MODELING FOR MOMENT-ROTATION CHARACTERISTICS FOR END-PLATE CONNECTIONS

An analytical procedure is proposed to establish the nonlinear moment- rotation (M-Phi) characteristics for the bolted end-plate connections in flexibly jointed steel frames. The connection characteristics are a ssumed to depend on the component behavior of the tension zone, the co mpression zone, and the shear zone. The column flange and end plate wi th each bolt row in the tension zone are considered as a series of T-s tub assembly with the effective length recommended by the Eurocode 3. Based on the beam and yield-line theory, the elastoplastic force-defor mation relationship for each T-stub assembly is derived. With the cons ideration of the deformation of column web in compression and shear zo ne, the connection rotation Phi under bending moment M is evaluated ac cordingly. The proposed analytical model is compared with some experim ental results of extended and flush end-plate connections, and the fea sibility and validation of the proposed model are demonstrated.