2/17/23, 5:43 PM AISC Connection Design Example | SkyCiv Engineering

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Steel Connections using AISC 360-16  AISC 360:
Shear Connection Design Example

AISC 360: 

Shear
Connection
Design Example
AISC Connection Design
Example

This tutorial provides an AISC

connection design example. Shear
connections between I-shaped
sections are some of the most
common connections in steel design.
To help understand the required
design checks in accordance with
AISC 360, this article will use a design
example to explain them. With this
type of connection, we can also
quickly get to the results of this
example through the use of the
SkyCiv Connection Design module.
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Make sure to check out the additional

article on designing a moment
connection.

The calculations presented here will

be using the Allowable Stress Design
(ASD) method. If you aren’t familiar
with the difference between ASD and
LRFD in structural design, make sure
to check out our video explaining
this.

AISC Connection Design

Manual

For this example, we are going to be

evaluating the capacity of a single-
plate connection between a W16x50
beam and a W14x90 column using
the dimensions and bolts shown
below. This connection needs to be
able to support the beam end
reactions.

FREE CONNECTION
D E S I G N C A L C U L AT O R

Given:

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Service Level Loads & Material:

Reaction from Dead Load (RD) = 8.0

kips
Reaction from Live Load (RL) = 25.0
kips

Plate Material: ASTM A36, Fy = 36

ksi, Fu = 58 ksi
Beam and Column Material: ASTM
A992, Fy = 50 ksi, Fu = 65 ksi

Beam and Column Geometry:

Beam: W16x50; tw = 0.380 in, d =

16.3 in., t f = 0.630 in
Column: W14x90; tf = 0.710 in.
Shear Plate: 1/4 in thick; 4 1/2 in x 11
in dimensions

Fixtures (Bolts and Welds):

(4) – 3/4-in.-diameter ASTM A325-N
bolts in standard holes

70-ksi electrode fillets

Load Calculation:

LRFD:

Ultimate Reaction (Ru) = 1.2(8.0 kips)

+ 1.6(25.0 kips) = 49.6 kips

ASD:

Allowable Reaction (Ra) = 8.0 kips +

25 kips = 33.0 kips

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3D Model of the Connection in the

SkyCiv Connection Module

Using the SkyCiv Connection Design

software, the different parts of the
connection will now be checked in
accordance with the Section J checks
of AISC 360:

Web Plate Shear Yielding (W14x90)

Allowable Shear Capacity:Allowable
Shear Capacity: Ω = 1.5

Rav = (0.6 Fy Agv / Ω) = [ 0.6 (36 ksi)

(0.25 in) 11.5 in / 1.5 ] = 41.4 kips

Design capacity ratio, DCR:

required shear,  Rv = 33.0 kips
overall capacity, Rav = 41.4 kips
DCR = (33.0 / 41.4) = 0.797, OK

Web Plate to W14x90 Flange, Weld

Strength
Strength of Fillet Welds: Ω = 2.0
Weld Size, t = 0.1875 in
Fnw = 0.6 FEXX

Fnw = 0.6 FEXX [ 1.0 + 0.5 sin^1.5 θ ]

θ = the angle which the load makes
with the weld axis 
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= 90, for transversely loaded welds

= 0, for longitudinally loaded welds

Strength per unit size of

weld:Strength per unit size of weld:
Allowable weld stress, Faw = [ 0.6
(70) / 2.0 ] = 21 ksi
transverse length, lt = 23 in
longitudinal length, ll = 0 in
total effective length, l = lt (1.5)
+  ll (1.0) = 23 (1.5) +  0 (1.0) = 34.5 in
(Ra / t) = 724.5 kips / in

Effective size (throat) of fillet weld, a:

0.707 = the cosine or sine of 45deg
a = (0.707) t = 0.133 in

Ra = (Ra /t) t = 724.5 (0.133 in) = 96.1

kips

Design capacity ratio, DCR:

required load,  R = 33.0 kips
overall capacity, Ra = 96.1 kips
DCR = (33.0 / 96.1) = 0.344, OK

Web Plate Shear Rupture (W16x50)

Allowable Shear Capacity: Ω = 2.0

Calculation of net depth:

total length of bolt hole(s) = 0.875 in
(4) = 3.5 in
net depth, dnet = 11.5 in − [ 0.875 in
(4) ] = 8.0 in

Rav = (0.6 Fy Anv / Ω) = [ 0.6 (58 ksi)

