ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the major structural connections between beams, columns and foundations in skeletal frames. The main types of connections are: beam-to-column face; beam-to-column head; column base plate to foundation; and column to pocket foundation. In some types of connectors, a vertical dowel passes through a tube in the beam and holes in the column insert. In the case of L beams, if the breadth of the upstand is such that a compressive strut may develop fully in the upstand, b may be taken as the breadth of the upstand. Beam-to-column connections are the most important connections in precast skeletal frames. Column anchorages are generally either fully anchored cast-in-sockets, or steel box or H-section cast-inserts. A 'column insert' is the name used to describe a steel section that is embedded in to precast columns in order to transfer shear and axial forces, and sometimes bending and torsion moments to the column.
