deformations.
10.6.1
Connections can be classified as rigid, semi-rigid and flexible for the purpose of analysis and design as per the recommendation in Annex F. Connections with sufficient rotational stiffness may be considered as rigid. Examples of rigid connections include flush end-plate connection and extended end-plate connections. Connections with negligible rotational stiffness may be considered as flexible (pinned). Examples of flexible connections include single and double web angle connections and header plate connections. Where a connection cannot be classified as either rigid or flexible, it shall be assumed to be semi-rigid. Examples of semi-rigid connections include top and seat angle connection and top and seat angle with single/double web angles.
10.6.2
Design shall be on the basis of any rational method supported by experimental evidence. Residual stresses due to installation of bolts or welding normally need not be considered in statically loaded structures. Connections in cyclically loaded structures shall be designed considering fatigue as given in Section 13. For earthquake load combinations, the connections shall be designed to withstand the calculated design action effects and exhibit required ductility as specified in Section 12.
10.6.3
Beam and column splice shall be designed in accordance with the recommendation given in F-2 and F-3.