BEHAVIOR AND DESIGN OF STEEL BEAM-TO-COLUMN MOMENT CONNECTIONS; TEST OF A FULLY-WELDED BEAM-TO-COLUMN CONNECTION (To Purchase Call 1-800-854-7179 USA/Canada or 303-397-7956 Worldwide)
This investigation is concerned with beam-to-column moment connections that are proportioned to resist a combination of high shear force and plastic moment of the beam section. A theory based upon mathematical models and physical models is developed to predict the over-all load-deflection behavior of connections. In the analysis@ it is assumed that the bending moment exceeding the yield moment of the beam section is carried by flanges due to strain-hardening@ and the shear force is resisted by the web. The deformation of the connection panel zone is considered. Predictions by current plastic analysis and a finite element analysis are also included for comparison. Experiments were carried out on specimens made of ASTM A572 Gr. 55 steel@ with fully-welded or with bolted web attachments having round holes and slotted holes. These specimens were designed incorporating all possible limiting cases in practical connection design@ and were subjected to monotonic loading. Web attachments were fastened by A490 bolts utilizing a higher allowable shear stress of 40 ksi for bolts in bearing-type connections. A good correlation between the theoretical predictions and test results was obtained. It is concluded that flange welded web-bolted connections may be used under the assumption that full plastic moment of the beam section is developed as well as the full shear strength.