Variable Girder Tie for Uplift Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors used in building structures, particularly in high wind areas, fail to adequately resist uplift forces due to their inability to adjust to variable roof pitches and securely attach to concrete or masonry walls, especially when installed after framing is complete.
Innovation Solution
A connector with a U-shaped seat and obround opening that allows rotation, combined with a matching washer for maintaining a horizontal surface and back attachment plates for additional fastening, enabling secure attachment to both horizontal and vertical structural members, including masonry walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional light gauge connectors are used to attach roof members to walls, then installation is simple, but they cannot adequately resist high uplift forces in girders
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the top chord attachment angle to be dynamically changed to match variable roof pitches. The connector can be field-adjusted by rotating the top chord component around the anchor rod to achieve the correct angle, transforming a static connector into an adaptable one that maintains effectiveness across different roof configurations while preserving relative simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into distinct functional segments: a wall attachment portion with anchor rod and base plate, and a top chord attachment portion with angle adjustment capability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the base plate provides simple wall attachment while the top chord portion provides adjustable strong attachment, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and strength
2Strength
If heavy duty connectors are used to resist high uplift forces in girders, then strength is improved, but attachment to concrete or masonry walls becomes challenging when installed after framing is complete
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design incorporates a base plate with pre-drilled holes and anchor rod configuration that is prepared in advance for wall attachment. The anchor rod can be driven into the wall through the base plate, and the connector is designed to accept the top chord portion after wall attachment is complete. This preliminary preparation of the wall-attachment mechanism enables strong connectors to be installed efficiently even after framing is complete
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate serves as an intermediary element between the anchor rod and the top chord attachment. It provides a stable mounting surface on the wall and a reference point for positioning the adjustable top chord portion. This intermediary component simplifies the installation process by decoupling the wall attachment step from the angle adjustment step, allowing heavy duty connectors to be installed easily on masonry walls
3Adaptability or versatility
If connectors are designed for fixed roof pitches, then manufacturing is simplified, but they cannot accommodate variable roof pitches encountered in different job sites
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the top chord attachment angle to be dynamically changed to match variable roof pitches. The connector can be field-adjusted by rotating the top chord component around the anchor rod to achieve the correct angle, transforming a static connector into an adaptable one that maintains effectiveness across different roof configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed as a universal solution that can accommodate multiple roof pitches and wall types (wood-framed and masonry). The adjustable top chord portion and standardized base plate configuration enable a single connector design to serve multiple functions across different job sites, eliminating the need for multiple specialized connector variants
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable connector with a rounded, concave seat and matching washer, a connection and a method of making a connection that ties a first building structural member to a second building structural member in conjunction with fastener means and an anchor member, especially a girder truss to the supporting wall in conjunction with screws and an anchor rod.