CE 383 Midterm Question and answers
already passed 2025/2026
The beam-to-column connections in a moment frame are designed as _____ connections. This allows
the moment frame to resist lateral demands through _____. - correct answer ✔rigid; flexural stiffness
and strength of the beams and columns
The diagonal braces on this building are steel cables, because _____. - correct answer ✔they serve as
temporary bracing, to provide stability to this moment frame until all of the rigid (moment) connections
can be fully bolted and/or welded
The beam to column connection in this gravity load-resisting frame is bolted to the beam web but not to
the beam flanges. This type of connection is assumed to act as theoretical "pin," with no rotational
resistance. Therefore, _____. - correct answer ✔the gravity load-resisting frames are assumed to
contribute no lateral resistance to the building
----
the gravity load-resisting frames are assumed to "go along for the ride" as the lateral force resisting
frames (e.g., moment frames, braced frames, shear walls) deflect under wind or earthquake demands
Strength limit states for tension include: - correct answer ✔Yielding of the gross cross-section
---
Fracture of the effective net area
---
Block shear rupture
The slenderness ratio, L/r, of a tension member preferably should not exceed 300. - correct answer
✔This could be considered a serviceability criterion
---
, This recommendation is based on practical considerations such as ease of handling; avoiding damage
during fabrication, transport and erection; and having sufficient stiffness to avoid undesired vibrations /
out-of-plane movement (e.g., due to wind pressures).
The resistance factors for the design tensile strengths for yielding on the gross cross section and for
fracture in the effective net area are the same, because both limit states are equally ductile and are
similar in terms of variability. - correct answer ✔False
Windward pressure changes over the height of the building. This is a "continuous" change, but in
practice, we assume uniform pressure at each floor level, from ½ story height above to ½ story height
below (i.e., the "tributary height"). - correct answer ✔True
For a symmetric lateral force resisting system with a rigid floor diaphragm, the wind force acting at a
particular floor level on one braced frame (for example) can be calculated as the wind pressure at that
floor level multiplied by the tributary area, and divided by the number of braced frames. This is because
the rigid floor diaphragm imposes equals displacements at the braced frames. - correct answer ✔True
In bolted tension members, the limit state of block shear ... - correct answer ✔involves the entire bolt
group
---
may involve a combination of shear rupture and tension rupture
---
may involve a combination of shear yield and tension rupture
For calculation of available strength for the limit state of block shear rupture (AISC eq. J4-5), the Ubs
factor ... - correct answer ✔is used to approximate nonuniform stress distribution on the tensile plane
of the block shear path
---
can be calculated based the eccentricity of the load (to the centroid of the resistance of the connection)
and the block length , if using a connection configuration that is not shown in AISC Fig. C-J4.2
(Commentary)
already passed 2025/2026
The beam-to-column connections in a moment frame are designed as _____ connections. This allows
the moment frame to resist lateral demands through _____. - correct answer ✔rigid; flexural stiffness
and strength of the beams and columns
The diagonal braces on this building are steel cables, because _____. - correct answer ✔they serve as
temporary bracing, to provide stability to this moment frame until all of the rigid (moment) connections
can be fully bolted and/or welded
The beam to column connection in this gravity load-resisting frame is bolted to the beam web but not to
the beam flanges. This type of connection is assumed to act as theoretical "pin," with no rotational
resistance. Therefore, _____. - correct answer ✔the gravity load-resisting frames are assumed to
contribute no lateral resistance to the building
----
the gravity load-resisting frames are assumed to "go along for the ride" as the lateral force resisting
frames (e.g., moment frames, braced frames, shear walls) deflect under wind or earthquake demands
Strength limit states for tension include: - correct answer ✔Yielding of the gross cross-section
---
Fracture of the effective net area
---
Block shear rupture
The slenderness ratio, L/r, of a tension member preferably should not exceed 300. - correct answer
✔This could be considered a serviceability criterion
---
, This recommendation is based on practical considerations such as ease of handling; avoiding damage
during fabrication, transport and erection; and having sufficient stiffness to avoid undesired vibrations /
out-of-plane movement (e.g., due to wind pressures).
The resistance factors for the design tensile strengths for yielding on the gross cross section and for
fracture in the effective net area are the same, because both limit states are equally ductile and are
similar in terms of variability. - correct answer ✔False
Windward pressure changes over the height of the building. This is a "continuous" change, but in
practice, we assume uniform pressure at each floor level, from ½ story height above to ½ story height
below (i.e., the "tributary height"). - correct answer ✔True
For a symmetric lateral force resisting system with a rigid floor diaphragm, the wind force acting at a
particular floor level on one braced frame (for example) can be calculated as the wind pressure at that
floor level multiplied by the tributary area, and divided by the number of braced frames. This is because
the rigid floor diaphragm imposes equals displacements at the braced frames. - correct answer ✔True
In bolted tension members, the limit state of block shear ... - correct answer ✔involves the entire bolt
group
---
may involve a combination of shear rupture and tension rupture
---
may involve a combination of shear yield and tension rupture
For calculation of available strength for the limit state of block shear rupture (AISC eq. J4-5), the Ubs
factor ... - correct answer ✔is used to approximate nonuniform stress distribution on the tensile plane
of the block shear path
---
can be calculated based the eccentricity of the load (to the centroid of the resistance of the connection)
and the block length , if using a connection configuration that is not shown in AISC Fig. C-J4.2
(Commentary)
