In Plain English
Quick Answer
A rigid frame made of columns and a beam that forms one cross-section of a building's structural skeleton.
Definition
Definition
A transverse rigid frame that forms the primary structural unit of a building, typically consisting of columns and a beam or rafter connected at rigid joints. Bents are repeated at regular intervals along the length of a structure and resist both vertical and lateral loads. They are common in industrial buildings, bridges, and long-span structures.
Context
Why It Matters in Bidding
Because bents repeat at fixed intervals, they let estimators price a structure as a multiple of one repeating unit, making steel or precast takeoffs faster and more accurate. Misreading bent spacing or connection type directly drives tonnage, fabrication hours, and erection crane time, all of which can swing a structural bid by a large margin.
Example
Example
An estimator pricing a 400-foot warehouse counts 21 identical bents at 20-foot spacing, prices one bent's steel and connections, then multiplies to build the frame line item before adding bracing and the end walls.
See Also
Related Terms
FAQ
Questions Contractors Ask
How does bent spacing affect a structural steel bid?
Wider spacing means fewer bents but heavier members and larger purlins or girts spanning between them, while tighter spacing means more repeated units of lighter steel. Estimators test both against the drawings because the trade-off shifts total tonnage, connection counts, and erection picks, all of which change the bottom-line price.
What documents tell an estimator how a bent is built?
The structural drawings and framing plans show bent elevations, member sizes, and spacing, while connection details and the project specifications define whether joints are rigid (moment) or pinned. Reviewing both is essential because rigid connections add fabrication labor and material that pinned connections do not require.
Why do rigid bent connections cost more to estimate and build?
Rigid, or moment, connections transfer bending across the joint, so they need stiffeners, thicker plates, and more welding or bolting than simple shear connections. That extra fabrication shop time and field labor must be carried in the bid, and overlooking it is a common source of underpricing on frame work.
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