CONTINUITY PLATES BASIC STANDARDS AND TUTORIALS

Continuity Plate Thickness

Where continuity plates are required, the thickness of the plates shall be determined as follows:

(a) For one-sided (exterior) connections, continuity plate thickness shall be at least one-half of the thickness of the beam flange.

(b) For two-sided (interior) connections, the continuity plate thickness shall be at least equal to the thicker of the two beam flanges on either side of the column. Continuity plates shall also conform to the requirements of Section J10 of the AISC Specification.

Continuity Plate to Column Attachment

Continuity plates, if provided, shall be welded to column flanges using CJP groove welds. Continuity plates shall be welded to column webs using groove welds or fillet welds.

The required strength of the sum of the welded joints of the continuity plates to the column web shall be the smallest of the following:

(a) The sum of the design strengths in tension of the contact areas of the continuity plates to the column flanges that have attached beam flanges.

(b) The design strength in shear of the contact area of the plate with the column web.

(c) The design strength in shear of the column panel zone.

(d) The sum of the expected yield strengths of the beam flanges transmitting force to the continuity plates.

Continuity Plates Welding

Along the web, the corner clip shall be detailed so that the clip extends a distance of at least 11/2 in. (38 mm) beyond the published “k” detail dimension for the rolled shape. Along the flange, the plate shall be clipped to avoid interference with the radius of the rolled shape and shall be detailed so that the clip does not exceed a distance of 1/2 in. (12 mm) beyond the published “k1” detail dimension.

The clip shall be detailed to facilitate suitable weld terminations for both the flange weld and the web weld. When a curved clip is used, it shall have a minimum radius of 1/2 in. (12 mm).

At the end of the weld adjacent to the column web/flange juncture, weld tabs for continuity plates shall not be used, except when permitted by the engineer of record. Unless specified to be removed by the engineer of record, weld tabs shall not be removed when used in this location.

Where continuity plate welds are made without weld tabs near the column fillet radius, weld layers shall be permitted to be transitioned at an angle of 0° to 45° measured from the vertical plane. The effective length of the weld shall be defined as that portion of the weld having full size. Non destructive testing (NDT) shall not be required on the tapered or transition portion of the weld not having full size.

STEEL PLATES MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS BASICS AND TUTORIALS

STEEL PLATES BASIC INFORMATION - MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MANUFACTURING
What Are Steel Plates? What Are The Mechanical Properties Of Steel Plates?


This article covers hot-rolled uncoated steel plates with a minimum thickness of 3 mm, supplied flat or precurved
in any shape as required. Steel for cold forming is not within the scope of this article.


Manufacturing process
Rimming steel shall not be allowed and the steel shall be at least semi-killed in the deoxidation process. The plates may be produced directly on reversing mill, by cutting from parent plates rolled on reversing mill or hot rolled wide strips.

The plate edges may be as rolled or sheared, flame cut or chamfered. The products may be supplied in as rolled, normalized or quenched and tempered condition, or with controlled rolling (normalized rolling or thermo-mechanical rolling).


Strength
The nominal yield strength shall be in the range of 235 N/mm2 to 690 N/mm2. The nominal tensile strength shall be in the range of 300 N/mm2 to 1000 N/mm2.

Ductility
The elongation after fracture on proportional gauge length shall be at least 15 %, for nominal yield strength not greater than 460 N/mm2; and shall be at least 10 % for nominal yield strength greater than 460 N/mm2. The tensile strength to yield strength ratio shall be at least 1.2 based on nominal values, or at least 1.1 based on actual values, for nominal yield strength not greater than 460 N/mm2.

NOTE Conversion of elongation values measured not based on proportional gauge length is necessary and shall be performed according to BS EN ISO 2566-1.

Impact toughness
As a minimum, the product shall be able to absorb at least 27 J of impact energy at 20 °C. NOTE Depending on other factors including the thickness and minimum service temperature, the impact toughness should also conform to the appropriate requirements as given in BS 5950-1.

Through thickness deformation properties
Where appropriate, through thickness deformation properties shall be specified to guarantee adequate deformation capacity perpendicular to the surface to provide ductility and toughness against lamellar tearing.


Chemical composition
In general, based on ladle analysis, carbon content shall not exceed 0.26 %; maximum CEV and content of impurities shall be in accordance with the requirements given in Table 1.

NOTE 1 Interpolation for maximum content shall be allowed for design strength not given in Table 1.
NOTE 2 Depending on the product thickness or variation in metallurgical process and intended use, the requirements for chemical composition might vary and shall be referred to BS EN 10025-1, BS EN 10025 2, BS EN 10025-3, BS EN 10025-4, BS EN 10025-5 and BS EN 10025-6.

Table 1 — Chemical composition requirements for steel plates based on ladle analysis

Dimensional and mass tolerances

Dimensions

In general, the deviation in actual thickness from nominal plate thickness shall not exceed the larger of ± 2 mm and ± 10 %.

Mass

In general, the deviation in actual mass from mass computed using a density of 7850 kg/m3 shall be limited by the dimensional tolerances.