• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.2 s.54
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• pp.11-17
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• 2007

In current seismic design practice, the response modification factor (R-factor) is used as a factor to reduce the elastic base shear demand to the design force level. As is well-known, the R-factor is a committee-consensus factor and, as such, highly qualitative and empirical. The relationship between the R-factor and the connection rotation capacity available in a particular structural system has remained a missing link. In this paper, a rational procedure to evaluate the R-factor is proposed. To this end, the relationship between the available connection rotation capacity and the R-factor is defined and quantified using nonlinear pushover analysis. An RRS steel frame designed according to IBC 2000 was used to illustrate and verify the proposed procedure. Nonlinear time history analysis results indicated that the R-factor definition proposed in this study is generally conservative from design perspective.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2017

This paper focuses on the seismic performance of pallet-type steel storage rack structures in their down aisle direction. As evidenced by experimental research, the seismic response of storage racks in the down-aisle direction is strongly affected by the nonlinear moment-rotation response of the beam-to-column connections. In their down-aisle direction, rack structures are designed to resist lateral seismic loads with typical moment frames utilizing proprietary beam-to-column moment-resisting connections. These connections are mostly boltless hooked type connections and they exhibit significantly large rotations resulting in large lateral frame displacements when subjected to strong ground motions. In this paper, typical hooked boltless beam-to-column connections are studied experimentally to obtain their non-linear reversed cyclic moment-rotation response. Additionally, a compound type connection involving the standard hooks and additional bolts were also tested under similar conditions. The simple introduction of the additional bolts within the hooked connection is considered to be a practical way of structural upgrade in the connection. The experimentally evaluated characteristics of the connections are compared in terms of some important performance indicators such as maximum moment and rotation capacity, change in stiffness and accumulated energy levels within the cyclic loading protocol. Finally, the obtained characteristics were used to carry out seismic performance assessment of rack frames incorporating the tested beam-to-column connections. The assessment involves a displacement based approach that utilizes a simple analytical model that captures the seismic behavior of racks in their down-aisle direction. The results of the study indicate that the proposed method of upgrading appears to be a very practical and effective way of increasing the seismic performance of hooked connections and hence the rack frames in their down-aisle direction.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.507-528
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• 2016

Reduced beam section (RBS) moment resisting connections are among the most economical and practical rigid steel connections developed in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge and the 1995 Kobe earthquakes. Although the performance of RBS connection has been widely studied, this connection has not been subject to in the skewed conditions. In this study, the seismic performance of dogbone connection was investigated at different angles. The Commercial ABAQUS software was used to simulate the samples. The numerical results are first compared with experimental results to verify the accuracy. Nonlinear static analysis with von Mises yield criterion materials and the finite elements method were used to analyze the behavior of the samples The selected Hardening Strain of materials at cyclic loading and monotonic loading were kinematics and isotropic respectively The results show that in addition to reverse twisting of columns, change in beam angle relative to the central axis of the column has little impact on hysteresis response of samples. Any increase in the angle, leads to increased non-elastic resistance. As for Weak panel zone, with increase of the angle between the beam and the column, the initial submission will take place at a later time and at a larger rotation angle in the panel zone and this represents reduced amount of perpendicular force exerted on the column flange. In balanced and strong panel zones, with increase in the angle between the beam and the central axis of the column, the reduced beam section (RBS), reaches the failure limit faster and at a lower rotation angle. In connection of skewed beam, balanced panel zone, due to its good performance in disposition of plasticity process away from connection points and high energy absorption, is the best choice for panel zone. The ratio of maximum moment developed on the column was found to be within 0.84 to 1 plastic anchor point, which shows prevention of brittle fracture in connections.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.489-500
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• 2010

The rigid connections of I-beams to Rectangular Hollow Sections (RHS) in steel structures usually behave as semi-rigid connection. This behavior is directly related to the column face deformation. The deformation in the wall of RHS column in the connection zone causes a relative rotation between beam end and column axis, which consequently reduces the rigidity of beam-column connection. In the present paper, the percentages of connection rigidity reduction for serviceability conditions are evaluated by using the finite element analysis. Such percentages for RHS columns without internal stiffeners are considerable, and can be calculated from presented graphs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.617-624
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• 2008

