Experimental Evaluation of the Fire Performance of Simple Connections
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Volume 143, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper summarizes the results of experimental investigations on steel composite beams with simple connections at elevated temperatures. In the United States, three different types of simple connections are most commonly used in building construction with steel composite beams: (1) double-angle connections; (2) single-angle connections; and (3) shear-tab connections. A testing program was conducted to examine the structural behavior of all three of these connections at elevated temperatures. Each specimen consisted of a steel composite beam attached to a loading frame with simple connections. The specimens were subjected to controlled heating and cooling curves while the loading frames were fire protected and designed to remain in the elastic range. The shear-tab connections showed the largest connection rotation, but they fractured during the cooling phase of the tests. The prying of the angles in the double-angle and single-angle connection during the tests provided ductility to prevent fracture during the cooling phase of the experiments. The double-angle connections demonstrated the least connection rotation and excellent performance during the tests.
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Acknowledgments
The experimental work presented in this paper was performed at the Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil Engineering Research at Purdue University. The research presented in this paper is based upon work funded by NSF Award No. 0758461. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 2 • February 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 24, 2015
Accepted: Jul 28, 2016
Published online: Sep 23, 2016
Published in print: Feb 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Feb 23, 2017
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