ROTATION CAPACITY OF WIDE-FLANGE BEAMS AND BEAM-COLUMNS .2. EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL TESTS

In the first part of the paper, the theoretical approaches for determi ning the available rotation capacity of wide-flange steel beams and be am-columns are presented. Using a plastic mechanism, the computer prog ram DUCTROT 96 is elaborated to determine this rotation capacity. The present paper is engaged with a comparison between the experimental da ta and theoretical results (using FEM) and remarks on the numerical te sts obtained using the DUCTROT 96 computer program. A systematic study of the influence of the main factors on the rotation capacity is pres ented. The major conclusion of this study is the proposal to change th e concept of cross-section behavioural classes, used in codes for dete rmining the rotation capacity, with the concept of member behavioural classes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.