An alternative detail for continuity plates in steel beam to box-column moment-connections

摘要

In this study, the use of an internal vertical stiffener in built-up box-columns parallel to the beam web, which turns the column section into a boxed I-section in the connection region to eliminate the common continuity plates, is assessed through an experimental and numerical study. For this purpose, two full-scale exterior !beam to box-column moment connections (one with common continuity plates and the other one with a vertical stiffener as an alternative detail) are tested under reversed cyclic loading. The test results in terms of hysteresis moment-rotation curves, strain in critical stations, and observations during the tests indicate that the connection with the vertical stiffener could survive story drifts of up to 4% without any strength loss and brittle failure such as weld fracture. For further investigation of the seismic performance of the proposed detail, Finite Element Modeling (FEM) of the test specimens is also conducted in the FE software ABAQUS and validated using the test results. The results of the numerical study also confirm the satisfactory behavior of the connections with the proposed detail. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.