Seismic performance evaluation of slotted-weband bolt-flange plate moment connection

Abstract

In this article, a steel moment connection of beam to the column called a slotted web and bolt flange plate moment connection is introduced and the seismic performance of the connection is assessed by modeling the finite element. The connection consists of two slots in the beam web and bolted plates to the beam flange at the area of connection of the beam to the column to create a plastic hinge in an area farther from the column face, thus reducing the plastic strain equivalent to the panel zone and welding the beam-to-column connection area. The beam is connected to the slab on the side so that no plastic hinge is created against the side buckling. A numerical study has been performed to find the effectiveness of the proposed connection parameters. The results showed that following the limitations in this study, the SW-BFP connection had better hysteresis behavior than the SW connection. The deformation capacity of the connection in the SW-BFP connection (slotted web and bolt flange plate moment connection) has increased up to 112% compared to the connection of the beam with the slot web (SW). The sheet bolted to the beam flange on both sides of the beam with the slot die causes the buckling modes to occur later and reduces the stress by 23.93% in the beam-to-column connection area and 20.94% in the connection panel zone compared to the SW connection. Also, adding bolt-to-beam plates to the SW connection reduces the plastic strain in the panel zone by 87%, while the strain value in the beam-to-column connection area has reached zero.