2 - Behaviour of steel beam-to-column joints subject to removal of a single column

Abstract

In this chapter, the key findings on the structural behaviour of steel beam-to-column joints subject to the removal of a single column are highlighted through comprehensive experimental and numerical studies. In the experimental studies, seven commonly adopted bolted steel joints in practice, comprising four simple connections, i.e., (1) fin plate, (2) top and seat angle, (3) web cleat, and (4) top and seat with web 8mm thickness angle; and three semi-rigid connections, including (1) extended end plate, (2) flush end plate, and (3) top and seat with 12mm thick web angle, were tested and investigated with the removal of a central column. The failure modes and structural behaviour of different connection types, including their deflection capacities in catenary action mode are presented. Additional test series of three types of bolted-angle connections, including top and seat angle, web cleat, and top and seat with web angle (TSWA) connections, were studied with varying angle thicknesses of 8, 10, and 12mm to demonstrate the influence on ductility and load-carrying capacity under catenary action (CA). The numerical analyses and validations of six types of connections, i.e., fin plate, web cleat, TSWA with 8mm thick angle, extended end plate, flush end plate, and TSWA with 12mm thick angle, are also presented to explore the applications of two types of solvers (static and explicit dynamic) to handle numerical issues such as contact, convergence at large deflection, and simulation of fracture. The validated finite element model and analyses were adopted for further extensive parametric studies on various types of connections, in particular, rotational capacity under CA.