High Strength Connectors

Yes! See photographs from “St. Lambert” project for an example.

We can offer fabrication if the project fabricator would like. We don’t usually like to provide fabrication pricing during bid, but after the contract is awarded we can offer to fabricate.

No, they must be welded to the tube in the shop by the fabricator. We supply only the “blank” connectors.

One only need assemble a jig with four wheels sufficient to hold and turn the tubes, a variable speed motor with belt to rotate the brace at the rate required for the welding of the connector to the tube. Anything from dolly wheels to light trailer wheels can be considered and obtained, for example, at an auto scrap yard or auto supply store.

No. We provide a Sample WPS/PQR that your welding engineer can use as a starting point to tailor to your equipment, procedures and practices. We will also provide you with two weld test plates of the cast steel material for the actual weld tests. We can ship the test plates ahead of the rest of the order.

As the material we use, ASTM A958 SC8620 80/50, is not yet a pre-qualified base metal per AWS / CWB, a WPS needs to be developed and verified via PQR and testing. Note, however, that the joint is similar to a pre-qualified TYK.

No. As the taper of the beveled nose of the HCS is 60 degrees, when inserted into the tube it forms the backing necessary for a weld. The joint configuration is similar to a revolved TYK joint. The sample WPS/PRQ provided in ESR 3031 offers more detail including suggested root gaps.

Provided there is contact on the area of the annular ring around the bolt, this is not cause for concern.

No, as the specific pattern is determined by the Engineer for the forces to be resisted, bolts diameter and connection type (bearing or slip-resistant). Fabricator will drill the holes according to detail drawings. In addition, drilling the holes after the connectors are welded to the brace can help ensure that the distance between the connections is correct.

Yes. Note, however, that the vent holes typically drilled into galvanized members should not be drilled in to braces fitted with HSCs in seismic applications, as this will result in a reduced section in the protected zone. Another consideration when galvanizing HSCs is the gusset thickness. Four layers of galvanizing (each face of the gusset and the two inside faces of the HSC plates) will result in a tight fit between the gusset and the connector plates. In this case, customers may wish to detail the connections using a reduced gusset thickness.

To ensure that the centre-to-centre of the bolt hole patterns on either end of the brace is correct, we often recommend:

Yes, provided that it has been checked for all applicable failure modes for RyFyAg of the connected brace AND shims are added in the HSC connections to bring the total thickness of gusset and shims to equal that of the recommended gusset plate thickness.

We can supply domestically produced connectors, but it’s best if we know of this requirement before the tender so that we can anticipate the order in our inventory.

You can specify the product using language like “Cast Connex High Strength Connectors or approved alternate” but, if an alternate is proposed by the contractor, the engineer should consider whether it is truly a valid alternate i.e. The connection is seismically admissible and meets any aesthetic requirements (if aesthetics matter in the application).

Yes.

Yes they do. The AISC Seismic Provisions require that OCBF connections be designed for lesser of the amplified seismic force or the expected tensile strength. If the expected tensile strength governs, the HSC is still the best way to design the connections.

Yes. Although pipe is called out in round numbers, the outer diameter is actually the same as its HSS cousin. Thus we designed the HSC to work for diameters that are available in both pipe and HSS.

Square and rectangular HSS are not as ductile as round HSS and pipe due to the cold forming required to bend them into shape. Also, welding to round HSS is easier; a square or rectangular tube would require handling the part three times to down-hand weld around the circumference. On a turning roll, the HSC can be welded continuously in the down-hand position.

Lead times vary by quantity and connector size and type; but, since we do keep some inventory of all our connectors, shorter than normal lead times can be arranged. Typical lead times are generally 6-10 weeks.