Nonlinear Behavior of Bolted Extended End-Plate Beam to Column Connections Subject to Cyclic Loading

Bolted extended end plate beam-to-column connections are one of the most commonly used moment connections. In Prequalified Connections for Special and Intermediate Steel Moment Frames for Seismic Applications (AISC 358-16), bolted extended end plate beam-to-column connection details are available to be utilized accordance with the limitations specified in special and intermediate steel moment frames. These limitations are mainly suitable for American I-shapes and do not cover some European I-shapes commonly used in Turkey. According to the study conducted by other researchers, beam-to-column connections with some of these European I-shapes used as beams that do not meet the limitations per AISC 358-16 have been tested and behavior of the connections has been found satisfactory. In this study, a further investigation is made for steel I-shapes used as beams that are not included in the scope of aforementioned study. To widen the availability of I-shapes used as beams and thus limitations specified for the beams, a numerical study is performed through 3D finite element models constructed using ABAQUS software. As a result of finite element analyses, rotational and moment capacities of the connections are obtained. According to moment-rotation curves obtained, it is observed that these considered bolted extended end-plate beam-to-column connections comply with the requirements stipulated in Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC 341-16).