(0.25 in) 8 in / 2.0 ] = 34.8 kips

Design capacity ratio, DCR:

required shear,  Rv = 33.0 kips

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overall capacity, Rav = 34.8 kips

DCR = (33.0 / 34.8) = 0.948, OK

Web Plate to W16x50 Web, Block

Shear Rupture Strength
Block Shear Strength: Ω = 2.0

(Ra / Ω) = (Ubs Fu Ant / Ω) + min [ 0.6

Fy Agv , 0.6 Fu Anv ] / Ω

Tension Rupture
Component: Ubs=1.0 (uniform
tension)
(Ubs Fu Ant / Ω) = [ 1.0 (58 ksi)
(1.0625 in) (0.25 in) / 2.0 ] = 30.8
kips/in (0.25 in) = 7.7 kips

Shear Yielding Component:  0.6 Fy

Agv
(0.6 Fy Agv / Ω) = [ 0.6 (36 ksi) (10.25
in) / 2.0 ] (0.25) = 110.7 kips/in (0.25
in) = 27.7 kips

Shear Rupture Component:  0.6 Fu

Anv
(0.6 Fu Anv / Ω) = [ 0.6 (58 ksi)
(7.1875 in) / 2.0 ] (0.25 in) = 125.1
kips/in (0.25 in) = 31.3 kips

Total Block Shear Capacity:Total

Block Shear Capacity:
(Ra / Ω)= 7.7 kips  + min [ 27.7
kips , 31.3 kips ] = 35.4 kips

Design capacity ratio, DCR:

required shear,  Rv = 33.0 kips
overall capacity, Rav = 35.4 kips
DCR = (33.0 / 35.4) = 0.933, OK

 
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Web Plate to W16x50 Web, Bolt

Group Shear, and Bearing Check
1. Shear Strength of Bolts: Ω = 2.0

Bolt Diameter = 0.768 in

Nominal Shear Strength, Fnv = 54 ksi
Nominal Shear Strength (per
bolt), Rnv = 0.6 Fnv Ab = 0.6 (54
ksi) 0.463 in^2 = 25.0 kips
(Rnv / Ω) =12.5 kips / bolt

2. Bearing Strength of Standard Bolt

Holes: Ω = 2.0
(Ignoring bolt hole deformation at
service load level)

edge distance, le = 0.84 in

(clear)distance to adjacent hole, lc =
2.19 in
Since edge distance is less than the
adjacent distance to the next bolt
hole, edge distance will control:
(Rnb / Ω) = (1.2 lc t Fu / Ω) ≤ (2.4 d t Fu
/ Ω)

For the outer bolt (tearout), lc = 0.84

in:
Rnb = 1.2 lc t Fu =1.2 (0.84 in) 0.25 in
(58 ksi) = 18.4 kips
(Rnb / Ω) = 9.2 kips

For the inner bolt (tearout), lc = 2.19

in:
Rnb = 1.2 lc t Fu = 1.2 (2.19 in) 0.25 in
(58 ksi) = 47.6 kips
(Rnb / Ω) = 23.8 kips

For overall bearing (bolt hole

elongation):
Rnb = 2.4 d t Fu = 2.4 (0.8125 in) 0.25

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in (58 ksi) = 33.4 kips

(Rnb / Ω) = 16.7 kips

Bearing will control over bolt shear

since 9.2 kips < 12.5 kips

3. Capacity of Bolt Group

Considering the minimum among:
bolt shear capacity, bearing and
tearing in inner and outer bolt holes.

a). Capacity of outer bolt (as

established above):
(outer bolt) , Rab = 9.2 kips / bolt

b). Capacity of inner bolt (as

established above):
(inner bolt) , Rab = 12.5 kips / bolt

c). Capacity of the bolts as a group:

sum of the capacities a). and b).
Rab = 1 (9.2 kips / bolt) + 3 (12.5 kips
/ bolt) = 46.7 kips

Design capacity ratio, DCR:

required shear,  R = 33.0 kips
overall capacity, Rab = 46.7 kips
DCR = (33.0 / 46.7) = 0.707, OK

Web Element Shear Rupture

(W16x50)
Allowable Shear Capacity: Ω = 2.0

Calculation of net depth:Calculation

of net depth:
total length of bolt hole(s) = 0.875 in
(4) = 3.5 in
net depth, dnet =16.3 − [ 0.875 in (4) ]
= 12.8 in 
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Rav = (0.6 Fy Anv / Ω) = [ 0.6 (58 ksi)

