Behavior Of A Minor Axis Beam-to-Column Bolted Connection

Frames which use H-shape columns are spatial in essence. Minor axis beam-to-column connections are commonly encountered and little work was done on the issue. Existing connections are usually welded and subjected to brittle, fracture due to complicated stress distributions and incontrollable weld quality. It is the goal of many researchers to improve the performance of connections.The basic requirement is that connections should have proper stiffness and load-resisting capacity, and that have large rotation capacity and energy dissipation capacity.The thesis presents a new type of minor axis beam-to-column bolted connection which connects beam flanges to column flanges and beam web to column web all by bolts. Welding is eliminated on construction site and connection quality is improved. Consequently, the probability of brittle fracture in connections is reduced. Moreover, connectors basically resist shear forces, which may take good advantage of steel.Eight specimens are designed according to the presented connecting method, which consider not only probable usage in practice but also offer common basis for comparing. These specimens are analyzed under monotonic load and cyclic load using finite element method (FEM) which was proved to be adequate. Load-transmitting feature, ultimate strength, initial stiffness, M-6 relationship, restoring force, coefficient of rotation ductility and energy dissipation capacity are investigated. Mathematical expressions of M-θcurve are put forward. Some critical points in using this kind of connection are presented too.