• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.453-467
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• 2019

Portal frame structures, made up of cold-formed steel trusses, are increasingly being used for lightweight building construction. A novel pin-jointed moment connector, called the Howick Rivet Connector (HRC), was developed and tested previously in T-joints and truss assemblage to determine its reliable strength, stiffness and moment resisting capacity. This paper presents an experimental study on the HRC, in moment resisting cold-formed steel trusses. The connection method is devised where intersecting truss members are confined by a gusset connected by HRCs to create a rigid moment connection. In total, three large scale experiments were conducted to determine the elastic capacity and cyclic behaviour of the gusseted truss moment connection comprising HRC connectors. Theoretical failure loads were also calculated and compared against the experimental failure loads. Results show that the HRCs work effectively at carrying high shear loads between the members of the truss, enabling rigid behaviour to be developed and giving elastic behaviour without tilting up to a defined yield point. An extended gusset connection has been proposed to maximize the moment carrying capacity in a truss knee connection using the HRCs, in which they are aligned around the perimeter of the gusset to maximize the moment capacity and to increase the stability of the truss knee joint.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.23-40
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• 2014

In this article, using finite element method of analysis (FEM), behavior of the endplate moment connection subjected to axial force and bending moment is investigated. In the FEM model, all the nonlinear characteristics such as material, geometry, as well as contact have been included. First, in order to verify the numerical model of the connection, an analysis of the endplate moment connection conducted without the application of the axial force. Results obtained from FEM indicating a close and good correlation with the experimental results. Then to investigate the influence of the axial forces, the connections subjected to axial forces as well as the bending moment are analyzed. To observe the overall effect of these actions, the momentaxial force interaction diagrams are drawn. It is observed that the presence of axial force even in a small value can change the behavior of the connection significantly. It is also shown that the axial forces can alter the failure mode of the connection; and therefore it could result in a different than the predicted moment capacity of the connection.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.487-498
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• 2024

Steel moment resisting frames (MRFs) typically have inter-story drift concentrations at lower stories during earthquakes as found from previous research. Hinged walls (HWs) can be used as structural strengthening components to force the MRFs deform uniformly along the building height. However, large moment demands are often observed on HWs and make the design of HWs non-economical. This paper proposes a method to reduce the moment demand on HWs using a ductile connection system between the MRFs and the HWs. The ductile connection system is designed with a yield strength and energy dissipation capacity, for the purpose of limiting the seismic forces transferred to the HWs and dissipating seismic energy. Nonlinear time history analyses were performed using 10 far-filed earthquakes at maximum considered earthquake level. The analysis results show that the proposed ductile connection system can reduce: (1) seismic moment demands in the HWs; (2) floor accelerations; (3) the connection force between HWs and MRFs.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.33-46
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• 1999

In spite of 6.8 magnitude and the neighborhood of the epicenter, the steel moment frame survived after Northridge earthquake without collapse or casualties. However, following investigation revealed that there were severe damages at the column-weld interface of welded flange-bolted web (WFBW) steel moment connection, which was believed to be economic and safe from earthquakes based on experience and past tests. In this paper, this unexpected brittle fracture of the steel moment connection is explored using linear elastic fracture mechanics and post-Northridge tests. A method to predict the brittle fracture strength of the steel moment connection is proposed. Using this method, the failure mode of the WFBW connection and reduced beam section (RBS) connection are presented.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.201-214
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• 2001

Four finite element (FE) models are examined to find the one that best estimates moment-rotation characteristics of top- and seat-angle with double web-angle connections. To efficiently simulate the real behavior of connections, finite element analyses are performed with following considerations: 1) all components of connection (beam, column, angles and bolts) are discretized by eight-node solid elements; 2) shapes of bolt shank, head, and nut are precisely taken into account in modeling; and 3) contact surface algorithm is applied as boundary condition. To improve accuracy in predicting moment-rotation behavior of a connection, bolt pretension is introduced before the corresponding connection moment being surcharged. The experimental results are used to investigate the applicability of FE method and to check the performance of three-parameter power model by making comparison among their moment-rotation behaviors and by assessment of deformation and stress distribution patterns at the final stage of loading. This research exposes two important features: (1) the FE method has tremendous potential for connection modeling for both monotonic and cyclic loading; and (2) the power model is able to predict moment-rotation characteristics of semi-rigid connections with acceptable accuracy.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.203-219
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• 2006

