Abstract:
An investigation using analytical and finite element analysis techniques has been
conducted to study the behavior of extended end-plate moment connections having
bolts exclusively in the extended portions of the end-plate. The objective of the study
is the determination of the appropriate end-plate thickness and bolt diameter for a
particular design moment.
Finite element method has been employed to study the behavior of end-plate
connections of several universal beam sections. The moment-rotation relationship of
the connection has been singled out as the best characterization of connection
behavior. The finite element analysis techniques used have been validated against
previous full-scale experimental results of conventional end-plate connections
having both inner and outer bolts. In absence of any available experimental data on
end-plate connections with only outer bolts, the finite element analysis has been
considered as a substitute to full-scale experiments. The contribution of the endplate
and the bolts to the overall connection behavior has been investigated over the
full range of loading. An analytical formulation to determine the required end-plate
thickness for the extended end-plate connection for a particular design moment has
been developed from plastic theories of structure. The results from the analytical
formulation have been compared against those from the finite element analysis.
Excellent agreement has been observed at design moments near the plastic
moment capacity of the connecting beam. In view of the deviation of results at lower
moment values the analytical formulation has been modified with a multiplication
factor. The modified analytical formulation gives excellent agreement over a wide
range of design moments.
Connection configurations of this type lead to greater flexibility as the connection
behavior is dominated by the bending of the end-plate. In view of the excellent
agreement of the proposed analytical formulation and finite element analysis results,
the proposed formulas for determining end-plate thickness and bolt diameters can
be said to be satisfactory for application in design of the particular connection
configuration of the present study.
