EVALUATION OF RIGIDITY OF EXTENDED END-PLATE CONNECTIONS

Extended end-plate connections are usually regarded as rigid connectio ns. This recognition has not been investigated systematically in frame analysis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of rigidity of extended end-plate connections utilizing the experimental moment-r otation data of steel beam-to-column connections stored in an updated database. It is revealed from this study that all of the real extended end-plate connections stored in the database may not serve the purpos e of rigid connection. About 49% of these connections have an initial connection stiffness < 10(5.05) kN-m/rad (10(6) kip-in./rad). These co nnections may be regarded as semirigid connections. Those connections whose initial connection stiffness are > 10(5.05) kN-m/rad (10(6) kip- in./rad) may be classified as rigid connections depending upon their u ltimate moment capacity. These conclusions are compared with two syste ms of connection classifications.