Numerical Modelling and Design of Stainless Steel Double Extended End-Plate Beam-to-Column Joints

The structural performance of stainless steel beam-to-column joints with double extended end-plate connections is numerically studied in this paper. Finite element (FE) models were developed and validated against previously reported experimental results including static and cyclic loading tests on stainless steel double extended end-plate beam-to-column joints. Based upon the validated FE models, parametric studies were carried out to examine the impact of key parameters, such as the stainless steel grade, the bolt pretension force, the column axial force, the end-plate thickness, the bolt diameter and the presence of rib stiffeners, on the structural behaviour of stainless steel beam-to-column joints. The component method specified in EN 1993-1-8 for design of joints was used to develop a modified design method, which accounts for the strain hardening characteristics of stainless steel and the strengthening effect of the rib stiffeners. Moreover, the influence of the panel zone thickness and the end-plate thickness on the hysteretic performance of stainless steel joints was explored, and the ability of the modified method to accurately predict the hysteretic properties of joints under cyclic loading was also demonstrated. It can be concluded that the newly proposed design approach based on the component method leads to more accurate predictions of both the static and the hysteretic properties of stainless steel end-plate beam-to-column joints.