(0.38 in) 12.8 / 2.0 ] = 84.6 kips

Design capacity ratio, DCR:

required shear,  Rv = 33.0 kips
overall capacity, Rav = 84.6 kips
DCR = (33.0 / 84.6) = 0.390, OK

Web Element, Bolt Group Shear and

Bearing Check

1. Shear Strength of Bolts: Ω = 2.0

Bolt Diameter = 0.768 in
Nominal Shear Strength, Fnv = 54 ksi
Nominal Shear Strength (per
bolt), Rnv = 0.6 Fnv Ab = 0.6 (54
ksi) 0.463 in^2 = 25.0 kips
(Rnv / Ω) =12.5 kips

2. Bearing Strength of Standard Bolt

Holes: Ω = 2.0
(Ignoring bolt hole deformation at
service load level)
edge distance, le = 0.84 in
(clear) distance to adjacent hole, lc =
2.19 in

Since edge distance is less than the

adjacent distance to the next bolt
hole, edge distance will control.
(Rnb / Ω) = (1.2 lc t Fu / Ω) ≤ (2.4 d t Fu
/ Ω)

For the outer bolt (tearout), lc = 0.84

in:
Rnb = 1.2 lc t Fu = 1.2(0.84 in) 0.38 in
(58 ksi) = 27.9 kips
(Rnb / Ω) = 13.9 kips

For the inner bolt (tearout), lc = 2.19

in:
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Rnb = 1.2 lc t Fu = 1.2 (2.19 in) 0.38 in

(58 ksi) = 72.3 kips
(Rnb / Ω) = 36.2 kips

For overall bearing (bolt hole

elongation):
Rnb = 2.4 d t Fu = 2.4 (0.8125 in) 0.38
in (58 kksi) = 50.8 kips
(Rnb / Ω) = 25.4 kips

Bolt shear will control over bearing

since 12.5 kips < 13.9 kips

3. Capacity of Bolt Group

Considering the minimum among:
bolt shear capacity, bearing and
tearing in inner and outer bolt holes.

a). Capacity of outer bolt (as

established above):
(outer bolt), Rab = 12.5 kips / bolt

b). Capacity of inner bolt (as

established above):
(inner bolt), Rab = 12.5 kips / bolt

c). Capacity of the bolts as a group:

sum of the capacities a). and b)
Rab = 12.5 kips + 3(12.5 kips) =
50.0 kips

Design capacity ratio, DCR:

required shear,  R = 33.0 kips
overall capacity, Rab = 50.0 kips
DCR = (33.0 / 50.0) = 0.660, OK

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Summary Table for all the critical

checks

Alternatively, if you are already an

experienced engineer and are
familiar with the design process for a
simple shear connection, the process
can be substantially shortened,
thanks to the design tables offered in
the AISC 360 Design Manual:

Bolt Shear, Weld Shear, and Bolt

Bearing, Shear Yielding, Shear
Rupture, and Block Shear Rupture of
the Plate

Try four rows of bolts, 1/4-in. plate

thickness, and 3/16-in. fillet weld
size.

From AISC Manual Table 10-10a:

LRFD

Rn = 52.2 kips > 49.6 kips, OK

ASD

Rn = 34.8 kips > 33.0 kips = Ra, OK

Bolt Bearing for Beam Web

Block shear rupture, shear yielding

and shear rupture will not control for 
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an un-coped section.

From AISC Manual Table 10-1, for an

un-coped section, the beam web
available strength is:

LRFD

Rn = 351 kips/in. (0.380 in.) = 133

kips > 49.6 kips = Ru, OK

ASD

Rn = 234 kips/in. (0.380 in.) = 88.9

kips > 33.0 kips = Ra, OK

The AISC connection design example

shown above is done under ASD (the
pdf version is available here: ASD
Connection Design Report.pdf ).
Similarly, the LRFD version example
can be found in this link: LRFD
Connection Design.pdf.

Mico Dalistan
Product Developer
BEng (Civil)

REFERENCES:

AISC 360 Specification Structural

Steel Buildings
AISC Design Examples v14.1
(EXAMPLE II.A-17, pages IIA-60 to
61)
SkyCiv Connection Design Software:
https://skyciv.com/structural-
software/connection-design/

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 Still stuck? How can we help?

Updated on December 7, 2022

← AISC 360: Moment Connection

Design Example

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