Well-designed steel moment connections will undergo local buckling before they exhaust their available rotation capacity, and inelastic post-buckling deformation plays a major role in defining the connection rotation capacity. An approximate analytical method to model strength degradation and failure of beam plastic hinges due to local buckling and estimation of the seismic rotation capacity of fully restrained beam-column connections in special steel moment-resisting frames under both monotonic and cyclic loading conditions is proposed in this study. This method is based on the plastic mechanism and a yield line plastic hinge (YLPH) model whose geometry is determined using the shapes of the buckled plastic hinges observed in experiments. The proposed YLPH model was developed for the improved WUF-W and RBS connections and validated in comparison with experimental data. The effects of the beam section geometric parameters on the rotation capacity were discussed in the companion paper (parametric studies).

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

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.103-115
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• 2020

The cold-formed steel storage racks are extensively employed in various industries applications such as storing products in reliable places and storehouses before distribution to the market. Racking systems lose their stability under lateral loads, such as seismic actions due to the slenderness of elements and low ductility. This justifies a need for more investigation on methods to improve their behavior and increase their capacity to survive medium to severe loads. A standardized connection could be obtained through investigation on the moment resistance, value of original rotational stiffness, ductility, and failure mode of the connection. A total of six monotonic tests were carried out to determine the behavior of the connection of straight 2.0 mm, and 2.6 mm thickness connects to 5 lug end connectors. Then, the obtained results are benched mark as the original data. Furthermore, an extreme learning machine (ELM) technique has been employed to verify and predict both moment and rotation results. Out of 4 connections, increase the ultimate moment resistance of connection by 13% and 18% for 2.0 mm and 2.6 mm upright connection, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.355-363
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• 2010

The objective of this study is to examine the structural performance on the Rectangular Steel Tube Column-to-H Beam connections using one-side bolts and T-stub. Although a rectangular steel tube comparing with a H-shaped steel has many advantages and is more efficient, its application is limited due to the lack of experiences and connection details. Existing steel moment connections using the rectangular steel tube are mainly using through plate diaphragms. Its processing of construction is so complicated that it is hard to apply in the field. In this study, the structural performance and the earthquake capacity for T-stub connection with one-side bolts were investigated. And it is performed a comparative analysis of strength, rigidity, total rotation and energy absorption capacity for the various connection details.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.145-158
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• 2001

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effects of loading sequence and lateral bracing on the behavior of reduced beam section (RBS) steel moment frame connections. Four full-scale moment connections were cyclically tested-two with a standard loading history and the other two with a near-fault loading history. All specimens reached at least 0.03 radian of plastic rotation without brittle fracture of the beam flange groove welds. Two specimens tested with the nearfault loading protocol reached at least 0.05 radian of plastic rotation, and both experienced smaller buckling amplitudes at comparable drift levels. Energy dissipation capacities were insensitive to the types of loading protocol used. Adding a lateral bracing near the RBS region produced a higher plastic rotation; the strength degradation and buckling amplitude were reduced. A non-linear finite element analysis of a one-and-a-half-bay beam-column subassembly was also conducted to study the system restraint effect. The study showed that the axial restraint of the beam could significantly reduce the strength degradation and buckling amplitude at higher deformation levels.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1185-1201
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• 2015

The aim of this experimental research is to investigate the conformity of the four-bolt unstiffened moment end-plate connections consisting of European steel sections which do not meet the limitations specified for beam flange width and overall beam depth in ANSI/AISC 358-10 to the requirements of seismic application. However, the connections are satisfactory with the limitations required by Turkish Earthquake Code. For this purpose, four test specimens were designed and cyclic load was applied to three specimens while one was tested under monotonic loading to provide data for the calibration of the analytical models. The moment-rotation hysteresis loops and the failure modes for all test specimens are presented. A full three-dimensional finite element model is also developed for each test specimen for use to predict their behavior and to provide a tool for generating subsequent extensive parametric studies. The test results show that all specimens performed well in terms of rotation capacity and strength. Finite element models are found to be capable of approximating the cyclic behavior of the extended end-plate connection specimens.