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Calculation of Transfer Forces in Steel Structures

Bo Dowswell*
* Principal, Structural Design Solutions, LLC. Adjunct Professor, The University of
Alabama at Birmingham. 2806 Ruffner Road, Suite 106, Birmingham, AL 35210;
PH 205-836-2551; bo@sdsengineering.net.
Abstract
Transfer forces are loads that are transmitted across joints in a structure. The
determination transfer forces can be time consuming, but is an essential step in the
design of safe and economical structures. This paper describes why the connection
configuration must be determined before the transfer forces can be calculated. An
example is presented that shows how to calculate the transfer forces for a simple
struct ure.
Introduction
Transfer forces are loads that are transmitted across joints in a structure. For
connections to be designed properly, the transfer forces must be communicated to the
connection designer. For small, simple structures, the force paths can be easily
identified, but for more complicated structures, such as the one shown in Figure 1, the
force paths are not obvious, especially if multiple load cases are considered.
Figure 1. Elevation of a braced frame.
Influence of Connections
The connection configuration must be determined before the transfer forces can be
calculated. A standard vertical bracing connection is shown in Figure 2. When this
type of connection is used, the transfer forces can be calculated assuming that the
Copyright ASCE 2004 Structures 2004
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horizontal component of the brace load is transferred through the gusset-to-beam
interface, and the vertical component is transferred through the gusset-to-column
interface. Technically, this assumption may not be true, because the connection
designer may choose to transfer the forces in a different way, but if the connections
are designed correctly, the end result will be as assumed. This assumption is not
correct if the gusset plate is only attached at one interface as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 2. Standard vertical brace connection.
Gusset plate welded directly to column. Gusset plate welded directly to beam.
Figure 3. Non-standard vertical brace connections.
Standard horizontal bracing connections are shown in Figure 4. When these
connections are used, the components of the brace force are transferred directly to the
beams. The components at each gusset-to-beam interface are parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the beam.
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Beam-to-beam interface Beam-to-column interface
Figure 4. Standard horizontal brace connections.
Diaphragm Forces
Forces in the horizontal plane of a structure can be transferred to the vertical bracing
system with a horizontal bracing system or a diaphragm. If a diaphragm is used, the
forces can be transferred to the struts using deck welds, deck screws, or composite
studs. Forces can also be transferred from a concrete floor diaphragm into the column
by bearing directly on the column. The forces will then be transferred from the
column into the strut.
Vertical Transfer Forces
There can never be an all-inclusive guide to transfer forces, because engineers are
always creating new structural configurations. Some connections where transfer
forces are commonly overlooked are truss panel point connections and inverted V-
brace connections. Figure 5 shows a truss panel point with a vertical transfer force
across the chord due to the purlin load. Usually, the forces in the truss web members
will be provided to the connection designer as the maximum forces for all load cases
(enveloped forces). If only the enveloped forces are provided, there is not an accurate
way to calculate the unbalanced vertical load that is transferred from the gusset plate
to the chord. In most cases, if the transfer force is not shown, the gusset-to-chord
interface will be designed for the horizontal force only. Figure 6 shows an inverted
V-brace with a vertical transfer force due to the gravity floor load.
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Figure 5. Truss panel point.
Figure 6. Inverted V-brace.
Example
The structure is shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11. Figure 9 shows level 2, Figure 10
shows level 3, and Figure 11 shows each of three different vertical bracing systems
that are typical along lines A and B. Standard connections will be assumed, and the
transfer forces will be determined for each of the three vertical bracing systems
shown. The structure has a horizontal bracing system at Level 2, and a diaphragm at
Level 3. An 80 kip lateral load is applied at Level 2 Simultaneously with a 100 k
lateral load applied at level 3. The forces will be calculated by hand and will not
include the effects of member stiffness. Figure 12 shows the forces entering the
beams from the diaphragm and horizontal bracing. Figure 13 shows the transfer
forces and axial loads in the beams.
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Figure 7. Plan at level 2.
Figure 8. Plan at level 3.
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Vertical bracing system 1. Vertical bracing system 2. Vertical bracing system 3.
Figure 9. Elevation along lines A and B.
Vertical bracing system 1. Vertical bracing system 2. Vertical bracing system 3.
Figure 10. Forces entering beams from diaphragm and horizontal bracing.
Vertical bracing system 1. Vertical bracing system 2. Vertical bracing system 3.
Figure 11. Transfer forces and axial loads in beams.
This example clearly shows that the axial load in the beam is not a good indicator of
the transfer force. The transfer force at level 2 and column line 2 of vertical bracing
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system 3 is 70 k. The axial load in the beams at level 2 is 10 k. If the designer used
the beam axial load to design the beam-to-column connection, the connection could
be overstressed by 700%. The opposite problem happens at the same location in
vertical bracing system 1. The axial load in the beam is 80 k, but the transfer force is
20 k. In this case, using the axial load instead of the transfer force would be
conservative, but this could cause the connection to be much more expensive than is
required. Also, as the axial load capacity of a connection increases, so does the
moment stiffness. When a beam-to-column connection is stiff, unwanted gravity
moment can be transferred into the column due to the beam end rotation.
The transfer force will be zero at column lines 1 and 3 for all three vertical bracing
configurations. For structures that have very heavy column loads, the beam-to-
column connections should be designed for the force required to brace the columns.
This example was very simple, but for most real structures, the determination transfer
forces can be a time consuming, but essential step in the design of a safe and
economical structure.
Conclusion
The determination transfer forces is an essential step in the design of safe and
economical structures. For connections to be designed properly, they must be
communicated to the connection designer. The example showed that the axial load in
the beam is not a good indicator of the transfer force.
Copyright ASCE 2004 Structures 2004
Structures 2004
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