Abstract: A method of retrofitting a pre-Northridge type steel beam-to-column connection, includes welding the web of the beam to a flange of the column and slotting the beam web in the region of the connection and near the beam flanges. Stress relief holes are made into the web of the beam and slots are cut into the web of the beam. A top backup bar is welded to the flange of the column and a bottom backup bar is removed from the flange weld to the column. The method includes back gouging the flange of the column at a position of the removed backup bar and welding a bottom flange of the beam to the flange of the column.

Abstract: A structural steel beam-to-column field bolted connection includes a column having a column flange and a beam. The beam includes a first beam flange and a second beam flange. The beam also includes a beam web extending between the first beam flange and the second beam flange. The beam web defines at least one slot that extends from a distal end of the beam along a length of the beam and terminates at a stress relief hole. The connection includes an end plate. The beam is welded to the end plate and the end plate is bolted to the column flange.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a pre-Northridge type steel beam-to-column connection, includes welding the web of the beam to a flange of the column and slotting the beam web in the region of the connection and near the beam flanges. Stress relief holes are made into the web of the beam and slots are cut into the web of the beam. A top backup bar is welded to the flange of the column and a bottom backup bar is removed from the flange weld to the column. The method includes back gouging the flange of the column at a position of the removed backup bar and welding a bottom flange of the beam to the flange of the column.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a pre-Northridge type steel beam-to-column connection, includes welding the web of the beam to a flange of the column and slotting the beam web in the region of the connection and near the beam flanges. Stress relief holes are made into the web of the beam and slots are cut into the web of the beam. A top backup bar is welded to the flange of the column and a bottom backup bar is removed from the flange weld to the column. The method includes back gouging the flange of the column at a position of the removed backup bar and welding a bottom flange of the beam to the flange of the column.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a pre-Northridge type steel beam-to-column connection, includes welding the web of the beam to a flange of the column and slotting the beam web in the region of the connection and near the beam flanges. Stress relief holes are made into the web of the beam and slots are cut into the web of the beam. A top backup bar is welded to the flange of the column and a bottom backup bar is removed from the flange weld to the column. The method includes back gouging the flange of the column at a position of the removed backup bar and welding a bottom flange of the beam to the flange of the column.

Abstract: A structural framework that includes a column, a beam, a brace beam coupled at an angle to the column and the beam, and a gusset plate to connect the brace beam with the column and the beam. The framework also includes a shear plate with horizontally slotted holes to couple to the column to the beam. The structural framework may also include double framing angles or a flex plate coupled to the gusset plate and to the beam via spacer plates to provide for a semi-rigid connection.

Abstract: A structural framework that includes a column, a beam, a brace beam coupled at an angle to the column and the beam, and a gusset plate to connect the brace beam with the column and the beam. The framework also includes a shear plate with horizontally slotted holes to couple to the column to the beam. The structural framework may also include double framing angles or a flex plate coupled to the gusset plate and to the beam via spacer plates to provide for a semi-rigid connection.

Abstract: A structural framework that includes a column, a beam, a brace beam coupled at an angle to the column and the beam, and a gusset plate to connect the brace beam with the column and the beam. The framework also includes a shear plate with horizontally slotted holes to couple to the column to the beam. The structural framework may also include double framing angles or a flex plate coupled to the gusset plate and to the beam via spacer plates to provide for a semi-rigid connection.

Abstract: The present invention provides for improvement of ductility and strength performance of connections in structural steel buildings made typically with rolled structural shapes, specifically in bolted and/or welded beam-to-column connections with welded flanges, by greatly reducing the very significant uneven stress distribution found in the conventionally designed connection at the column/beam weld, through use of slots in column and/or beam webs with or without continuity plates in the area of the column between the column flanges, as well as, optionally, extended shear plate connections with additional columns of bolts for the purpose of reducing the stress concentration factor in the center of the flange welds. Moreover, the slots in beam web adjacent to the beam flanges allow the beam web and flange to buckle independently thereby eliminating the degrading of the beam strength caused by lateral-torsional bucking.

Abstract: The present invention provides for improvement of ductility and strength performance of connections in structural steel buildings made typically with rolled structural shapes, specifically in bolted and/or welded beam-to-column connections with welded flanges, by greatly reducing the very significant uneven stress distribution found in the conventionally designed connection at the column/beam weld, through use of slots in column and/or beam webs with or without continuity plates in the area of the column between the column flanges, as well as, optionally, extended shear plate connections with additional columns of bolts for the purpose of reducing the stress concentration factor in the center of the flange welds. Moreover, the slots in beam web adjacent to the beam flanges allow the beam web and flange to buckle independently thereby eliminating the degrading of the beam strength caused by lateral-torsional bucking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvement of strength performance of connections in structural steel buildings made typically with rolled structural shapes, specifically in beam-to-column connections made with bolt or riveted weld web connections and welded flanges, to greatly reduce the very significant uneven stress distribution found in the conventionally-designed connection at the column/beam weld, through use of slots in column and/or beam webs with or without continuity plates in the area of the column between the column flanges, as well as, optionally, extended shear connections with additional columns of bolts for the purpose of reducing the stress concentration factor in the center of the flange welds.