Robustness of Bolted-Angle Connections against Progressive Collapse: Experimental Tests of Beam-Column Joints and Development of Component-Based Models
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 9
Abstract
Several structural collapse incidents indicate that failure usually starts from beam-column joints exposed to abnormal loads, especially for steel and composite structures. If the connections are sufficiently robust and there is adequate axial restraint from adjoining structures, catenary action forms in the beams and slabs, causing alternate load paths when affected columns are severely damaged, and resulting in large deformations in the beams and slabs. This paper presents experimental results of bolted-angle beam-column joints under a middle column–removal scenario. Three types of connections—including (1) web cleat, (2) top and seat angle, and (3) top and seat with web angle connections—were investigated, and three angle thicknesses (8, 10, and 12 mm) were tested. The results of the nine experimental tests conducted demonstrate the ductility and load-carrying capacities of these three connection types with different angle thicknesses in catenary action mode. When the angle thickness increases, the failure mode changes from angle fracture to bolt fracture. A component-based model is also developed to predict the behavior of bolted-angle beam-column joints up to total failure. The validation study indicates that the proposed models can represent the key responses of bolted-angle beam-column joints under a middle column–removal scenario, including the formation of flexural action at small deformation stage, the development of catenary action at large deformation stage, and fractures of the connection components at the last stage. Based on the proposed joint model, frame analyses are conducted. The analytical results of the frame models demonstrate that the conducted joint tests could represent the behavior of prototype steel frames against progressive collapse. The effect of horizontal restraint stiffness, which is critical to the development of catenary action, is also investigated.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
ABAQUS 6.9 [Computer software]. Providence, RI, Dassault Systemes Simulia.
Azizinamini, A., Bradbum, J. H., and Radziminski, J. (1987). “Initial stiffness of semi-rigid steel beam-to-column connections.” J. Constr. Steel Res., 8, 71–90.
Azizinamini, A., and Radziminski, J. (1989). “Static and cyclic performance of semirigid steel beam-to-column connections.” J. Struct. Eng., 115(12), 2979–2999.
Demonceau, J. F. (2008). “Steel and composite frames: Sway response under conventional loading and development of membrane effects in beams further to an exceptional action.” Ph.D. thesis, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
Dept. of Defense (DoD). (2009). “Design of buildings to resist progressive collapse.” Unified Facilities Criteria 4-023-03, Washington, DC.
Elghazouli, A. Y., et al. (2009). “Experimental monotonic and cyclic behaviour of blind-bolted angle connections.” Eng. Struct., 31(11), 2540–2553.
European Committee for Standardization (CEN). (2005). “Design of steel structures, part 1-8: Design of joints.” Eurocode 3, Brussels, Belgium.
Faella, C., Piluso, V., and Rizzano, G. (2000). Structural steel semirigid connections: Theory, design and software, CRC, Boca Raton, FL.
General Services Administration (GSA). (2003). Progressive collapse analysis and design guidelines for new federal office buildings and major modernization projects, Washington, DC.
Karns, J. E., Houghton, D. L., Hong, J. K., and Kim, J. (2009). “Behaviour of varied steel frame connection types subjected to air blast, debris impact, and/or post-blast progressive collapse load conditions.” Proc., Structures Congress 2009, ASCE, Reston, VA.
Kishi, N., and Chen, W. F. (1990). “Moment-rotation relations of semi-rigid connections with angles.” J. Struct. Eng., 116(7), 1813–1834.
Kishi, N., Chen, W. F., Matsuoka, K. G., and Nomachi, S. G. (1988a). “Moment-rotation relation of single double web angle connections.” Connections in steel structures: Behaviour, strength and design, Elsevier Applied Science, London, 135–149.
Kishi, N., Chen, W. F., Matsuoka, K. G., and Nomachi, S. G. (1988b). “Moment-rotation relation of top and seat angle with double web angle connections.” Connections in steel structures: Behaviour, strength and design, Elsevier Applied Science, London, 121–134.
Lemonis, M. E., and Gantes, C. J. (2009). “Mechanical modeling of the nonlinear response of beam-to-column joints.” J. Constr. Steel Res., 65(4), 879–890.
Malaga-Chuquitaype, C., and Elghazouli, A. Y. (2010). “Component-based mechanical models for blind-bolted angle connections.” Eng. Struct., 32(10), 3048–3067.
Oosterhof, S. A., and Driver, R. G. (2012). “Performance of steel shear connections under combined moment, shear, and tension.” Proc., Structures Congress 2012, ASCE, Reston, VA.
Park, A. Y., and Wang, Y. C. (2012). “Development of component stiffness equations for bolted connections to RHS columns.” J. Constr. Steel Res., 70, 137–152.
Sadek, F., Main, J. A., Lew, H. S., and Bao, Y. H. (2011). “Testing and analysis of steel and concrete beam-column assemblies under a column removal scenario.” J. Struct. Eng., 137, 881–892.
Thompson, S. L. (2009). “Axial, shear and moment interaction of single plate shear tab connections.” M.S. thesis, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee.
Wang, W.-Y., Li, G.-Q., and Dong, Y.-L. (2007). “Experimental study and spring-component modelling of extended end-plate joints in fire.” J. Constr. Steel Res., 63(8), 1127–1137.
Wang, Y. C. (2011). “Performance based fire engineering research of steel and composite structures: A review of joint behaviour.” Adv. Struct. Eng., 14(4), 613–624.
Weigand, J. M., Meissner, J. E., Francisco, T., Berman, J. W., Fahnestock, L. A., and Liu, J. (2012). “Overview of AISC/NSF structural integrity research and preliminary results.” Proc., Structures Congress 2012, ASCE, Reston, VA.
Yang, B., and Tan, K. H. (2012a). “Component-based model of bolted-angle connections subjected to catenary action.” Proc., 10th Int. Conf. on Advances in Steel Concrete Composite and Hybrid Structures, Research Publishing Services, Singapore.
Yang, B., and Tan, K. H. (2012b). “Numerical analyses of steel beam-column joints subjected to catenary action.” J. Constr. Steel Res., 70(3), 1–11.
Yang, B., Tan, K. H. (2013). “Experimental tests of different types of bolted steel beam-column joints under a central-column-removal scenario.” Eng. Struct., 54(9), 112–130.
Yu, H. X., Burgess, I. W., Davison, J. B., and Plank, R. J. (2009a). “Experimental investigation of the behaviour of fin plate connections in fire.” J. Constr. Steel Res., 65(3), 723–736.
Yu, H. X., Burgess, I. W., Davison, J. B., and Plank, R. J. (2009b). “Tying capacity of web cleat connections in fire, part 2: Development of component-based model.” Eng. Struct., 31(3), 697–708.
Yuan, Z., Tan, K. H., and Ting, S. K. (2011a). “Testing of composite steel top-and-seat-and-web angle joints at ambient and elevated temperatures, part 1: Ambient tests.” Eng. Struct., 33(10), 2727–2743.
Yuan, Z., Tan, K. H., and Ting, S. K. (2011b). “Testing of composite steel top-and-seat-and-web angle joints at ambient and elevated temperatures, part 2: Elevated temperature tests.” Eng. Struct., 33(7), 2093–2109.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 9 • September 2013
Pages: 1498 - 1514
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 2, 2012
Accepted: Sep 25, 2012
Published online: Sep 28, 2012
Published in print: Sep 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.