Experimental and analytical investigation of drilled flange connections (DFCs) with radial drilling patterns

Abstract

The capability of reduced beam sections (RBS) to improve the seismic behavior of rigid connections leads to their notable application in steel moment-resisting frames. However, they may encounter shortcomings such as local buckling and lateral-torsional buckling. To resolve such problems, the idea of utilizing perforated beam flanges instead of cut-out flanges as reduced beam sections was presented. These type of connections can reduce the potential for local and lateral-torsional buckling of conventional RBS connections and improve their seismic performance. Achieving such advantages requires special care to geometrical specifications and drilling patterns (DPs). Appropriate arrangement of holes reduces the stress concentration around the beam flange-to-column Complete Joint Penetration (CJP) groove weld and, consequently, prevents the groove weld and inter-hole area from tearing and fracturing in early cycles of loading. The present study investigated the hysteretic performance of the drilled flange connections (DFCs) of various drilling arrangements through an experimental program.It should be noted that the box-shaped columns were considered in this study to target the 3D moment resisting frames (MRFs) that all their axes participate in the lateral force-resisting system. The most appropriate drilling patterns were selected using remarkable numbers of numerical analyses. Four laboratory specimens with different drilling arrangements of top and bottom flanges were fabricated based on preliminary numerical analyses. The laboratory specimens were subjected to cyclic loading. To evaluate the specimens' seismic performance, moment-rotation hysteresis curves were compared, and the stress distribution at the connection CJP groove welds. The results of the experimental tests revealed that those DFCs with combined DP with notches and holes (DFC1), radial DP (DFC2), semi radial DP with notches (DFC3), and semi radial DP (DFC4) could increase the rotational capacity of the DFCs up to 50% of the required rotation of the special moment-resisting connections. Moreover, semi radial DP (DFC4) may increase the connection's rotational capacity up to 75% of the special moment-resisting connections. Also, Based on the analytical results, conventional RBS connections may increase the 0.04 radians, needed rotational capacity up to 37.5% for a pre-qualified moment-resisting connection. It was also shown that no lateral-torsional buckling and smaller degradation in stiffness and strength took place in plastic hinge zones at the relative deformation of 0.04 radians. The plastic strain at the center of the CJP groove weld line in the beam longitudinal direction was more significant than those corners of the groove weld line in the same direction. In all specimens, the minimum plastic strain of the CJP groove weld took place in central parts of the weld in the transverse direction. In DFC1, DFC2, DFC3, and DFC4 specimens, the contribution of panel zone rotation in the overall plastic rotation of the connection is negligible.