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Concrete Cover for Steel Headed Stud Anchors Connection Design Loads
AISC 360-10 Section I3.2c(1)(2) requires ½-in. clear We typically delegate the design of connections on our
cover between the top of the headed stud and the top projects. On one particular project, there is a bolted con-
of the concrete slab. We have a project with composite nection that is part of the seismic force resisting system
beams composed of steel beams with 3-in. metal deck, 3 and is required to be pretensioned with Class A surfaces
in. of concrete topping (a total slab thickness of 6 in.) and per AISC 341-10 Section D2.2(4). Under normal operat-
studs with a length of 5½ in. After the concrete pour, the ing conditions the connection will experience signifi-
total slab depth at certain locations has been determined cant load reversal and we would like to designate it as a
to be 5¾ in. This depth does not allow for the ½ in. clear slip-critical connection. However, we want to avoid the
cover over the studs. What is the basis of the ½-in. clear fabricator having to design this as slip-critical for the full
cover requirement? Is there a tolerance on this require- amplified seismic load that we specify on the drawings.
ment? Is there any way to calculate a reduced beam com- Is it an acceptable practice to provide multiple load cases
posite action capacity when the studs only have ¼ in. of (i.e., a serviceability load case for which the connection is
concrete cover above them? designed as a slip-critical joint and an amplified seismic
load case for which the connection is designed as a bearing
The ½-in. minimum reflects the minimum clear cover that joint)?
was used in the research that has been conducted on compos-
ite beams, and also is oriented toward preventing studs that Yes. The AISC Seismic Provisions language recognizes exactly what
protrude above the surface of the slab due to variations, such you are describing when it requires preparation for slip resistance
as in camber and slab thickness. I am not aware of any research but design for bearing values. Assuming you really do need a
that addresses the behavior of studs with less cover. The deter- slip-critical connection for the service-level loading, it would be
mination of appropriate reductions, if any at all, for studs with reasonable to give a separate loading condition for each case. The
less cover is not addressed by the AISC Specification and is a key is to make your intent clear in the contract documents. Dis-
matter of engineering judgment. From a pure strength stand- cuss it to be sure at the pre-detailing meeting, too.
point, the stud strength is based upon the concrete cone below I should point out that Section 4.2 of the RCSC Specifica-
the head, not the concrete above the head of the stud. tion (a free download from www.boltcouncil.org) requires
On future projects you might consider specifying shorter pretensioned, not slip-critical, connections for “joints that are
studs to allow for the usual variations. The minimum height subject to significant load reversal.” Section 4.3 requires slip-
in this application is 4½ in., but a 5-in. stud will give you tol- critical connections for “joints that are subject to fatigue load
erance both on the minimum height above the deck and the with reversal of the loading direction.” Therefore, the connec-
minimum cover over the top of the stud. tion need not be designed as slip-critical unless this is a fatigue
Erin Criste condition. In my experience talking with engineers there is a
lot of confusion on this point.
Minimum Dry Film Thickness Larry S. Muir, P.E.
If the contract documents for a project do not specify the
dry film thickness required for standard shop primer, is Weld Tabs
there a “standard” rule of thumb that we can use to meet Does AISC require the use of weld tabs in CJP-groove
minimum specifications? welded joints? What if the welds are specified as demand-
critical?
The minimum dry film thickness for shop primer is 1 mil
unless noted otherwise in the contract documents. This topic Weld tabs are used when specified by contract documents or
is addressed in AISC Code of Standard Practice Section 6.5.3, when deemed necessary by the contractor to provide ease in
which states: terminating welds at the end of a joint. Often they are needed,
“Unless otherwise specified in the contract documents, paint but not always. Accordingly, weld tabs are not mandated for
shall be applied by brushing, spraying, rolling, flow coating, use by AISC 360, AISC 341, AWS D1.1 or AWS D1.8. Fur-
dipping or other suitable means, at the election of the fabrica- ther, none of these documents require the use of weld tabs for
tor. When the term “shop coat,” “shop paint” or other equiva- demand-critical welds.
lent term is used with no paint system specified, the fabricator’s AISC 341-10 Section I2.3 and AWS D1.8 Clause 6.11 con-
standard shop paint shall be applied to a minimum dry-film tain provisions related to weld tab removal. These provisions
thickness of one mil [25 μm].” should not be viewed as implying that weld tabs must be used.
Heath Mitchell, S.E., P.E. They are simply provisions that apply to weld tab removal if
weld tabs happen to be used.
Keith Landwehr
 may 2013 MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION
 steel interchange
Heat Straightening Rust Guide
Can heat be used to straighten steel members that are I’m looking for the “American Rust Guide” that was pub-
bent or damaged during erection? Are there any precau- lished by AISC. Where can I obtain a copy?
tions that should be taken if the member is part of the
seismic force resisting system (SFRS)? The “Rust Guide” was created by an unrelated group that
merely had the same acronym as the American Institute of
Heat straightening is an acceptable method for repairing bent Steel Construction. That organization no longer exists.
members, as well as for inducing shop camber or sweep. The Our AISC was not involved in creating, distributing or sell-
AISC Specification section that contains the requirements for ing the “Rust Guide,” and to our knowledge the book has not
the use of heat in this way is M2.1 Cambering, Curving and been published for several decades. The only way to get a copy
Straightening, which states: now would be to purchase a used version on eBay, Amazon or
“Local application of heat or mechanical means is permit- the like, but it may be quite difficult and expensive (I have only
ted to be used to introduce or correct camber, curvature and seen a copy for sale once in my life).
straightness. The temperature of heated areas shall not exceed You may instead wish to see if perhaps any of the VIS series
1,100 °F (593 °C) for ASTM A514/A514M and ASTM A852/ of publications produced by the SSPC may meet your require-
A852M steel nor 1,200 °F (649 °C) for other steels.” ments, as they are far more recent and are actively produced:
The idea of providing an upper limit on temperature is to www.sspc.org.
provide a margin of safety against changing the metallurgi- Martin Anderson
cal structure in the heated region. Some engineering firms
may desire to be informed and provide approval before heat Stabilizer Plates
straightening is performed. This stipulation should be com- The 14th Edition AISC Steel Construction Manual con-
municated in the contract documents, since it is otherwise tains guidelines for checking whether stabilizer plates are
allowed by code. required when using extended single-plate connections.
The proper use of heat straightening is acceptable for steel I noticed that in Example II.A-19 of AISC Design Exam-
members in general, whether or not they are part of the SFRS. ples V 14.0 does not check this. Why is it not checked?
The AISC Seismic Provisions does not contain an exception to
AISC 360 Section M2.1. There is not any published guidance The flexural design provisions in AISC 360 Chapter F
that I am aware of that is specifically related to heat straight- assume that the beam ends are braced against rotation. The
ening members of the SFRS, so the use of heat straightening stabilizer plate checks are only necessary when there is no
becomes a matter of engineering judgment. The concern other means to brace the beam end other than using the
related to members of the SFRS is ductility and not strength. extended single plate. In cases where a floor diaphragm or
Bending something back and forth uses up some of the avail- discrete braces are used, the stabilizer plate checks are not
able ductility. In gravity loaded elements, this is usually not a necessary. Design Example II.A-19 states that the beam is
concern, but it may be for elements in which significant inelas- braced by the floor diaphragm and that is why the stabilizer
tic strain demand is expected. plate checks are not performed.
If the member or element to be straightened is part of an Heath Mitchell, S.E., P.E.
ordinary-type frame that is expected to have limited inelastic
deformation capacity, then you may be able to justify treating
it like any other steel member. In support of this, ordinary- The complete collection of Steel Interchange questions and answers is available online.
type frames do not have protected zones. Pins, welds, etc. Find questions and answers related to just about any topic by using our full-text search
capability. Visit Steel Interchange online at www.modernsteel.com.
are allowed in the zone where this limited ductility is relied
upon. However, if it is a special or intermediate-type frame, Heath Mitchell is director of technical assistance, Tom Schlafly is director of research, Martin
then the location of the area to be straightened should also Anderson is Steel Solutions Center Information Specialist and Erin Criste is staff engineer,
be considered. technical assistance at AISC. Keith Landwehr and Larry Muir are consultants to AISC.

