Steel frame stress reduction connection

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The general object of the present invention is to provide new and improved beam to column connections.
The improved connection reduces stress and/or strain in beam to column connections caused by both static and dynamic loading.
The improved connection of the present invention extends the useful life of the steel frames of new buildings, as well as that of steel frames in existing buildings when incorporated into a retrofit modification made during repairs to existing buildings.
A further object is to provide an improved beam to column connection in a manner which generally evenly distributes static or dynamic loading, and stresses, across the connection so as to minimize high stress concentrations along the connection.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce a dynamic loading stress applied between the beam and the column flange connection of a steel frame structure.
Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce the variances in dynamic loading stress across the connection between the column and beam.
It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce the variances in dynamic loading stress across the beam to column connection by incorporation of at least one, and preferably several slots in the column web and/or the beam web near the connection of the beam flanges to the column flange.
It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce the strain rate applied between the beam and column flange of a steel frame structure during dynamic loading.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a means by which the plastic hinge point of a beam in a steel frame structure may be displaced along the beam away from the beam to column connection, if this feature may be desired by the design engineer.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the stresses and strains across the connection of the column and beam of a steel frame structure during static and dynamic loadings.
The present invention is based upon the discovery that non-linear stress and strain distributions due to static, dynamic or impact loads created across a full penetration weld of upper and lower beam flanges to a column flange in a steel frame structure magnify the stress and strain effects of such loading at the vertical centerline of the column flange