Experimental Study of Gusseted Connections for Laterally Braced Steel Buildings

摘要

The behavior of three diagonally braced steel subassemblages was studied experimentally. The parameters which were varied included the gusset geometry and column orientation. The specimens were loaded to failure in their plane and load-deformation as well as strain data were recorded. The failure mode for the two strong-axis column connections was gusset buckling. The weak-axis column connection failed by tearing of the gusset plate. The moment introduced by the eccentricity in the bracing was distributed to the beam and column in the strong-axis column connection. This moment was carried almost entirely by the beam in the weak-axis connection due to the flexibility in the web connection. The current method of predicting gusset buckling appears to be very good giving a margin of safety of approximately three. The capacity of the clip angles, in accordance with AISC, was computed to be very low yet no distress in the clip angles was observed. This was because frame action introduced loads in the gusset-to-column bolts which counter-acted the load produced by the bracing.