• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.511-520
• /
• 2012

The double split Tee connection, a type of full strength-partially restrained connection, has adequate flexural strength according to the changes in the thickness of the T-stub flange and the gauge distance of the high-strength bolts. Moreover, the double split Tee connection is designed and constructed with seismic connections that have enough ductility capacity applicable to ordinary moment frame and special moment frame by grade of steel, size of beam and column and geometric connection shape. However, such a domestic research and a proposal of a suitable design formula about the double split Tee connection are insufficient. Thus, many experimental and analytical studies are in need for the domestic application of the double split Tee connection. Therefore, this study aimed to examine and suggest feasibility of a design formula of the double split Tee connection of FEMA.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2020

This paper examines the seismic performance and structural design of the ceiling bracket-type modular connection. The bracket-type system reduces the cross-sectional area loss of members and combines units using fitting steel plate, and it has been developed to be fit for medium-story and higher-story buildings. In particular, this study conducted the cyclic loading test for the performance of the C-type and L-type brackets, and compared the results. The test results were also compared with the commercial FEA program. In addition, the structural design process for the bracket-type modular connection was presented. The two connections, proposed as a result of the test results, were all found to secure the seismic performance level of the special moment steel frame. In the case of initial stiffness, the L-type bracket connection was found to be great, but in the case of the maximum moment or fully plastic moment, it was different depending on the loading direction.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.221-231
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cyclic behavior of steel column-tree moment connections used in steel moment resisting frames. These connections are composed of shop-welded stub beam-to-column connection and field bolted beam-to-beam splice. In this study, the effects of beam splice length on the seismic performance of column-tree connections were experimentally investigated. The change of the beam splice location alters the bending moment and shear force at the splice, and this may affect the seismic performance of column-tree connections. Three full-scale test specimens of column-tree connections with the splice lengths of 900 mm, 1,100 mm, and 1,300 mm were fabricated and tested. The splice lengths were roughly 1/6, 1/7, 1/8 of the beam span length of 7,500 mm, respectively. The test results showed that all the specimens successfully developed ductile behavior without brittle fracture until 5% radians story drift angle. The maximum moment resisting capacity of the specimens showed little differences. The specimen with the splice length of 1,300 mm showed better bolt slip resistance than the other specimens due to the smallest bending moment at the beam splice.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.315-337
• /
• 2023

The steel structure is an assembly of individual structural members joined together by connections. The connections are the focal point to transfer the forces which is susceptible to damage easily. It is challenging to replace the affected connection parts after an earthquake. Hence, steel plates are utilised as a structural fuse that absorbs connection forces and fails first. The objective of the present research is to develop a beam-column end plate connection with single and dual fuse and study the effect of single fuse, dual fuse and combined action of fuse and damper. In this research, seismic resilient beam-column end plate connection is developed in the form of structural fuse. The novel connection consists of one main fuse was placed horizontally and secondary fuse was placed vertically over main fuse. The specimens are fabricated with the variation in number of fuse (single and dual) and position of fuse (beam flange top and bottom). From the fabricated ten specimens five specimens were loaded monotonically and five cyclically. The experimental results are compared with Finite Element Analysis results of Arunkumar and Umamaheswari (2022). The results are critically assessed in the aspect of moment-rotation behaviour, strain in connection components, connection stiffness, energy dissipation characteristics and ductility. While comparing the performance of total five specimens, the connection with fuse exhibited superior performance than the conventional connection. An equation is proposed for the moment of resistance of end-plate connection without and with structural fuse.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.473-486
• /
• 2023

A through-railway bridge with an inclined girder has recently been applied to optimize the cross-section of a slender bridge structure in railway bridges. To achieve the additional cross-section optimization effect by the bolted end-plate connection, it is necessary to investigate the application of the bolted end-plate tension connection between the inclined girder and the crossbeam. This basic study was conducted on the application of the bolted end-plate moment connection of crossbeams to half-through girders with inclined webs. The combined behavior of vertical deflection and rotational behavior was observed due to the effect of the web inclination in the inclined girder where the steel crossbeam was connected to the girder by the bolted end-plate moment connection. Therefore, in the experiment, the deflection of the inclined girder was 1.77-2.93 times greater than that of the vertical girder but the lateral deflection of the inclined girder was 0.4 times less than that of the vertical girder. Moreover, the tensile stress of the upper bolts in the inclined girder with low crossbeams was clearly 0.81 times lower than that of the vertical girder. According to the results, the design formula for vertical girders does not reflect the influence of the web inclination. Therefore, this study proposed the design procedures for the inclined girder to apply the bolted end-plate moment connection of the crossbeam to the inclined girder by reflecting the design change factors according to the effect of the web inclination.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.281-291
• /
• 2010

