Beam To Column Connection

You don't give enough information, like weight, length of cantilever, static or dynamic load, what does the column rest on, etc.

How about hot rivets, or is that a lost art?

A high strength bolt will beat a rivet any day of the week.

Better you recommend the TC bolts have same effect but no noise no problems developed for structural assembly.

Hot rivets are less and less used since other designs bring same properties with less efforts and at a lower cost.

There are two types of connection i.e moment connection and shear connection. The moment connection restraints all degrees of freedom. For moment connection you have to bolt the beam with column with a gusseting plates(optional) in between.

Hopes this is answer to your question.

Regards

Ikram Ali Khan

The choice of bolts or welds depends on several factors:

-labour rates for welders versus steel erectors in your area

-availability of qualified welders for field welding

-if testing of welds will be required

-if column flanges need reinforcement

-if column steel is weldable

-ease of access to all sides of column for welding or bolting

-sufficient clearance for a bolted beam end plate

Just a few of the design parameters to be considered.

You said that you wish to connect it to and existing column. With out knowledge of what the column supports. Or how much weight you wish to hang on it. I would be remiss to give any answer. First you need to find out if the column will hold the weight you propose to hang on it. Is it there to support a different function. Like holding up the roof? How will the cantilever beam and the weight effect that function.

I won't profess to be an expert, but i will definitely use bolts. You dont give sizes or specs but the correct number of bolts will serve you well. If your welder makes a slip in his welding skills you could end up shearing the weld. For maintainance sake. the beam and all its components, including the holes can be prepared and treated against corrosion. At a later stage you may even remove the beam and redo the protection. With welding there are no such protection. Welded joints ALWAYS find an ingress of moisture of some kind. So short answert: Use bolts.

Hello Guest,

We really need some more information from you in order to develop this thread and give you an adequate (and safe) answer.

First Group of Questions: Is the column existing? Steel? Do you know the steel grade, ASTM Designation, and it's Yield Strength? AISC Designation (ie, size)? Height above it's foundation or the base restraint? Are there intermediary and top restraints? If so, what are they (ie, horizontal beams, type of connections, sizes, and which axis)? Do you know the foundation details (ie, footing area x depth, concrete strength [Compressive Strength, f'c], rebar placement depth inside footing, rebar size and ASTM Designation/Grade/Yield Strength, column centered over footing?, column baseplate details and restraints if any, and how arranged?). {Note: These questions need to be answered in order to determine if the column, as well as the existing foundation, have adequate capacity to carry existing loads in addition to the proposed Bending Moment and Axial Load imparted into the column by the new cantilevered beam.}

Second Group of Questions: Load at end of your cantilever beam? Load direction (gravity load only)? How was this load derived/determined (by state Building Code, ANSI, BOCA etc)? Please submit your calculations and methodology. Length of cantilever beam as measured from face of column & column centerline? AISC beam designation for the cantilever beam? Was beam already designed or does it need to be done? Beam ASTM material designation, steel grade and yield strength? Exactly what is being supported by this cantilevered (floors, cranes, machinery? Any equipment vibrations>). {Note: These questions need to be answered in order to determine if the new beam has been adequately designed for the new loads and other conditions.}

Third Group of Questions: Have you ever designed any steel constructs before using the AISC Manual of Steel Construction? Are you familiar with your state Building Code or other applicable structural codes? Where is this construction occurring (ie, setting)?

I would strongly recommend that the Moment Connections at the top and bottom flanges of the new cantilevered beam be welded by a Certified Welder. The web connection (to transfer the beam reaction) can be a pair of steel angles that feature High Strength Steel 5/8" or 3/4" ASTM A325-F (Friction) bolts, nuts and washers located at the beam web withing short slotted holes (in the beam web). After final adjustment of the angle pair the slotted holes must be welded closed. The outstanding legs of the angles must be field welded to the face of the column. If the beam & column steel is ASTM A36 or another similar steel grade, then I strongly suggest using E70XX welding electrodes for the fillet welds needed.

Provide us with an isometric sketch of the proposed and existing framing.....Also, your location!

Awaiting your reply.....

Signed CaptMoosie, NYS LPE/PhD

Civil/Structural/Environmental Engineer

To connect a cantilever beam to an existing column

On further reflection on your question, I can deduce that the column is holding up a floor or roof above. That being the case, A plate or plates will need to be welded to the column; the beam bolted to those plates and tie rods to tie the end of the beam back to the column. Still don't have enough information to go any further. Do you need the beam to swivel or can it be fixed? Length of column, diameter and wall thickness, distance between floor and beam, etc. Can't do anything without the last four pieces of information.