STEEL COLUMN TO BEAM CONNECTORS

Abstract

Steel connections of a column and beam(s) for a building structure with heavy loads are presented. First option is a single plate that is inserted through a slot in the W column flange(s) and attached to the column's web and flange(s). In the field, a W beam with a flange slot is inserted through the column connector plate and attached. Option 2 is the same as Option 1, except, two connector plates are provided for attachment to the beam web and flanges. Thirdly, brace frame connections are presented.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

Steel frame connection of a W column and W beam for a building frame.

BACKGROUND

Prior Art

The 1994 Northridge Earthquake showed that conventional full penetration welds of beam flanges to column flanges failed during a relatively mild seismic event. Seismic forces concentrated at beam flange full penetration welds to column flanges cracked, and in some cases the column or beam flange cracked; no catastrophic failure, but not good.

Thus, new moment connection designs were developed that spread column/beam connection seismic forces over a larger area around the beam and column connection so that less stress could be dissipated through more steel and welding material. Houghton developed a series of patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,660,017, 6,138,427, 6,516,583, 6,591,573, 7,178,296 and more that show steel frame moment connections. Stronger than previous moment frame connections, Houghton's designs reduced required steel tonnage for a building's frame compared to post Northridge steel frame designs.

Never-the-less, today's simplified version of Houghton's moment connection design is still very complex. For an inline W beam/W column/W beam connection shown in FIG. 0, a total of 2 large plates and 16 secondary gusset plates need to be fabricated, stored, and manually manipulated into precise positions for welding. Given the complexity, a good deal of hand craftsmanship is needed for the connection's assembly.

The transfer of lateral forces through a beam to a column wants to be through the center of the beam to the center of a column. Houghton performs this transfer in a roundabout and inefficient way. Lateral force from the center of the beam is transferred by flange gusset plates to large side plates welded to the column flange ends and transferred to the center of the column with gusset plates. This requires a lot of fabrication of secondary gusset plates.

OBJECTS

It would be beneficial if a beam/column moment connection could:

• • Reduce the need for 18 plates/gussets to 1 or 2 plates.
  • Simplify the connection design so that so that it can be possibly robotically assembled.

And it would be beneficial to provide for a brace connection for:

• • A beam/column/brace connection by extending the connector plate above or below the beam for connection of the plate to a diagonal brace member.
  • A beam/brace connection.

Reducing Houghton's myriad of connector plates to a “1 plate” connection could save 90% of fabrication time for each moment connection. “1 Plate” also spreads shear resistance by providing a full 4 sided shear panel of the plate area over the beam vs the 3 sided shear panel of. Seismic stress is more evenly distributed around the entire perimeter of the plate's “shear panel” area over the beam.

A second option, “2 Plates” is also presented. It saves about 70+% of fabrication time for each moment connection.

“1 Plate” and “2 Plates” are possible because CNC (computer controlled) plasma cutters can cheaply, quickly and precisely cut slots in the flanges of columns and beams that align with the webs of steel W shapes.

Ordinarily, when column material is taken away, there is a corresponding loss of column strength. However, when this invention's connection plate(s) is/are inserted through column slot(s) and fillet welded to the column web and flanges, the column flange is “stitched” to the connector plate. The plate is then capable of taking and transferring column dead load.

In the field, the beam flange slot(s) is/are inserted through the column connector plate(s). The beam web is initially bolted to the plate. The connection is preferably finished with fillet welding around the edges of the connector plate to the beam's web and flanges finish the connection. However, an all field bolted column connector plate to beam attachment is also presented.

For brace frame connections, an enlarged plate(s) is/are presented that extends beyond the top or bottom beam flange to provide a connection area for a diagonal brace member(s). One or two connector plates connects the column, beam and brace; thus, transferring lateral forces more evenly over large areas of each member.

For heavy seismic forces, this invention's connection designs require significantly less shop labor, less material management, less special inspection, less shop time and less cost. These are not slight improvements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

“1 Plate” Connector Figures

FIG. 1 Exploded isometric view of steel column and connector plate.

FIG. 2 Plan view of the FIG. 1

FIG. 3 Section view of the connector plate beyond the column.

FIG. 3 A Section view of connector plate in contact with the column web.

FIG. 4 Elevation view of the column flange slot.

FIG. 5 Plan view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 Isometric view of the inserted connector plate through the column flange slots.