In this study, a five-story steel frame was designed in accordance with KBC2005 to evaluate the effects of the beam-column connection on the structural behavior. The connections were designed as fully rigid and semi-rigid. The fiber model was used to describe the moment-curvature relationship of the steel beam and the column, the power model for the moment-rotation angle of the semi-rigid connection and the three-parameter model for the hysteretic behavior of the steel beam, column, and connection. The structure was idealized as separate 2-D frames and as connected 2-D frames. The peak ground accelerations of four earthquake records were modified in a time-history analysis for the levels of the mean return period and for the maximum base-shear force in a pushover analysis. The top story displacement, base-shear force, story drift, demanded ductility ratio for the semi-rigid connection, maximum bending moment of the column, beam, and connection, and distribution of the plastic hinge were examined in the time-history analysis. The frame with the semi-rigid connection yielded a lower base-shear force, less magnitude, and increasing ratio in the bending moment of the column, beam, and connection than the frame with a fully rigid connection. The TSD connection was deemed to have secured the economy and safety of the sample structure that was subjected to seismic excitation for the Korean design level.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.617-630
• /
• 2010

Different types of moment resisting connections are commonly used to transfer the induced seismic moments between frame elements in an earthquake resisting structure. The local connection behavior may drastically affect the global seismic response of the structure. In this study, the finite element and experimental seismic investigations are implemented on two frequently used connection type to evaluate the local behavior and to reveal the failure modes. An alternative connection type is then proposed to eliminate the unfavorable brittle fracture modes resulted from probable poor welding quality. This will develop a reliable predefined ductile plastic mechanism forming away from the critical locations. Employing this technique, the structural reliability of the moment resisting connections shall be improved by achieving a controllable energy dissipation source in form of yielding of the cover plates.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.16 no.6 s.73
• /
• pp.833-846
• /
• 2004

This study presents a non-prismatic beam element for modeling the elastic behavior of steel beams, which have the post-Northridge connections in steel moment frames. The elastic stiffness matrix, including the shear effects for non-prismatic members with reduced beam section (RBS) connection, is in closed form. A simplified approach is also suggested, which uses a prismatic beam element to model beams with the RBS connection. This method can estimate quiteexactly the maximum story drift ratios of frames with the RBS connection. The effects of reduced beam section connection on the elastic stiffness of steel moment frames were investigated. The selection of a proper model to account for deformations at the joint might have a more important role in estimating the maximum story drift ratios of frames with better accuracy than the RBS cutouts.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.321-332
• /
• 2020

The loss of composite action at the hogging moment zone for a continuous composite girder reduces the girder stiffness and strength. This paper presents an experimental investigation of the use of an ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) slab at the hogging moment zone and a normal concrete (NC) slab at the sagging moment zone. The testing was conducted to verify the level of loading at which composite action is maintained at the hogging moment zone. Four two-span continuous composite girders were tested. The thickness of the UHPC varied between a half and a full depth of slab. The degree of shear connection at the hogging moment zone varied between full and partial. The experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of the UHPC slab to enhance the girder stiffness and maintain the composite action at the hogging moment zone at a load level much higher than the upper service load limit. To a lesser degree enhanced performance was also noted for the smaller thickness of the UHPC slab and partial shear connection at the hogging moment zone. Plastic analysis was conducted to evaluate the ultimate capacity of the girder which yielded a conservative estimation. Finite element (FE) modeling evaluated the girder performance numerically and yielded satisfactory results. The results indicated that composite action at the hogging moment zone is maintained for the degree of shear connection taken as 50% of the full composite action and use of UHPC as half depth of slab thickness.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.68 no.5
• /
• pp.591-601
• /
• 2018

Non-moment beam-to-column connections, which are usually referred to as simple or shear connections, are typically designed to carry only gravity loads in the form of vertical shears. Although in the analysis of structures these connections are usually assumed to be pinned, they may provide a small amount of rotational stiffness due to the typical connection details. This paper investigates the effects of this small rotational restraint of simple beam-to-column connections on the behavior and seismic response of steel braced non-moment resisting frames. Two types of commonly used simple connections with bolted angles, i.e., the Double Web angle Connection (DWC) and Unstiffened Seat angle Connection (USC) are considered for this purpose. In addition to the pinned condition - as a simplified representation of these connections - more accurate semi-rigid models are established and then applied to some frame models subjected to nonlinear pushover and nonlinear time history analyses. Although the use of bracing elements generally reduces the sensitivity of the global structural response to the behavior of connections, the obtained results indicate considerable effects on the local responses. Namely, our results show that consideration of the real behavior of connections is essential in designing the column elements where the pin-connection assumption significantly underestimates design of outer columns of upper stories.