Behaviour of flush end-plate beam-to-column joints under bending and axial force

Abstract

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.