One of the most promising ways through which a steel moment frame may attain high energy dissipating capability is to trim off a portion of the beam flanges near the column face. This type of moment connection, known as Reduced Beam Section (RBS) connection, has notable superiority in comparison with other moment connection types. As the result of the advantages of RBS moment connection, it has widely being used in practice. In spite of the good hysteretic behaviour, an RBS beam suffers from an undesirable drawback, which is local and lateral instability of the beam. The instability in the RBS beam reduces beam load-carrying capacity. This paper aims to investigate key issues influencing cyclic behaviour of RBS beams. To this end, a numerical analysis was conducted on a series of steel subassemblies with various geometric properties. The obtained results together with the existing experimental data are used to study the instability of RBS beams. A new slenderness concept is presented to control an RBS beam for combined local and lateral instability. This concept is in good agreement with the numerical and experimental results. Finally, a model is developed for the prediction of the magnitude of moment degradation owing to the instability of an RBS beam.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.415-424
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• 2013

The goal of this study is to analyze the effects of geometries of mortise and tenon on moment carrying capacity of the "sagae" connection. Effects of different tenon widths, mortise depths of connection from the top and bottom beams on stress distribution were investigated using the finite element method (FEM). Critical normal and shear stresses occurred at the reentrant corner from the mortise of the bottom beam. The maximum moment carrying capacity of the sagae connection from the FEM was validated from the results of experimental test. Maximizing moment carrying capacity of the sagae connection was found when the tenon width and mortise depth from the two beams were 40 mm and 60 mm, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the moment resistance of glulam post-to-base connections by applying quasi-static cyclic loads. The connectors consisted of inserted plates and drifted pins according to the load direction. The connection types employed in this study were total three including two unidirectional types (H, V) and the multi-directional type (M). The moment resistance of 8 mm-plate M-type is compared to 6 mm plate. Total four types of Post-to-base connection are prepared and tested under pseudo-static reversed cyclic loading. Test results showed that the yield moment of multi-directional connection is about 2 times higher than that uni-directional connections. The ductility ratio of multi-directional connection determined by EEEP was higher that that of uni-directional connection. It was becoming higher as the thickness of plate is increased. The Finite Element Analysis was conducted to estimate the stress distribution behavior of tested connections. Results showed the failure of multi-directional type were caused by the split of pined hole and the shear failure of lifted part of post.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1251-1264
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• 2016

After observing relatively poor performance of bolted web-welded flange beam-to-column connections during 1994 Northridge earthquake, various types of connections based on two concepts of: (i) strengthening the connection; and (ii) weakening the beam ends were proposed. Among these modified or newly proposed connections, bolted T-stub connection follows the concept of strengthening. One of the connections with the idea of weakening the beam ends is reduced beam section (RBS). In this paper, finite element simulation is used to study the cyclic behavior of a new proposed connection developed by using a combination of both mentioned concepts. Investigated connections are exterior beam-to-column connections designed to comply with AISC provisions. The results show that moment capacity and dissipated energy of the new proposed connection is almost the same as those computed for a T-stub connection and higher than corresponding values for an RBS connection.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.35-54
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• 2015

The performance of a newly generated steel connection known as SidePlateTM moment connection for seismic loading and progressive collapse phenomenon has been investigated in this paper. The seismic evaluation portion of the study included a thorough study on of interstory drift angles and flexural strengths based on 2010 AISC Seismic Provisions while the acceptance criteria provided in UFC 4-023-03 guideline to resist progressive collapse must be satisfied by the rotational capacity of the connections. The results showed that the SidePlate moment connection was capable of attaining adequate rotational capacity and developing full inelastic capacity of the connecting beam. Moreover, the proposed connection demonstrated an exceptional performance for keeping away the plastic hinges from the connection and exceeding interstory drift angle of 0.06 rad with no fracture developments in beam flange groove-welded joints. The test results indicated that this type of connection had strength, stiffness and ductility to be categorized as a rigid, full-strength and ductile connection.