FIG. 7 Section view of the inserted connector plate through the column flange slot hole.

FIG. 7A Plan view of the top beam flange slot.

FIG. 8 Isometric view of the beam end before insertion through the column connector plate.

FIG. 9 Section view of the top beam flange slot prior to insertion through the bottom of the column connector plate.

FIG. 10 Isometric view of the beam end partially inserted through the column connector plate.

FIG. 11 Section view of the top beam flange partially inserted through the column connector plate.

FIG. 12 Isometric view of beam fully inserted and connected to the column connector plate.

FIG. 13 Plan view of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 Enlarged plan view of beam web to plate connection.

FIG. 15T Section view of the beam top flange connection to the column connector plate.

FIG. 15B Section view of the beam bottom flange connection to the column connector plate.

FIG. 16 Isometric view of column/beam/brace top connection.

FIG. 17 Isometric view of column/beam/brace bottom connection.

FIG. 18 Exploded isometric view of beam, connector plate, brace members.

FIG. 18A Enlarged section of top of beam connector plate.

FIG. 19 Isometric view of assembled beam/connector plate/braces.

“2 Plate” Connector Figures

FIG. 20 Exploded isometric view of column and connector plates.

FIG. 21 Plan view of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 Section view of connector plates beyond column area.

FIG. 23 Section view of connector plates in contact with column.

FIG. 23 Section view of column flange slots.

FIG. 24 Isometric view of two connector plates connected to the column.

FIG. 26 Plan view of two column connector plates.

FIG. 26A Enlarged plan of two column connector plates.

FIG. 27 Section view of two column connector plates.

FIG. 28 Isometric view of the beam's top flange slots about to be raised through the bottom of the column connector plates.

FIG. 29 Plan view of the beam's top flange slots.

FIG. 30 Isometric view of the beam's top flange raised mid-way through the column's connector plates.

FIG. 31 Isometric view of a completed connection of the column's plates and a beam.

FIG. 32 Plan view of a completed connection of the column's plates and a beam.

FIG. 33T Section view of a completed connection of the column's plates and the top beam flange.

FIG. 33B Section view of a completed connection of the column's plates and the bottom beam flange.

FIG. 33C Enlarged section view of 33B.

FIG. 34 Isometric view of an optional scheme for only bolting the column's plates to the beam web.

FIG. 35T Sectional top view of an optional scheme for only bolting the column's plates to the beam web.

FIG. 35B Sectional bottom view of an optional scheme for only bolting the column's plates to the beam web.

FIG. 36 Section view of FIG. 34 connector plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

“1 Plate” Connector Figures

FIG. 1 Exploded isometric view of a steel column and connector plate.

FIG. 2 Plan view of FIG. 1.

The column 20 flanges 21 are provided with vertical slots 23. The interior side of the slot edge 24 aligns with the face of the column web 22. Optional column web holes 28 are provided for easier alignment and connection of the plate 30 holes 36 to the column web 22. The connector plate 30 has holes 33 for field bolt connection to the beam's web 3 holes 8. The column 20 flange 21 slots 23 may be vertically extended 26 to receive an optionally raised connector plate 38, as shown by the dashed line. This would provide a stronger column 20 to beam 1 connection.

FIG. 3 Section view of connector plate beyond column.

The bottom of the plate 30 is beveled 32, preferably with multiple bevel cuts. The bevel 32 roughly conforms to the beam 1 bottom flange's 4 curved fillet 11 shown in FIGS. 8-12.

FIG. 3 A Section view of connector plate in contact with the column.

The bottom of the plate 30 is preferably square for sitting on the bottom of the column flange 21 slot 23 shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 Elevation view of the column flange slot.

The slot(s) 23 interior side 24 is aligned with the face of column web 22.

FIG. 5 Plan view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 Isometric view of the inserted connector plate through the column flange slots.

FIG. 7 Section view of the inserted connector plate through the column flange slot.

The connector plate 30 is optionally bolt 37 attached through plate hole 36 to column web 22 hole 28 for easier alignment of the plate 30 with the column 20. Then the column flange 21 intersections with the plate 30 are shop fillet welded 35. Optional transverse connection plates 41 are shown. Column web gusset plates 26 may be optionally provided. The plate 30 edges are shop fillet welded 35 all around the column flange 21 and web 22. FIG. 7 shows the slot edge 24 is aligned with the face of the column web 22, the face of the plate 30 is aligned with the dashed line 22 of the column web. The bottom plate bevel 32 is shown. The column flange 21 is shown in the background.

