| This report investigates a new design method for single-plate steel connections that use the conventional configuration as described by the current AISC steel manual and the effects that this new design method has on connection strength. The current AISC steel manual ignores eccentricity of loading for single-plate connections having nine bolts or fewer. In addition, the current AISC steel manual does not include a von Mises yielding criterion check for connection plates. The new design method presented in this thesis considers eccentricity for all bolt counts and includes von Mises yielding criterion checks for single-plate steel connections. The intent of this investigation is to explore the statics of single-plate connections, the eccentricity of applied loads, and the effects that eccentricity has on the bolts, weld and plate as described by historical and modern design recommendations. In addition, research studies from past investigators are explored. AISC advice on connection design from the past thirty years is compared to the current AISC steel manual and differences in connection strengths are reported. A new design method is described and compared to the current AISC design method in order to show that it is a better way to design single-plate connections. |
