Numerical Study on the Structural Performance of Steel Beams with Slant End-plate Connections

Abstract

Thermal effects can be one of the most harmful conditions that any steel structure should expect throughout its service life. To counteract this effect, a new beam, with a capability to dissipate thermally induced axial force by slanting of end-plate connection at both ends, is proposed. The beam was examined in terms of its elastic mechanical behavior under symmetric transverse load in presence of an elevated temperature by means of direct stiffness finite element model. The performance of such connection is defined under two resisting mechanisms; by friction force dissipation between faces of slant connection and by small upward crawling on slant plane. The presented numerical method is relatively easy and useful to evaluate the behavior of the proposed beam of various dimensions at different temperatures. Its applicability is evident through satisfactory results verification with those from experimental, analytical and commercially available finite element software. Based on the good agreement between theoretical and experimental methods, a series of design curves were developed as a safe-practical range for the slant end-plate connections which are depend on the conditions of the connection.

An Overview of the Connection Classification Index

“…The availability of a large database on the actual M-θ characteristics of various connections makes it possible to conduct extensive verification of the rigidity and classification indices proposed by AISC and Eurocode 3 "EC3". To this end, over the past few decades, a great deal of effort has been expended within the research arm of the structural engineering profession to address the topic of classification of connections and their impact on the structural response [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. These analyses mainly involve the calculation of stiffness and strength from the experimental M-θ curve, which is validated using Finite Element analyses.…”