FIG. 7A Plan view of the top beam flange slot.

FIG. 8 Isometric view of the beam before insertion through the column connector plate.

FIG. 9 Section view of FIG. 8.

The beam's top flange 2 slot 5 interior edge 7 is aligned with the face of the beam web 3. The end of the beam top flange 2 is lifted 15 in the field to the bottom of the column plate 30 beveled edge 32 for insertion of the beam slot 5. The plate beveled edge 32 aids the insertion of the beam flange slot 5 through the plate.

FIG. 10 Isometric view of the top beam flange inserted through the connector plate.

FIG. 11 Section view of FIG. 10.

The beam's 1 top flange slot 5 is lifted 15 through the column connector plate 30. The plate's beveled bottom edge 32 approaches the curved beam web/flange fillet 11.

FIG. 12 Isometric view of beam fully connected to the column connector plate.

FIG. 13 Plan view of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 Enlarged plan view of the beam web to plate connection.

After the beam's bottom flange 4 is fully raised and abuts the column connector plate 30 beveled bottom edge 32 fillet 11, the column connector plate 30 is bolted 40 through plate holes 33 and beam web holes 8 for beam stability prior to fillet welding 27 all around the plate 30 and beam flanges 2, 4 and web 3. This creates a four sided shear panel of the plate 30 and beam area. The end of the beam 13 is stopped short of the column flange 21 to prevent beam 1 direct interaction with the column 21 during a seismic event. The plate 30 may optionally be raised 38 for a stronger connection to the column 20. An optional connector plate 41 is shown for a possible transverse beam.

FIG. 15T Section view of the beam top flange connection to the column connector plate. After the connector plate 30 and beam web 3 are bolted 40 through holes 33 and 8, the beam's top flange 2 is field fillet welded 27 on each side of the column connector plate 30.

FIG. 15B Section view of the beam bottom flange connection to the connector plate. After the bolt connection of the beam web 3 to the plate 30, the bottom of the connector plate 30 beveled edge 322B roughly conforms to the beam flange fillet 111BF. The plate bottom corner edge is fillet welded 27 to the beam's bottom flange 4. Since the top flange 2 has two fillet welds 27 on each side of the plate 30, it is preferable to provide more fillet weld 27 passes of the bottom beam flange 4 to the single side of plate 30 for more equitable weld strength between the top and bottom beam flanges.

FIGS. 16, 17 Isometric view of column/beam/brace top and bottom connections.

The column 20 connector plates 39 and 39 are extended beyond the beam flange 3 and 4 for connection to a diagonal brace 50. Top 51 and bottom 53 brace flanges have slots 54 and 54 with an interior edge aligning with the brace web 52. The brace slots 54 and 54 are inserted through the extended column/beam connector plates 39 and 39 and bolted 55 through brace web holes and plate 39 holes or. Then the plates 39 and are fillet welded 27 to the top and bottom brace flanges 51 and 53. The extended connector plates 39 and may be further extended for additional brace 50 connections on the opposite side of the column 20 or beam 1.

FIG. 18 Exploded view of a beam connector plate and braces.

Like the column 20 to connector plate 30 attachment, the mid-section of a beam 1 can be shop attached to a connector plate 30 A. The bottom beam flange 4 slot 16 interior edge aligns with the beam web 3. The connector plate 30A top edge is beveled 32 for easier insertion through the beam's bottom slot 16. The plate beveled edge 32 also conforms to the beam's top flange fillet 11 when the plate is fully inserted. The brace flanges 53 slots 54 are provided for insertion through the connector plate 30A.

FIG. 18A Enlarged section of top of beam connector plate.

The top of the beam connector plate 30A is beveled 32 to conform to the top beam flange 2 fillet 11.

FIG. 19 Isometric view of assembled beam, connector plate, and braces.

The beam connector plate 30A is optionally shop bolted 37A to plate holes 33A and beam web holes 8. Shop fillet welding 35 is performed as needed around the plate 30A edges in contact with the beam 1. In the field, the connector plate 30A is bolted 55 to plate holes 33A and brace web holes 56. Field fillet welding (obscured in this view) is performed as needed around the top surfaces of brace flanges 51, 53 to the plate 30A. Optionally the connector plate 30A may be inserted through two beam flange slots 16 and for brace connections above and below the beam 1.

