• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.507-527
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• 2016

The use of shape memory alloys (SMAs) has been seriously considered in seismic engineering due to their capabilities, such as the ability to tolerate cyclic deformations and dissipate energy. Five 3-D extended end-plate connection models have been created, including one conventional connection and four connections with Nitinol bolts of four different prestress forces. Their cyclic behaviors have been investigated using the finite element method software ANSYS. Subsequently, the moment-rotation responses of the connections have been derived by subjecting them to cyclic loading based on SAC protocol. The results obtained in this research indicate that the conventional connections show residual deformations despite their high ductility and very good energy dissipation; therefore, they cannot be repaired after loading. However, while having good energy dissipation and high ductility, the connections equipped with Nitinol bolts have good recentering capability. Moreover, a connection with the mentioned specifications has been modeled, except that only the external bolts replaced with SMA bolts and assessed for seismic loading. The suggested connection shows high ductility, medium energy dissipation and very good recentering. The main objective of this research is to concentrate the deformations caused by cyclic loading on the connection in order to form super-elastic hinge in the connection by the deformations of the shape memory alloy bolts.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.291-305
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• 2011

The new structure consisting of continuous compound spiral hoop reinforced concrete (CCSHRC)column and steel concrete composite (SCC) beam has both the advantages of steel structures and concrete structures. Two types of beam-to-column connections applied in this structural system are presented in this paper. The connection details are as follows: the main bars in beam concrete pass through the core zone for both types of connections. For connecting bar connection, the steel I-beam webs are connected by bolts to a steel plate passing through the joint while the top and bottom flanges of the beams are connected by four straight and two X-shaped bars. For bolted end-plate connection, the steel I-beam webs are connected by stiffened extended end-plates and eight long shank bolts passing through the core zone. In order to study the seismic behaviour and failure mechanisms of the connections, quasi-static tests were conducted on both types of full-scale connection subassemblies and core zone specimens. The load-drift hysteresis loops show a plateau for the connecting bar connection while they are excellent plump for bolted end-plate connection. The shear capacity formulas of both types of connections are presented and the values calculated by the formula agree well with the test results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.569-590
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• 2022

This paper presents a combined experimental and numerical study on stainless steel end-plate connections, with an emphasis placed on their ultimate behaviour and rotation capacity. In the experimental phase, six connection specimens made of austenitic and lean duplex stainless steels are tested under monotonic loads. The tests are specifically designed to examine the close-to-failure behaviour of the connections at large deformations. It is observed that the rotation capacity is closely related to fractures of the stainless steel bolts and end-plates. In the numerical phase, an advanced finite element model suitable for fracture simulation is developed. The incorporated constitutive and fracture models are calibrated based on the material tests of stainless steel bolts and plates. The developed finite element model exhibits a satisfactory accuracy in predicting the close-to-failure behaviour of the tested connections. Finally, the moment resistance and rotation capacity of stainless steel end-plate connections are assessed based on the experimental tests and numerical analyses.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.6 no.3 s.21
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• pp.123-130
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• 2006

This study propose cutting body portion-high strength mechanical fasteners to improve deformation capacity of High strength bolts, which are the mechanical fasteners used for End-plate connections. And, we report that loading test results of steel beam-to-column connection using high deformation capacity-high strength bolts in accordance with SAC2000 loading program. As a result, the initial stiffness and the maximum strength of the connection using high deformation capacity-high strength bolts, are approximately the same in comparison with those of the end-plate connection using the existing high strength bolts. But the deformation capacity of the connection is more than twice as much as those.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.291-306
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• 2006

In order to improve the constructability and meanwhile ensure excellent seismic behavior, several innovative composite connection details were conceived and studied by the authors. This paper reports experimental results and observations on seismic behavior of steel beam bolted to reinforced concrete column connections (bolted RCS or BRCS). The proposed composite connection details involve post tensioning the end plates of the steel beams to the reinforced concrete or precast concrete columns using high-strength steel rods. A rational design procedure was proposed to assure a ductile behavior of the composite structure. Strut-and-tie model analysis indicates that a bolted composite connection has a favorable stress transfer mechanism. The excellent capacity and behavior were then validated through five full-scale beam to column connection model tests.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.461-468
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• 2012

P.E.B (Pre-Engineering Building) system means an economical system, which designs and uses optimal section proportion of tapered members according to the magnitude of bending moment. However, it is hard to adjust the friction type bolted joint in the joint of tapered member in the P.E.B system. End-plate connection is mainly used in this system due to that difficulty. Because P.E.B system has end-plate vertical defacts by heat welding deformation, a gap between end-plates and rafter or rib can be observed. In this study, an examination of construction stability was throughly performed and analyzed by the investigation of permissible internal force of bolts in end-plate connections under the bending moment using the end-plate's initial connection-defect (gap).

