Finite Element Analysis on Seismic Behaviour of Novel Joint in Prefabricated Modular Steel Building

In prefabricated modular steel building, joint plays an important role in the structural behaviour and transfer of load among connected modules. In this paper, a new type of bolted joint with tenon-gusset plate as horizontal connection and long beam bolts as vertical connection has been proposed. The nonlinear structural behaviour of the novel joint was analysed against static and quasi-static cyclic loadings by using finite element (FE) software ABAQUS. Numerical study was carried out to predict the lateral load carrying capacity, bending moment capacity, rotational stiffness, failure modes and seismic behaviour of the joint. Connection was simplified with nonlinear spring connector and 3-D beam elements. Parametric study was carried out on the length of column tenon and gap between adjacent modular units. The results revealed that against lateral loads, the gap was generated between the upper and lower parts of joint which resulted in the bearing failure of floor beam (FB). The length of column tenon has obvious while gap between modules showed marginal effect on load carrying capacity and structural behaviour of joint. The simplified joint accurately mimicked load–displacement curve and structural behaviour of detailed joint. Then, FE analysis was justified by analysing test results of innovative connection in the reference. With these evidences, the veracity of the FE analysis for studying nonlinear behaviour of novel joint was confirmed.