Analytical and numerical modeling of flush end-plate connection system with built-up hybrid beam

Abstract

This thesis presents the analytical and numerical investigations of the flexural behavior of flush end-plate connections with built-up hybrid beam connected in a partially welded manner. Firstly, the ABAQUS finite element (FE) software was used to model the three-dimensional (3D) beam to column connection behaviors in a geometrically nonlinear environment, for four different structural configurations. Secondly, a new equation had been proposed to produce the moment-rotation (M–?) relationship of connections using a linearly distributed multi-parameter fitting approach for the maximum moment term description, taking into account also the rotational stiffness term, which is defined by the component method. The results of FE, equation, and the experimental approaches were compared, from which agreements in the M–? relationship and the failure mode were strongly evident. For demonstration of applicability of the proposed equation, several geometric configurations of European steel i-beams (IPE) were chosen from EN10034:1993 where the produced M-? relationship corresponded excellently with those of FE models. In addition, details of stress distribution contours had been plotted by FE, and discussed for all models, from which the ranking of stress criticality of all parts had been determined. It was found that the rotational behavior of the studied connection is dominated by the tension side and beam web buckling, the most critical parts of which are bolts and holed areas, with the stress in the former doubles those in other areas. The main contribution of current study comes in the form of the introduction of a verified novel equation technique validated with the aid of 3D FE modeling for describing the flexural behavior of beam to column system in terms of computationally cheap production of M-? relationship, greatly beneficial for parametric study