The traditional non-sway frame design usually adopts flexible connections in the column's minor axis. Unfortunately, when sway frame design is required, rigid stiffened connections have to be used. On the other hand, rigid connections have higher associated fabrication costs and give rise to a number of questions about their real structural behavior. To overcome these difficulties the semi-rigid connection fit as a natural solution, reducing the final cost and presenting a more realistic structural behavior. These facts were the main motivation for the development of an experimental program, comprising beam to column minor axis connections. The experimental results enable the assessment of structural parameters like: the moment versus rotation curve, stress patterns, and collapse mechanisms. A non-linear finite element analysis of minor axis frame connections was also performed using the ANSYS computer program. With these results in hand, a semi-rigid design model for minor axis frame connections was proposed. The developed model is based on the mechanical model concept adopted in the Eurocode 3 Annex J.
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