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Support and Connection Types

Structural systems transfer their loading
through a series of elements to the ground.
This is accomplished by designing the
joining of the elements at their
intersections. Each connection is designed
so that it can transfer, or support, a specific
type of load or loading condition. In order
to be able to analyze a structure, it is first
necessary to be clear about the forces that
can be resisted, and transfered, at each level
of support throughout the structure. The
actual behaviour of a support or connection
can be quite complicated. So much so, that
if all of the various conditions were
considered, the design of each support would be a terribly lengthy process. And yet, the conditions at each of
the supports greatly influence the behaviour of the elements which make up each structural system.

Structural steel systems have either welded or bolted connections. Precast reinforced concrete systems can be
mechanically connected in many ways, while cast-in-place systems normally have monolithic connections.
Timber systems are connected by nails, bolts, glue or by engineered connectors. No matter the material, the
connection must be designed to have a specific rigidity. Rigid, stiff or fixed connections lie at one extreme
limit of this spectrum and hinged or pinned connections bound the other. The stiff connection maintins the
relative angle between the connected members while the hinged connection allows a relative rotation. There
are also connections in steel and reinforced concrete structural systems in which a partial rigidity is a desired
design feature.

SUPPORT TYPES
The three common types of connections which
join a built structure to its foundation are; roller,
pinned and fixed. A fourth type, not often found
in building structures, is known as a simple
support. This is often idealized as a frictionless
surface). All of these supports can be located
anywhere along a structural element. They are
found at the ends, at midpoints, or at any other
intermediate points. The type of support

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connection determines the type of load that the

support can resist. The support type also has a
great effect on the load bearing capacity of each
element, and therefore the system.

The diagram illustrates the various ways in which each type of support is represented. A single unified
graphical method to represent each of these support types does not exist. Chances are that one of these
representations will be similar to local common practice. However, no matter what the representation, the
forces that the type can resist is indeed standardized.

REACTIONS
It is usually necessary to idealize the behaviour
of a support in order to facilitate an analysis.
An approach is taken that is similar to the
massless, frictionless pulley in a physics
homework problem. Even though these pulleys
do not exist, they are useful to enable learning
about certain issues. Thus, friction and mass are
often ignored in the consideration of the
behavior of a connection or support. It is
important to realize that all of the graphical representations of supports are idealizations of an actual physical
connection. Effort should be made to search out and compare the reality with the grpahical and/or numerical
model. It is often very easy to forget that the assumed idealization can be strikingly different than reality!

The diagram to the right indicates the forces and/or moments which are "available" or active at each type of
support. It is expected that these representative forces and moments, if properly calculated, will bring about
equilibrium in each structural element.

ROLLER SUPPORTS
Roller supports are free to rotate and translate along the surface upon which the roller rests. The surface can
be horizontal, vertical, or sloped at any angle. The resulting reaction force is always a single force that is
perpendicular to, and away from, the surface. Roller supports are commonly located at one end of long
bridges. This allows the bridge structure to expand and contract with temperature changes. The expansion
forces could fracture the supports at the banks if the bridge structure was "locked" in place. Roller supports
can also take the form of rubber bearings, rockers, or a set of gears which are designed to allow a limited
amount of lateral movement.

A roller support cannot provide resistance to a lateral forces. Imagine a structure (perhaps a person) on roller
skates. It would remain in place as long as the structure must only support itself and perhaps a perfectly
vertical load. As soon as a lateral load of any kind pushes on the structure it will roll away in reponse to the
force. The lateral load could be a shove, a gust of wind or an earthquake. Since most structures are subjected
to lateral loads it follows that a building must have other types of support in addition to roller supports.

