Joe,
Section 11.1 of the Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings, AISC 341-05 says:
“While these provisions for OMF were primarily developed for use with wide flange shapes, with judgment, they may also be applied to other shapes such as channels, built-up sections, and hollow structural sections (HSS)”
In the situation where column meets beam and the column does not continue past beam, cut ends of column and beam at 45, backing can be installed for this joint.
Where column does run past beam, cut notch in column in a V shape (female end) and cut end of beam in a V shape (male end) to insert into the column notch. This joint also will be able to receive backing plates.
You are correct that when trying to join the beam to the column face, full pen welds are nearly impossible.
Regards,
Mark D. Baker
Baker Engineering
From: Joseph R. Grill [mailto:jrgrill@cableone.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:28 PM
To:
Subject: SDC D Ordinary Moment frame connection using HSS sections
Can HSS sections be used in an Ordinary Moment Frame in a SDC D. I can’t see, in the seismic design manual, where it is specifically excluded, but I can’t find any information for the HSS Beam to HSS column connection design. It seems that it can’t be done since a full pen weld is difficult if not impossible to do for a HSS beam to HSS Column face. If there is an example out there I would love to see it. I am doing some work for a fabricator and they are expecting HSS sections due to what is seen in the construction documents. I have to let him know real soon if he will need to go to wide flange members.
Thanks for the help,
Joe Grill
Joseph R. Grill, PE
Ph. (928) 600-5459
Fax (928) 649-3659
email: VVEng@cableone.net