Moment frame connector

Abstract

A lateral bracing system is disclosed for affixing a column to a beam in a construction. The lateral bracing system includes a pair of buckling restraint plates, one each affixed to a top and bottom flange of a beam. The lateral bracing system further includes at least one yield plate for each buckling restraint plate. Each yield plate includes a first end affixed to the column, and a second end affixed to the beam.

1 . A lateral bracing system for use in constructions, the lateral bracing system comprising:
 a structural frame having a beam and a column; and   a buckling restraint plate affixed to the beam; and   a yield plate, between the buckling restraint plate and structural frame, the yield plate capable of yielding in tension and compression to dissipate stress within the frame upon a lateral load applied to the structural frame.   
     
     
         2 . A lateral bracing system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the buckling restraint plate and yield plate between allows omission of a lateral-torsional buckling restraint system on the beam. 
     
     
         3 . A construction including a beam and a column, the construction comprising:
 a buckling restraint plate of being affixed to an end of the beam, the buckling restraint plate including a first end nearest the end of the beam when the block is affixed to the beam and a second end opposite the first end; and   a yield member including a first end capable of being affixed to the column, and a second end capable of being affixed to the beam, the buckling restraint plate covering the yield member, the yield member capable of yielding in tension and compression to dissipate stress within the frame upon a lateral load applied to the beam and/or column.   
     
     
         4 . A construction as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the yield member includes a middle section having a lower strength than the first and second ends, the yield member yielding at the middle section upon a given tensile force. 
     
     
         5 . A construction as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the middle section has a smaller diameter than the first and second ends. 
     
     
         6 . A construction as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more spacers in between the beam and the buckling restraint plate, the one or more spacers being coplanar with the yield member. 
     
     
         7 . A construction, comprising:
 a column;   a beam;   a shear tab affixed between the column and beam; and   a lateral bracing system affixed between the column and beam, including:
 a pair of buckling restraint plates, one each on a top and bottom flange of the beam, each buckling restraint plate including a first end affixed to an end of the beam and a second end opposite the first end; and 
 a pair of yield members, each yield member including a first end affixed to the column, and a second end affixed to the beam, a yield member of the pair of yield members capable of yielding in tension and compression to dissipate stress within the frame upon a lateral load applied to the beam and/or column. 
   
     
     
         8 . A construction as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first end of the yield member is bolted to the column and the second end of the yield member is bolted to the beam. 
     
     
         9 . A construction as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising one or more spacers in between the beam and the buckling restraint plate, the one or more spacers being coplanar with the yield member. 
     
     
         10 . A method of assembling a frame having a beam, column and lateral bracing system therebetween, comprising the steps of:
 (a) bolting a yield member to a first one of the beam and column;   (b) affixing a buckling restraint plate to the beam, covering a yield plate of the yield member; and   (c) bolting the yield member to a second one of the beam and column.   
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , said step (a) of affixing a buckling restraint member to a first one of the beam and column comprising the step of affixing the buckling restraint member to one of the beam and column prior to the beam and column arriving at a worksite. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , the yield member affixed in said step (a) and the buckling restraint plate affixed in said step (b) together resisting lateral deflection of the beam relative to the column, but yielding at the yield plate of the yield member upon loads above a threshold level. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , the yield plate affixed in said step (a) and the buckling restraint plate affixed in said step (b) together resisting lateral deflection of the beam relative to the column by placing tensile loads on the yield plate by the yield plate being constrained against yielding by the yield strength of the yield plate. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 10 , the yield plate affixed in said step (a) and the buckling restraint plate affixed in said step (b) together resisting lateral deflection of the beam relative to the column by placing compressive forces on the yield plate by the yield plate being constrained against buckling by the buckling restraint plate.