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.493-499
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• 2017

The behaviour of steel frames is highly influenced by the beam-column connections. Traditionally, Steel frames were usually designed assuming that connections are ideally pinned or fully rigid. A semi-rigid connection, however, creates a balance between the two extreme approaches mentioned above. In this research, two full scales of Extended End Plate Connections (EEPCs) were tested. Mathematical and numerical models were used to analyse the connections, and close correlations were found between these models and the corresponding tested specimens, which confirmed the confidence in the experimental results. The experimental results obtained enrich the available test data about behaviour of EEPC. In addition, the purpose of studying EEPC experimentally is to compare the stiffness and moment-rotation curve of EEPCs with that of Cap Plate Connections (CPCs), which were tested in a previous work. CPCs have not been studied sufficiently in the literature. The results obtained show that the typical CPC reduces the connection stiffness and these results will make a valuable contribution to the available test data in the research area of CPC.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.621-634
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• 2018

Flush end-plate (FEP) beam-to-column joints are commonly used for gravity load resisting parts in steel multi-storey buildings. However, in seismic resisting structures FEP joints should also provide rotation capacity consistent with the global structural displacements. The current version of EN1993-1-8 recommends a criterion aiming at controlling the thickness of the end-plate in order to avoid brittle failure of the connection, which has been developed for monotonic loading conditions assuming elastic-perfectly plastic behaviour of the connection's components in line with the theory of the component method. Hence, contrary to the design philosophy of the hierarchy of resistances implemented in EN1998-1, the over strength and the hardening of the plastic components are not directly accounted for. In light of these considerations, this paper describes and discusses the results obtained from parametric finite element simulations aiming at investigating the moment-rotation response of FEP joints under cyclic actions. The influence of bolt diameter, thickness of end-plate, number of bolt rows and shape of beam profile on the joint response is discussed and design requirements are proposed to enhance the ductility of the joints.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1215-1237
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• 2015

The majority of connections in moment resisting frames are considered as being fully-rigid. Consequently, the real behavior of the connection, which has some level of flexibility, is ignored. This may result in inaccurate predictions of structural response. This study investigates the influence of flexibility of the extended end-plate connections in the steel moment frames. This is done at two levels. First, the actual micro-behavior of extended end-plate moment connections is explored with respect to joint flexibility. Then, the macro-behavior of frames with end-plate moment connections is investigated using modal, nonlinear static pushover and incremental dynamic analyses. In all models, the P-Delta effects along with material and geometrical nonlinearities were included in the analyses. Results revealed considerable differences between the behavior of the structural frame with connections modeled as fully-rigid versus those when flexibility was incorporated, specifically difference occurred in the natural periods, strength, and maximum inter-story drift angle.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 2018

This paper reports a novel steel beam-to-column connection suitable for use in the weak axis of I-section column. Monotonic and cyclic loading experimental investigations and numerical analysis of the proposed weak-axis connection were conducted, and the calculation procedure of the beam-column relative rotation angle and plastic rotation angle was developed and described in details. A comparative analysis of mechanical property and steel consumption were employed for the proposed I-section column weak-axis connection and box-section column bending connection. The result showed that no signs of fracturing were observed and the plastic hinge formed reliably in the beam section away from the skin plate under the beam end monotonic loading, and the plastic hinge formed much closer to the skin plate under the beam end cyclic loading. The fracture of welds between diaphragm and skin plate would cause an unstable hysteretic response under the column top horizontal cyclic loading. The proposed weak-axis connection system could not only simplify the design calculation progress when I-section column is adopted in frame structural design but also effectively satisfy the requirements of 'strong joint and weak member', as well as lower steel consumption.