“2 Plates” Connector Figures

FIG. 20 Exploded view of column and two connector plates.

This is the same as FIG. 1, except each of the column 20 flanges 21 have two slots 23 for two connector plates 30 and 30.

FIG. 21 Plan view of FIG. 20.

Same as FIG. 2, except two plates 30 and 30 are provided.

FIG. 22 Section view of connector plates in contact with column.

Same as FIG. 3, except two plates 30 and 30 are provided with beveled bottom edges 32.

FIG. 23 Section view of connector plates in contact with column.

Same as figure, except two plates 30 and 30 are provided with a square bottom edge.

FIG. 24 Section view of column flange slots.

Same as FIG. 4, except two slots 23 and 23 with edges 24 and 24 are aligned with the face of the column web 22.

FIG. 25 Isometric view of two connector plates 30 and 30 connected 35 to the column 21 and 22.

Same as FIG. 6, except two plates 30 and 30 are inserted through the column flange's 21 slots 23.

FIG. 26 Plan view of two connector plates connected to the column.

Same as FIG. 5, except two plates 30 and 30 are inserted through the column flange's 21 slots 23.

FIG. 26A Enlarged plan view of column and two connector plate/beam connection.

Same as FIG. 14, except two plates 30 and 30 are provided.

FIG. 27 Section view of two column connector plates.

Same as FIG. 7, except two plates are inserted in column flange slot holes xx. The plate's faces are aligned with the face of the column web.

FIG. 28 Isometric view of the beam before lifting through the column connector plates.

FIG. 29 Plan view of the beam's top flange slots.

FIG. 30 Isometric view of the top beam flange partly lifted through the connector plates.

Same as FIGS. 7A-9, except the beam 1 top flange 2 has two slots 5 and 5 for lifting through two column connector plates 30 and 30 bottom beveled edges 32 and 32. Slot sides 7 and 7 are centered over the beam top flange 2 and separated by the column web 3 thickness. The beam web 3 optionally has a shim 46 around beam web holes 13 one each side of the beam web 3. The composite thickness of the beam web 3 and shims 13 and 13 match the column web 22 thickness.

FIG. 31 Isometric view of a completed connection of the column's plates and a beam.

FIG. 32 Plan view of a FIG. 31.

FIG. 33T Section view of a completed connection of the plates and the top beam flange.

FIG. 33B Section view of a completed connection of the plates and bottom beam flange.

FIG. 33C Enlarged section of the bottom beam connection the column connector plates

These Figures are the same as FIGS. 12-15, except the column 21 and 22 has two connector plates 30 and 30 that sandwich the beam web 3. Since the two plates 30 and 30 cannot be welded to the beam web end 9 next to the column, a vertical row of bolts 40 through plate holes 34, shim 46, beam web holes 13, shim 46 and plate holes 34 are provided for shear panel stability. Because the column web thickness will usually be greater than the beam web 3 thickness, the gap 14 between the beam web 3 and the interior face of the plate 30 may need a shim 46 shop fillet welded 35 to the beam web 3 around the beam web bolt holes 13. After bolting, each plate 30 is field fillet welded 27 to the beam top flange 2, beam web 3, and beam bottom flange 4 for a three sided shear panel. The bottom of each plate 30 is preferably beveled 32 with multiple cuts to roughly conform to the beam's flange curved fillet 11. An optional connector plate 41 is shown for an optional transverse beam. Also shown are optional column gusset plates 26.

FIG. 34 Isometric view of a scheme for only bolting the plates to the beam web.

FIG. 35T Section top view of FIG. 34.

FIG. 35B Section bottom view of 34.

FIG. 36 Section view of plates

This scheme's beam bottom slots 5 and 5 are lowered through the column plates 30 and 30 top beveled edges 32. This has several advantages. The top beveled edges 32 eases the insertion of the beam's bottom flange 4 slot opening 5 and 5 through the plates 30 and 30. Secondly, the beveled edge 32 conforming to the beam's top flange 2 fillet 11 allows the plates 30 and 30 to become a “beam seat”. Without any bolt connection, the beam is stable. It cannot fall. Thirdly, with the beam sitting on top of the plates 30 and 30, aids beam web holes 8 alignment with plate holes 28 for installation of bolts 40 through plate holes 28, shim 46, beam web holes 8, shim 46 and plate holes 28. The plate is preferably extended through a bottom beam flange slot 5 for extra column/plate connection strength. An optional connector plate 41 is shown for an optional transverse beam. Also shown are optional column gusset plates 26.

