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Home Vibration and Earthquake Isolation Connector-for-connecting-beams-to-columns

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 Connector for connecting beams to columns

Details
Inventors: Beauvoir, Charles Henri;
Assignee: ICF Kaiser Engineers, Inc. (Fairfax, VA)
Primary Examiner: Browne; Lynne H.
Assistant Examiner: Garcia; Ernesto
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis, LLP

A connector according to the present invention includes a bulk head for connection to a column and a plate extending from the bulk head for connection to a beam. The connector is preferably die cast for ease of manufacturing to avoid welded connections which may provide structural weaknesses. The bulk head has a compact tapered shape which provides a reduced surface area end surface coming into contact with the column. This reduced contact area of the end surface provides an advantageous configuration which avoids the prying action of the prior art T-shaped brackets. The plate which extends from the bulk head is adapted to be welded to a beam and includes a tapered portion that diminishes in a width dimension as the tapered portion extends away from the second surface to a free end. Preferably, the plate includes one or more tuning holes for adjusting the yield strength of the plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A connector for connecting columns to beams according to the present invention addresses the disadvantages of other connectors because by being designed to yield before the connected column or beam.
In this way a connector according to the present invention acts as a "fuse" within a column and beam structure.
That is, the connector yields before the major components of the structure (columns and beams).
In addition, a connector according to the present invention eliminates the need to increase column sizes over and above earthquake design forces in order to cause the beam to yield before the connector or the column yields.
Also, a connector according to the present invention places the hinging/failure point closer to the column than known connectors and thus reduces the secondary moments the column must be designed to withstand in the event of a catastrophic loading event.
As a result, the overall beam and column structure is more economical.
Also, a connector according to the present invention provides an improvement in repair economy by promoting the yielding of the connector instead of yielding of the beam.
Thus, an element of much smaller size needs to be repaired or replaced after a catastrophic loading event.
Further, a connector according to the present invention, eliminates the lever effect (prying action) of known connectors.
Thus, reducing the size of the bolts required to connect the device to the column.
As seen in FIGS.
1-5, the connector 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a bulk head 12 for connection to a column and a plate 14 extending from the bulk head for connection to a beam.
The connector 10 is preferably die cast for ease of manufacturing and to avoid welded connections within the connector which may create structural weaknesses within the connector.
The bulk head 12 has a compact tapered shape which reduces the surface area at the end surface 16 of the bulk head Which comes into contact with the column


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