Comparison of Damage, Design Concept and Design Practices of Column Base Connections in Japan and the United States

Abstract

Overview of American steel column base design method and practice is presented and compared with Japanese method and practice. Base plates are used mostly in US steel structures. A rare report of damaged base plate in US reveals characteristic features of American base plate design practice. such as not extending column steel into grade beams, and usage of shear lag to resist shear. After years of indifference. American design procedures are being currently updated, while Japanese procedure was revised after Kobe earthquake. While material strength for design and design load for base plates are different between the two countries, base plate design to resist axial force and bending are similar.