Experimental and numerical studies of bolted T-stub steel connection with different flange thicknesses connected to a rigid base. (1st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bezerra, Luciano M.; Bonilla, Jorge; Silva, Wellington A.; Matias, William T.
• Is Part Of: Engineering structures. Volume 218(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09-01
• Subjects: T-Stub connections -- Contact stresses -- Prying action -- Shear stresses on bolts; Structural engineering -- Periodicals; Structural analysis (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Construction, Technique de la -- Périodiques; Génie parasismique -- Périodiques; Pression du vent -- Périodiques; Earthquake engineering; Structural engineering; Wind-pressure; Periodicals; 624.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.110770
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-0296

Abstract

Highlights: Experimental and non-linear Finite Element (FE) analyses of T-stub steel connections to investigate the prying actions on bolts of T-Stub Connections. Analyses of stresses distribution between T-stub flange and support show that the contact area between T-stub and the support base depends largely upon the thickness of the T-stub flange. Parametric study is performed in order to investigate the effects of flange thickness influence on the prying actions on the bolts of T-Stub connections. The results obtained from the experimental tests and the FE analyses were compared with T-stub resistance capacity calculated using the provisions of Eurocode-3, and AISC manual. The state of tension, predominately the shear stresses on T-Stub boltś head, indicates Standards are not considering the shear effect on the resistance on such bolts which is an unsafe situation. Abstract: This paper presents experimental and Finite Element (FE) analyses of T-Stub steel connections. Such connection may be classified as rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible. For rigid T-Stub, no praying action is observed. For flexible T-Stubs, praying action may overload the bolts. A better knowledge of the contact stresses distribution between T-Stub flange and support base helps understand the resistance mechanism of the T-Stub connections. The contact area between T-Stub flange and support base depends largely on the flange thickness. This paper investigates the effect of the thickness of T-Stub connections fixed to a rigid support base. Nonlinear FE models utilizing ABAQUS software were developed to study the behavior of T-Stub connections. The results obtained from FE analyses were verified against experimental results. A parametric study was conducted to observe the effects of flange thickness on (a) the contact stress distribution between the flange and rigid base, (b) the prying actions on bolts, and (c) the shear stresses on bolts. The results from experimental tests and FE analyses were compared with T-Stub resistance capacity calculated using the provisions of Eurocode-3 and AISC.