DISCUSSION

It is common for a steel diagonal brace tube to have a slot at the end of the tube that is inserted through a connector plate. The plate is welded only to the face of the column flange and possibly to the face of a beam flange. The innovation with this invention is to extend the connector plate through W column flange slot(s) and W beam flange slot(s) for a greater distribution of structural forces to both flanges and the web of the column and beam.

The diagonal braces shown in FIGS. 16-19 may have two connector plates for assembly similar to FIGS. 20-35.

The figures shown have been for connector plates for the attachment of two beams to a column. The connector plate(s) may only be inserted through one column flange slot(s) for the connection of the column to only one beam.

SUMMARY

The transfer of lateral forces in a beam to a column wants to be through the center of the beam to the center of a column. This invention transfers lateral forces from the center of a beam directly to center of a column without unnecessary fabrication of secondary gusset plates. Reducing 18 connection members to one or two is significantly less shop labor, less shop time, less material management, less special inspection, and less cost.

These are not slight improvements.

Claims

1. A structural joint connection comprising: a. a column capable of supporting heavy loads of a building or a structure;said column having i. a web, which is a column web, the column web having a face, andii. two flanges, with at least one flange of said two flanges, which is a column flange, having one vertical slot, the vertical slot being a column flange slot, the vertical slot having an interior, which has an edge, the edge of the interior of the vertical slot being an interior vertical slot edge, the interior vertical slot edge being aligned with, and flush with, the face of said column web, the vertical slot having a width and a height, the column flange being the at least one flange of the two flanges of the column;b. a connector plate with a thickness and a height, i. the height of the connector and the width of the connector being less than the height of said column flange slot and the width of the column flange slot, respectively;ii. said connector plate having a plurality of holes for fastener connections, the plurality of the holes of the connector plates are connector plate holes; andc. a beam having a length, an end, a web, a top flange, and a bottom flange, the web of the beam being a web beam; i. a beam flange having a horizontal slot, the horizontal slot of the beam being a beam flange slot, the beam flange being at least one of the top flange and the bottom flange of the beam;ii. the horizontal slot having a length, a width, and an interior, and the interior of the horizontal slot having an edge along the length of the slot, the edge of the interior along the length of the horizontal slot, being an interior long edge of the horizontal slot, the interior long edge of the horizontal slot abuts the end of said beam and extends in a direction along said length of the beam, the width of the horizontal slot being a horizontal slot width;iii. said interior of the long edge of the horizontal slot being flush with, the face of said beam web;iv. said horizontal slot width being greater than the thickness of said connector plate, so that the connector plate can slide into the horizontal slot;v. said beam-web having holes, for fastening the beam web to said connector plate holes, the holes of the beam web are beam fastener holes;

2. The structural joint connection recited in claim 1, wherein said connector plate is, at least in part, shop fillet welded to the said column web and the two flanges of the column.

3. The structural joint connection recited in claim 1, said connector plate further includes a beveled top plate edge that conforms to a shape associated with a curved fillet transition of said beam flange;

4. The structural joint connection recited in claim 1, the connector plate having a bottom, and said connector plate extending outward beyond said column flange further comprising a beveled bottom edge that conforms to a shape associated with a curved fillet of said bottom flange of the beam;

5. The structural joint connection recited in claim 4 further comprises: a. a vertical slot in at least one said column flange;b. a connector plate with a height less than said vertical slot of the column flange;c. a diagonal brace member having an end, a web, a top flange, and a bottom flange; each of said a top flange and a bottom flange of the diagonal brace member having a slot with the same width as a t width of the vertical slot of the column; said vertical slot of the column abuts the end of said diagonal brace member and extends along a length of said diagonal brace member; and said interior of the long edge of the horizontal slot is aligned with the web of said diagonal brace member;

6. A structural joint connection comprising: a. a beam having a length, which is a beam length, a web, a top flange, and a bottom flange with at least one said top flange and said bottom flange having a slot along a central portion of said beam and extending along said beam length, the slot being a beam slot; and said beam slot having a length and an interior, which has an edge extending along the length of the slot, the edge that extends along the length of the slot being the long edge of the interior, the long edge of the interior is aligned with the said beam web, the beam slot having a length, which is a beam slot length;b. a connector plate with a thickness that is less than the slot width and the connector plate having a horizontal length that is less than said slot length, so that the connector plate can slide into the beam slot;c. at least one diagonal brace member having a web, which is a brace web, a top flange, and a bottom flange; each of said top flange of the diagonal brace and bottom flange of the diagonal brace each having a slot, which is a flange slot, whose width matches the beam slot width; said flange slot abuts the end of a brace member and extends along a length of said brace member; an edge of an interior of each flange slot that extends along a length of the slot is aligned with a web of the said brace member;

