TY - JOUR
T1 - Response and component characterisation of semi-rigid connections to tubular columns under axial loads
AU - Liu, Y.
AU - Málaga-Chuquitaype, C.
AU - Elghazouli, A. Y.
N1 - Funding Information:
The support of Tata Steel Tubes for the research described in this paper is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are also grateful to the technical staff of the Structures Laboratories at Imperial College London, particularly Mr. T. Stickland and Mr. R. Millward, for their assistance with the experimental work. Additionally, the first author would like to acknowledge the grant provided by The China Scholarship Council and The UK Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills for her doctoral research studies through a UK/China Scholarship for Excellence.
PY - 2012/8
Y1 - 2012/8
N2 - This paper examines the behaviour of open beam-to-tubular column bolted connections with angles subjected to direct tension and compression. Experimental and numerical studies as well as simplified mechanical assessments are presented. The response of seven tension tests and six compression tests on blind-bolted angle connections and combined channel/angle configurations are described and discussed in detail. Firstly, the experimental set-up, connection details and material properties are introduced followed by a detailed account of the results and observations from the tests. Based on the experimental results, the main behavioural patterns are identified and the salient response characteristics such as stiffness, capacity and failure mechanism are examined. It is shown that, for Hollo-bolted details, the distance between the blind-bolt and beam flange, the angle thickness and the column thickness have significant effects on the initial stiffness and tensile capacity of the connection. In addition, in the case of reverse channel connections, a direct relationship is deduced between the thickness of the channel component and the connection stiffness and capacity. It is also shown that the inelastic axial mechanisms exhibited by these types of connections are largely determined by the relative widths of the column/reverse channel and beam/angle components. Complementary finite element simulations are presented and utilised, together with the experimental findings, to highlight the main inelastic response characteristics for these forms of connections under direct axial action. Finally, the component-based method is extended to deal with angle connections between open beams and tubular columns employing Hollo-bolts or reverse channel components. To this end, expressions for the estimation of connection stiffness and capacity under axial actions are proposed and validated.
AB - This paper examines the behaviour of open beam-to-tubular column bolted connections with angles subjected to direct tension and compression. Experimental and numerical studies as well as simplified mechanical assessments are presented. The response of seven tension tests and six compression tests on blind-bolted angle connections and combined channel/angle configurations are described and discussed in detail. Firstly, the experimental set-up, connection details and material properties are introduced followed by a detailed account of the results and observations from the tests. Based on the experimental results, the main behavioural patterns are identified and the salient response characteristics such as stiffness, capacity and failure mechanism are examined. It is shown that, for Hollo-bolted details, the distance between the blind-bolt and beam flange, the angle thickness and the column thickness have significant effects on the initial stiffness and tensile capacity of the connection. In addition, in the case of reverse channel connections, a direct relationship is deduced between the thickness of the channel component and the connection stiffness and capacity. It is also shown that the inelastic axial mechanisms exhibited by these types of connections are largely determined by the relative widths of the column/reverse channel and beam/angle components. Complementary finite element simulations are presented and utilised, together with the experimental findings, to highlight the main inelastic response characteristics for these forms of connections under direct axial action. Finally, the component-based method is extended to deal with angle connections between open beams and tubular columns employing Hollo-bolts or reverse channel components. To this end, expressions for the estimation of connection stiffness and capacity under axial actions are proposed and validated.
KW - Blind-bolted angle connections
KW - Combined channel/angle connections
KW - Component models
KW - Compression behaviour
KW - Tension action
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84861014248&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.engstruct.2012.03.061
DO - 10.1016/j.engstruct.2012.03.061
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84861014248
SN - 0141-0296
VL - 41
SP - 510
EP - 532
JO - Engineering Structures
JF - Engineering Structures
ER -