FE Model of Three-Dimensional Steel Beam-to-Column Bolted Extended End-Plate Joint

The rotational behaviour of three-dimensional steel end-plate connections can be studied using the finite element method for the following four reasons: (1) such models are inexpensive and robust; (2) they allow the understanding of local effects; (3) they can be used to generate extensive parametric studies; (4) current version of the component method lacks the appropriate components to predict the behaviour of minor-axis and three-dimensional joints. This work presents a full ANSYS finite element parametric model of a three-dimensional steel beam-to-column bolted extended end-plate joint in both axes for use to obtain their behaviour. The model allows to study four joint configurations (internal, external, corner, and plane) and includes: contact and sliding between different elements; bolt-pretension, and geometric and material non-linearity. This model was calibrated and validated with experimental results found in the literature. The results from the finite element analysis were verified by comparing the obtained moment–rotation curve of the joint. Three parametric studies are presented to show the versatility of the FE model. The results were compared with those obtained with the model proposed by Eurocode 3. The developed ANSYS FE model can be downloaded for free as a single ZIP compressed file from the Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT): http://​www.​upct.​es/​goe/​publicaciones/​FEM_​3D_​EEP.​zip.