Behaviour of bolted steel beam-column joints with slotted holes under a central-column removal scenario

• Main Author: Chuah, Ryo
• Other Authors: Tan Kang Hai
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Engineering::Civil engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78672
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This report presents the connection performance of bolted steel beam-column joints with slotted holes under a central-column-removal scenario. A total of five experimental tests were conducted in this study. They are top and seat with web angle (TSWA) with slotted holes of equal length, TSWA with slotted holes of unequal length (tapered upwards), TSWA with standard round holes, fin plate with slotted holes of equal length and fin plate with standard round holes. The main objective of this project is to study the effect of incorporating slotted holes in steel beam-column joints subjected to a central-column-removal scenario and determine if they are effective in improving the strength and ductility of connections. Failure modes, load–deformation responses, and mechanical behaviour of the specimens were examined in detail. The test results showed that using slotted holes increased the deformation and rotation capacity of the connection significantly for both the TSWA and fin plate connections. This led to an increase in loading capacity due to development of catenary action. It was also observed that there was a change in failure mode for the fin plate whereby the failure mode was bolt fracture in shear for fin plate with round holes, while that of fin plate with slotted holes was block tearing of the fin plate. The high flexibility of the fin plate with slotted holes connection allowed for lateral deformations which changed the loading profile on the bolts of the connection, thereby allowing the bolts to resist shear fracture.