Splice connections – End plate

References

Packer, Jeffrey A. “Round HSS Bolted End-Plate Connections under Axial Tension Loading.” Steel Tube Institute, January 16, 2023. https://steeltubeinstitute.org/resources/round-hss-bolted-end-plate-connections-under-axial-tension-loading/.

Details

From the reference:

Determine the end-plate thickness and the number of bolts needed by LRFD, to resist a required tensile strength of Pu = 150 kips acting on a HSS 6.625 x 0.375 ASTM A500 Gr. C section. The end-plate material is ASTM A572 Gr. 50 and the bolts are 7/8-in. diameter ASTM F3125 Gr. A325-N. Assume that the tube-to-plate weld develops the HSS wall yield strength, which is a requirement of this design method. Set a = b = 1.5 in.

From “Japanese Method” above:
  • r1 = 0.5D +2b = 0.5(6.625) + 2(1.5) = 6.313 in.
  • r2 = 0.5D + b = 0.5(6.625) + 1.5 = 4.813 in.
  • r3 = (D – t)/2 = (6.625 – 0.349)/2 = 3.138 in.
  • k1 = ln(r2/r3) = ln(4.813/3.138) = 0.428
  • k3 = k1 + 2 = 2.428

Refer to the figure in the reference for additional details.

Results

Table 1.
Result Type Reference RAM Connection Difference Comments
End plate – Tensile strength of bolts – Intermediate results – k1 0.428 0.428 None
End plate – Tensile strength of bolts – Intermediate results – k3 2.428 2.428 None
End plate – Tensile strength of bolts – Intermediate results – f3 5.23 5.23 None
End plate – Tensile strength of bolts – Pr 160.81 160.81 None. The example determines the end plate thickness, but RAM Connection calculates the bolts capacity with an entered thickness in the connection PAD. With the results data we obtain same capacity as the reference.