• 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.4 no.2
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• pp.77-94
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• 2004

Steel beam-to-column joints are often subjected to a combination of bending and axial forces. The level of axial forces in the joint may be significant, typical of pitched-roof portal frames, sway frames or frames with incomplete floors. Current specifications for steel joints do not take into account the presence of axial forces (tension and/or compression) in the joints. A single empirical limitation of 10% of the beam's plastic axial capacity is the only enforced provision in Annex J of Eurocode 3. The objective of the present paper is to describe some experimental and numerical work carried out at the University of Coimbra to try to extend the philosophy of the component method to deal with the combined action bending moment and axial force.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2010

The current trends in steel construction involve the use of tapered sections to minimize the use of excess materials to the extent possible, by choosing cross-sections that are as economical as possible abandoning the classical approach of using prismatic members. In addition, snug-tightened connections, especially the end-plate type, have the advantage of fetching less construction costs and shorter assembly times as opposed to fully tightened joints. Although they have many merits, however, snug-tightened bolted end plates are extremely complex in their structural behavior. In this study, an experimental investigation of the snug-tightened flush end-plate connections of tapered beams were conducted. The primary test parameters were the torque for the clamping bolt, the loading pattern, the bolt type and the connection failure type. Using initial stiffness and load-carrying capacity as proposed by Silva et al. and AISC (2003), the moment-rotation curve of a linearly tapered member with a snug-tightened flush end-plate connection was predicted. Moreover, numerical and experimental data for moment-rotation curves were compared.