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PINNED SUPPORTS
A pinned support can resist both vertical and horizontal forces but not a
moment. They will allow the structural member to rotate, but not to
translate in any direction. Many connections are assumed to be pinned
connections even though they might resist a small amount of moment in
reality. It is also true that a pinned connection could allow rotation in
only one direction; providing resistance to rotation in any other
direction. The knee can be idealized as a connection which allows
rotation in only one direction and provides resistance to lateral
movement. The design of a pinned connection is a good example of the
idealization of the reality. A single pinned connection is usually not
sufficient to make a structure stable. Another support must be provided at some point to prevent rotation of
the structure. The representation of a pinned support includes both horizontal and vertical forces.

PINNED CONNECTIONS
In contrast to roller supports, a designer can often utilize pinned
connections in a structural system. These are the typical connection found
in almost all trusses. They can be articulated or hidden from view; they can
be very expressive or subtle.

There is an illustration of one of the elements at the Olympic Stadium in

Munich below. It is a cast steel connector that acts as a node to resolve a
number of tensile forces. Upon closer examination one can notice that the
connection is made of a number of parts. Each cable is connected to the
node by an end "bracket" which is connected to a large pin. This is quite
literally a "pinned connection." Due to the nature of the geometry of the
bracket and pin, a certain amount of rotational movement would be
permitted around the axis of each pin.

One of the connections from the pyramid of I.M. Pei's Loiuvre addition
follows below. Notice how it too utilized pinned connections.

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Pinned connections are confronted daily. Every time a hinged door is pushed open a pinned connection has
allowed rotation around a distinct axis; and prevented translation in two. The door hinge prevents vertical and
horizontal translation. As a matter of fact, if a sufficient moment is not generated to create rotation the door
will not move at all.

Have you ever calculated how much moment is required to open a specific door? Why is one door easier to
open than the another?

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FIXED SUPPORTS
Fixed supports can resist vertical and horizontal forces
as well as a moment. Since they restrain both rotation
and translation, they are also known as rigid supports.
This means that a structure only needs one fixed support
in order to be stable. All three equations of equilibrium
can be satisfied. A flagpole set into a concrete base is a
good example of this kind of support. The
representation of fixed supports always includes two
forces (horizontal and vertical) and a moment.

FIXED CONNECTIONS
Fixed connections are very common. Steel structures of
many sizes are composed of elements which are welded
together. A cast-in-place concrete structure is
automatically monolithic and it becomes a series of
rigid connections with the proper placement of the
reinforcing steel. Fixed connections demand greater
attention during construction and are often the source of
building failures.

Let this small chair illustrate the way in which two types of "fixed" connections can be generated. One is
welded and the other is comprised to two screws. Both are considered to be fixed connections due to the fact
that both of them can resist vertical and lateral loads as well as develop a resistance to moment. Thus, it it
found that not all fixed connections must be welded or monolithic in nature. Let the hinges at locations A and
B be examined in closer detail.

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SIMPLE SUPPORTS

Simple supports are idealized by some to be frictionless surface supports. This is correct in as much as the

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resulting reaction is always a single force that is perpendicular to, and away from, the surface. However, are
also similar to roller supports in this. They are dissimilar in that a simple support cannot resist lateral loads of
any magnitude. The built reality often depends upon gravity and friction to develop a minimal amount of
frictional resistance to moderate lateral loading. For example, if a plank is laid across gap to provide a bridge,
it is assumed that the plank will remain in its place. It will do so until a foot kicks it or moves it. At that
moment the plank will move because the simple connection cannot develop any resistance to the lateral loal.
A simple support can be found as a type of support for long bridges or roof span. Simple supports are often
found in zones of frequent seismic activity.

IMPLICATIONS
The following movies illustrate the implications of the type of support condition on the deflection behavior
and on the location of maximum bending stresses of a beam supported at its ends.

Simple Beams that are hinged on the left and roller supported on the right.

Simple Beams that are hinged on the left and fixed on the right.

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Simple beams that are fixed at both ends.

Questions for Thought

hmmm.....

Homework Problems

Additional Reading

TBA

Copyright 1995 by Chris H. Luebkeman and Donald Peting

Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998by Chris H. Luebkeman

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