If the area to be straightened is not located in the protected

Steel Interchange is a forum to exchange useful and practical professional ideas and
zone, then you may be able to justify the use of heat straight- information on all phases of steel building and bridge construction. Opinions and
ening for the same reasons as discussed for the ordinary-type suggestions are welcome on any subject covered in this magazine.

frame. If it is in the protected zone, a discussion with a metal- The opinions expressed in Steel Interchange do not necessarily represent an official position of
the American Institute of Steel Construction and have not been reviewed. It is recognized that the
lurgist is likely warranted. In this case, you might consider design of structures is within the scope and expertise of a competent licensed structural engineer,
stress relief (in accordance with AWS D1.1 Clause 5) as a architect or other licensed professional for the application of principles to a particular structure.
separate operation after heat straightening. Some restraint of If you have a question or problem that your fellow readers might help you solve, please
forward it to us. At the same time, feel free to respond to any of the questions that you
the element may be required to avoid distortion during the have read here. Contact Steel Interchange via AISC’s Steel Solutions Center:
stress relief.
1 E Wacker Dr., Ste. 700, Chicago, IL 60601
Heath Mitchell, S.E., P.E., and Thomas Schlafly tel: 866.ASK.AISC • fax: 312.803.4709
solutions@aisc.org

MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION may 2013