Faculty Syllabus

Course Description
WLDG 2471: Structural Connections. A continuation of WLDG 1417: Introduction to Layout
and Fabrication. Covers design and production of shop layout, fabrication, and field erection of
critical building and bridge moment connections. Emphasis placed on symbols, blueprints, and
written specifications. This is the Capstone Experience course for the Plate Welding Certificate.
Course Fee: $50.00; Course type: W;
Prerequisites
WLDG1457: Intermediate Shielded Metal Arc Welding.

Textbook
Jeffus, Larry, Welding: Principles and Applications, Delmar Publishers, Inc., current
edition.

This excellent textbook provides a great deal of specific instruction and reference mate-
rial on theory and applied welding skills. It can be purchased at the Campus Bookstore

or online.
The following codebooks are optional because of their high prices and because only a
portion of them applies directly to this course. However, you should purchase them if
you intend to pursue a career in welding or inspecting structural connections, and your
instructor can assist you in ordering them directly from the professional organizations
that publish them.
Much of their information treats overall structural design, and our in this course is on
fabrication procedures specific to welding. Your instructor will provide information
from these sources as you proceed through the course and construct the structural joints
in the Project List that follows.
• American Welding Society, AWS D1.1: 2010: Structural Welding Code—Steel
• American Institute of Steel Construction, AISC 360-10: Specification for Structural
Steel Buildings

PROJECT LIST

Column-to-Column Splice Using W-Shapes

Project Number Skill Course Completion
Fit-Up
1. Cut Columns ...........Assess lengths to accommodate later horizontal beams ................ 2%
2. Top Column ............Cut weld access cope holes at top for cap plate ............................. 4%
3. Top Column ............Ream 13/16" horizontal hole pattern for web intersections ........... 6%
4. Top Column ............Cut weld access cope holes at bottom and single-bevel joints ...... 8%
5. Bottom Column .......Cut weld access cope holes at top and square-but joints ............. 10%
6. Cut Cap Plate ..........Prep for fit to top column ............................................................. 12%
7. Cut base Plate ..........Ream 15/16" hole pattern for anchor bolts .................................. 14%
8. Cut Stiffeners ..........Assess elevations to accommodate beams later ........................... 16%
9. Cut Shear Plates ......Ream 13/16” bolt hole pattern to accept beam webs ................... 18%
Execution
All welds are to be made out of position
10. Base Plate ................Weld base plate to bottom column ............................................... 20%
11. Cap Plate .................Weld cap plate to top column ...................................................... 22%
12. Shear Plates .............Weld shear plates to outside of column flanges .......................... 24%
13. Stiffeners .................Weld stiffeners inside column flanges ......................................... 26%
14. Columns ..................Weld columns together to produce splice .................................... 28%

Beam-to-Beam Splice Using W-Shapes

Fit-Up
15. Cut Beams ...............Assess lengths for connection to column splice .......................... 30%
16. Cope Holes (1) ........Cut weld access cope holes for beam splice ................................ 32%
17. Cope Holes (2) ........Cut weld access cope holes for column attachments ................... 34%
18. Splice Plates (1) ......Ream 13/16" hole pattern in beams for splice plates ................... 36%
19. Splice Plates (2) ......Ream 13/16" hole pattern in splice plates .................................... 38%
Execution

Updated 8-12-22

All welds are to be made out of position
20. Bolting ....................Bolt together beam splices ........................................................... 40%
21. Flanges ....................Weld upper and lower flanges ..................................................... 42%
22. Bolting ....................Bolt beam to column .................................................................... 44%
23. Flanges ....................Weld upper and lower flanges ..................................................... 46%

Beam-to-Column Connection Using W-Shapes

Fit-Up
24. Beam .......................Cut beam to length ....................................................................... 48%
25. Top Flange ..............Cut weld access cope holes .......................................................... 50%
26. Beam Clips ..............Ream 13/16" hole patterns ........................................................... 52%
Execution
All welds are to be made out of position
27. Beam Clips ..............Weld beam clips to beam web ..................................................... 54%
28. Bolting ....................Bolt beam to column web ............................................................ 56%

Column-to-Column Splice Using Square Tube
With Intersecting Beam Using Transfer Plates

Fit-Up
29. Columns ..................Cut lengths to accommodate later horizontal beams ................... 58%
30. Top Column ............Prep top for single-bevel partial penetration weld ..............................
............................................................................................................ Grade of “D”—60%
31. Slots ........................Cut upper / lower slots for through-column moment plates ........ 62%
32. Bevel .......................Prep bottom for single-bevel full penetration column splice ....... 64%
33. Cap Plate .................Cut and prep for fit to top of column ........................................... 66%
34. Base Plate ................Cut and prep for fit to bottom of column ..................................... 68%
35. Moment Plates ........Cut through-column moment plates ................... Grade of “C”—70%
36. Shear Plates .............Ream 13/16" bolt hole patter to accept beam web....................... 72%
37. Backing Plates .........Cut and prep for fit ....................................................................... 74%
38. Cut Beams ...............Assess lengths for connection to column splice .......................... 76%
39. Cope Holes (1) ........Cut weld access cope holes .......................................................... 78%
40. Cope Holes (2) ........Cut weld access cope holes for column attachments ..........................
............................................................................................................. Grade of “B”—80%
Execution

Updated 8-12-22

All welds are to be made out of position
41. Base Plate ................Weld base plate to bottom column ............................................... 82%
42. Cap Plate .................Weld cap plate to top column ...................................................... 84%
43. Moment Plates ........Weld through-column moment plates to top column .................. 86%
44. Shear Plates .............Weld to top column ...................................................................... 88%
45. Columns ..................Weld columns together to produce splice .................................... 90%
45. Bolting ....................Bolt beams to column .................................................................. 92%
47. Flange (1) ................Weld upper flange to column ....................................................... 94%
48. Flange (2) ................Weld lower flange to column ....................................................... 96%
49. Alignment (1) ..........Check for plumb in columns ........................................................ 98%
50. Alignment (2) ..........Check for sweep in beams ............................... Grade of “A”—100%

Calculation of Final Grade

Projects ......................................... Percent Completed__________% x 60% = __________Points
Examinations................................. Average of Grades__________% x 40% = __________Points
Safety examination: Chapter 2
Mid-term examination: Chapters 22 and 23
Final examination: Chapter 24
Total Points____________ Final Course Grade____________

Course Rationale
Students take this course typically to satisfy one of the following objectives:
 You are pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Welding Technology at
Austin Community College, and this course is one of your degree requirements.
 You are employed in the field of welding technology, and you want to develop your
skills to apply to the fabrication of critical structural moment connections encountered in
the fabrication of buildings, bridges, and offshore platforms.
 You want to build a structure for your personal use, and you need to develop the skills
and understanding of how structural components are fabricated and assembled.
Course Learning Outcomes
Interpret orthographic and isometric drawings; identify structural components, weldments and
tools; perform layout methods on structural steel using layout tools and templates.
Program Learning Outcomes
• Demonstrate welding skills sufficient to meet industry certified welder standards.
• Interpret codes and safety standards that pertain to the welding industry.
• Use proper hand, measuring, and layout tools, to fabricate welded projects or certification
coupons.
• Demonstrate work attributes and ethics that contribute to personal success and towards
employment goals.