7. A structural joint connection comprising: a. a column capable of supporting loads of a building; said column having a web and two flanges, the web being a column web, the column web having at least one face; at least one flange said two flanges having two vertical slots disposed on each side of said column web, the two vertical slots being column flange slots, each of said column flange slots having an interior vertical edge aligned with each face of said column web;b. two connector plates with a thickness and a vertical height less than a thickness and a height, respectively, of said column flange slots; said connector plates having a plurality of holes for fastener connections, the plurality of holes being connector plate holes;c. a beam having a length, which is a beam length, a web, which is a beam web, a top flange, and bottom flange, the beam web having at least two sides, with at least one of said top flange and said bottom flange having two horizontal slots disposed and centered on each side of said beam web with a thickness greater than a thickness of at least one connector plate of said connector plates; said two slots having an interior, the interior having a length, and a width, the length of the interior being an interior length, the at least two slots having an edge associated with the interior length, the edge associated with the interior length being an interior long slot edge, the two slots abut an end of said beam and extend along said beam length with the interior long slot edges separated by a distance associated with the thickness of the said column web; said beam web has holes for fastening to said plurality of connector plate holes, the two slots of flange of the beam being beam flange slots, the top flange and the bottom flange of being beam flanges;

8. The structural joint connection recited in claim 7, wherein said connector plates are, at least in part, shop fillet welded to the said column web and column flanges.

9. The structural joint connection recited in claim 7, said connector plates further include edges that are beveled at a top plate of the connector plates, the edges that are beveled at the top plate of the connector plates, being beveled top plate edges, the beveled top plate edges conform to a shape associated with a of curved fillet of the beam flange;

10. The structural joint connection recited in claim 7 further comprising: a. a shim rigidly attached to each side of said beam web around fastener holes;

11. The structural joint connection recited in claim 7, said two connector plates further comprise: beveled bottom plate edges that conform to a shape associated with said beam flange curved fillet;

12. The structural joint connection recited in claim 11 further comprises: b. two vertical slots in at least one column flange of said column flanges;c. the two connector plates having a height slightly less than said vertical slots of the column flange;d. a diagonal brace member having a web, which is a diagonal brace member web, a top flange, which is a diagonal brace top flange, and a bottom flange, which is a diagonal brace bottom flange; each of the top flange and bottom flange of the diagonal brace having two slots abutting an end of said brace member and extending along a length of said brace member; and each slot of the brace member having an interior, the interior of the slot of the brace member having an edge extending along a length of the slot, which is a flange slot interior long edge, each said flange slot interior long edge being separated by the a distances associated with the thickness of said column web;

13. A structural joint connection comprising: a. a beam having a central portion, a length, which is the beam length, a web, which is the beam web, a top flange, and bottom flange with at least one of said top flange and the bottom flange having two horizontal slots along the central portion of said beam and extending along said beam length; and said two horizontal slots having interiors, the interiors having edges of extending along the length of the slots, which are interior long edges, interior long edges of the slots are flush with the said beam web;b. two connector plates, each of the two connector plates having a thickness that is slightly less than a thickness of the beam flange slot and each of the two connector plates having a horizontal length that is less than a length of said beam flange slots;c. at least one diagonal brace member having a web and a top flange and a bottom flange; each of said top flange of the diagonal brace and said bottom flange of the diagonal brace having two slots abutting an end of said brace member, and the two slots of said top flange of the diagonal brace and said bottom flange of the diagonal brace extend along said brace member length; each of the two slots of said top flange of the diagonal brace and of said bottom flange of the diagonal brace having an interior, the interior of the two slots of said top flange of the diagonal brace and of said bottom flange of the diagonal brace having an edge extending along a length of the slot of the two slots of said top flange of the diagonal brace and of said bottom flange of the diagonal brace, which is a long edge of the two slots of said top flange of the diagonal brace and said bottom flange of the diagonal brace, which that is flush with the face of said brace member web;