Experiments and Analysis of Unstiffened Eight-Bolt End-Plate Moment Connections for Seismic Applications
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 4
Abstract
Bolted extended end-plate (BEEP) moment connections are one of several types of connections prequalified for use in special and intermediate moment frames in the ANSI/AISC 358 standard. The BEEP connections that are prequalified include a stiffened and unstiffened four-bolt configuration and a stiffened eight-bolt configuration. In this study, a recently proposed unstiffened eight-bolt configuration is evaluated through large-scale testing and detailed finite-element (FE) analysis. The connection features a modified bolt arrangement to improve bolt force distribution and eliminates the stress concentration from the end-plate stiffener that has led to brittle beam flange fractures in recent studies. In all tests, the proposed connection attained the ANSI/AISC 341 qualifying 4% story drift requirement and exhibited a ductile failure mode, namely, local buckling in the beam plastic hinge and gradual strength degradation. A detailed FE model of the proposed connection is validated against the experimental data and used to further analyze and optimize the connection through parametric studies. Finally, a design procedure which parallels that in chapter 6 of the ANSI/AISC 358 for existing BEEP connections is proposed. A central aspect of the design procedure is a method to calculate bolt forces, including the effects of prying, in the proposed connection.
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Data Availability Statement
All data and models that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research was partially funded by the Virginia Carolina Structural Steel Fabricators Association (VCSSFA). However, any opinions presented in this paper are solely those of the authors. The authors gratefully acknowledge Dave’s Steel Company and SteelFab for providing the material and fabrication of the test specimens. The tests conducted in this study would not have been possible without the kind assistance of Dr. Gregory Lucier, Mr. Johnathan McEntire, and Mr. Jerry Atkinson from the Constructed Facilities Laboratory (CFL) at NC State University. The assistance of undergraduate students Oscar Apolonio, Luiz Angel, and David Zabel is also gratefully acknowledged.
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Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 148 • Issue 4 • April 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 2, 2021
Accepted: Nov 3, 2021
Published online: Jan 17, 2022
Published in print: Apr 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jun 17, 2022
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