DESIGN OF STEEL FRAMES WITH SLENDER JOINT-PANELS

The behaviour of thin-walled slender joint-panels in knee joints of st eel frames and its influence on the overall behaviour of moment-resist ing frames is studied. The joint resistances is supplied by three diff erent mechanisms. The first mechanism is the shear buckling strength o f the joint-panel, which is dependent on its slenderness. The second m echanism is the tension field strength that is dependent on the relati on between the dimensions of the joint-panel and its surrounding flang es. The last mechanism is the resistance due to the frame action of th e joint-panel's surrounding frame. Design formulae for the evaluation of the joint resistance are derived. Monotonic and hysteretic rules fo r the description of the joint characteristics are proposed. Frame ana lyses considering the joint deformability are performed. The analytica l results are compared to experimental results of joints subjects to c yclic loading.