Moment-rotation curves of ultra-large capacity end-plate joints based on component method

Abstract

The behavior of the beam-to-column joints in steel frames can be represented by the moment-rotation curves in the structural analysis. The moment resistance and the rotational stiffness are two basic parameters in the moment-rotation relationships. For the ultra-large capacity end-plate joint, which is a new bolted beam-to-column joint form in steel frames with large spans or heavy loads, investigations are necessary to predict these two parameters as well as the moment-rotation relationships. Summarizing the existing results of experiments and finite element analysis, the behavior of the ultra-large capacity end-plate joint was analyzed based on the component method specified in the Eurocode 3, and a new component referred to as cruciform stub was proposed for this new joint form. Systematical methods to decide the moment resistance and the rotational stiffness were introduced based on component analysis, while the experimental results and the finite element analysis results were employed to validate the methods. A new representation to predict the moment-rotation curve of this joint form was proposed based on the moment resistance and rotational stiffness obtained by the component analysis, and the moment-rotation curves obtained by the proposed representation showed good agreements with the curves obtained from the experiments, indicating that these curves according to the proposed representation can be adopted in the design and analysis of the ultra-large capacity end-plate joints.