- Author
- Gross, J. L.
- Title
- Experimental Study of Gusseted Connections.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- American Institute of Steel Construction. Fabricators and Engineers, Working Together Proceedings. National Steel Construction Conference, 1989. June 21-24, 1989, Nashville, TN, 11/1-22 p., 1989
- Keywords
- gusset plates | steel construction | beams
- Abstract
- An experimental program was undertaken at NIST to determine the behavior of gussetted connections for laterally braced steel buildings. The tests included the influence of the members framing into the connection. Three nearly full-scale braced frame subassemblages were tested. The parameters which were varied included the gusset geometry and column orientation. The specimens were loaded to failure in their plane and load-deformation as well as strain data were recorded. The failure mode for the two strong-axis column connections was gusset buckling. The weak-axis column connection failed by tearing of the gusset plate. The moment introduced by the eccentricity in the bracing was distributed to the beam and column in the strong-axis column connection. This moment was carried almost entirely by the beam in the weak-axis connection due to the flexibility in the web connection. Comparisons of nominal capacities with the experimental values resulted in a "strength ratio" in excess of one. The current method of computing gusset buckling appears to be slightly conservative, predicting a buckling capacity of approximately 65 percent of the capacity obtained experimentally. The capacity of the clip angles, in accordance with AISC, was computed to be very low, yet no distress in the clip angles was observed.