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In fire condition, the time to failure of a timber connection is mainly reliant on the wood charring rate, the strength of the residual wood section, and the limiting temperature of the steel connectors involved in the connection. The purpose of this study is to experimentally investigate the effects of loaded bolt end distance, number of bolt rows, and the existence of perpendicular-to-wood grain reinforcement on the structural fire behavior of semi-rigid glued-laminated timber (glulam) beam-to-column connections that used steel bolts and concealed steel plate connectors.

In total, 16 beam-to-column connections, which were fabricated in wood-steel-wood bolted connection configurations, in eight large-scale sub-frame test assemblies were exposed to elevated temperatures that followed CAN/ULC-S101 standard time-temperature curve, while being subjected to monotonic loading. The beam-to-column connections of four of the eight test assemblies were reinforced perpendicular to the wood grain using self-tapping screws (STS). Fire tests were terminated upon achieving the failure criterion, which predominantly was dependent on the connection’s maximum allowed rotation.

Experimental results revealed that increasing the number of bolt rows from two to three, each of two bolts, increased the connection’s time to failure by a greater time increment than that achieved by increasing the bolt end distance from four- to five-times the bolt diameter. Also, the use of STS reinforcement increased the connection’s time to failure by greater time increments than those achieved by increasing the number of bolt rows or the bolt end distance.

The invaluable experimental data obtained from this study can be effectively used to provide insight and better understanding on how mass-timber glulam bolted connections can behave in fire condition. This can also help in further improving the existing design guidelines for mass-timber structures. Currently, beam-to-column wood connections are designed mainly as axially loaded connections with no guidelines available for determining the fire resistance of timber connections exerting any degree of moment-resisting capability.

Basically, connections are used to transfer the force supported by structural members to other parts of the structure. The flush end-plate bolted beam to column connection is one type that has been widely used because of its simplicity in fabrication and rapid site erection. The purpose of this study is to determine the moment-rotation curve, moment of resistance (MR) and mode of failure, and the results were compared with existing results for normal flat web connections.

In this study, the connection modeled was the flush end-plate welded with triangular web profile (TriWP) steel beam section and then bolted to a UKC column flange. The bolted flush end-plate semi-rigid beam to column connection was modeled using finite element software. The specimen was modeled using LUSAS 14.3 finite element software, with dimensions and parameters of the finite element model sizes being 200 × 200 × 49.9 UKC, 200 × 100 × 17.8 UKB and 200 × 100 with a thickness of 20 mm for the endplate.

It can be concluded that the MR obtained from the TriWP steel beam section is different from that of the normal flat web steel beam by 28%. The value of MR for the TriWP beam section is lower than that of the normal flat web beam section, but the moment ultimate is higher by 21% than the normal flat web. Therefore, it can be concluded that the TriWP section can resist more acting force than the normal flat web section and is suitable to be used as a new proposed shape to replace the normal flat web section for a certain steel structure based on the end-plate connection behavior.

As a result, the TriWP section has better performance than the flat web section in resisting MR behavior.

This paper aims to present the results of an extensive experimental programme on the fire behaviour of timber beam-to-column shear connections, loaded perpendicularly to the grain.

The experimental programme comprised tests at normal temperature and loaded fire resistance tests on beam-to-column connections in shear. Twenty-four full-scale tests at normal temperature were performed covering nine different connection typologies, and 19 loaded fire resistance tests were conducted including 11 connections typologies.

The results of the fire resistance tests show that the tested typologies of steel-to-timber dowelled connections reached more than 30 and even 60 minutes of fire resistance. However, aspects such as a wider gap between the beam and the column, reduced dowel spacing, and the presence of reinforcement with self-drilling screws all have a negative influence on the fire resistance.

The experimental programme addressed the fire behaviour of timber beam-to-column shear connections loaded perpendicularly to the grain in a systematic way testing a wide range of common connection typologies significantly enlarging their experimental background.

This paper aims at developing a mechanical-based model for predicting the thermally induced axial forces and rotation of steel top and seat angles connections with and without web angles subjected to elevated temperatures due to fire. Finite element (FE) simulations and experimental results are used to develop the mechanical model.

The model incorporates the overall connection and column-beam rotation of key component elements, and includes nonlinear behavior of bolts and base materials at elevated temperatures and some major geometric parameters that impact the behavior of such connections when exposed to fire. This includes load ratio, beam length, angle thickness, and gap distance. The mechanical model consists of multi-linear and nonlinear springs that predict each component stiffness, strength, and rotation.

The capability of the FE model to predict the strength of top and seat angles under fire loading was validated against full scale tests. Moreover, failure modes, temperature at failure, maximum compressive axial force, maximum rotation, and effect of web angles were all determined in the parametric study. Finally, the proposed mechanical model was validated against experimental results available in the literature and FE simulations developed as a part of this study.

The proposed model provides important insights into fire-induced axial forces and rotations and their implications on the design of steel bolted top and seat angle connections. The originality of the proposed mechanical model is that it requires low computational effort and can be used in more advanced modelling applications for fire analysis and design.

Top-seat angle connection is known as one of the usual uncomplicated beam-to-column joints used in steel structures. This article investigates the fire performance of welded top-seat angle connections.

A finite element (FE) model, including nonlinear contact interactions, high-temperature properties of steel, and material and geometric nonlinearities was created for accomplishing the fire performance analysis. The FE model was verified by comparing its simulation results with test data. Using the verified model, 24 steel-framed top-seat angle connection assemblies are modeled. Parametric studies were performed employing the verified FE model to study the influence of critical factors on the performance of steel beams and their welded angle joints.

The results obtained from the parametric studies illustrate that decreasing the gap size and the top angle size and increasing the top angles thickness affect fire behavior of top-seat angle joints and decrease the beam deflection by about 16% at temperatures beyond 570 °C. Also, the fire-resistance rating of the beam with seat angle stiffener increases about 15%, compared to those with and without the web stiffener. The failure of the beam happens when the deflections become more than span/30 at temperatures beyond 576 °C. Results also show that load type, load ratio and axial stiffness levels significantly control the fire performance of the beam with top-seat angle connections in semi-rigid steel frames.

Development of design methodologies for these joints and connected beam in fire conditions is delayed by current building codes due to the lack of adequate understanding of fire behavior of steel beams with welded top-seat angle connections.

In fire condition, the limiting temperature of a restrained steel beam depends on a few parameters, e.g. temperature distributions along and across the beam, beam’s load ratio and span length. The purpose of this study is to investigate the structural fire behaviour of axially restrained steel beams under different beam’s load ratios, taking into consideration the effect of the beam’s end connections configuration.

A three-dimensional finite element (FE) computer model has been developed to simulate the structural fire behaviour of axially restrained steel beams and their end connections. After successfully validating the developed model against the outcomes of the available large-size fire resistance experiments, the FE model has been used in a parametric study to investigate the beam’s load ratio effect on the behaviour of the axially restrained steel beams and their end connections.

The parametric study showed that increasing the beam loading level significantly increased the beam deflections at elevated temperatures; where, increasing the beam’s load ratio from 0.5 to 0.9 reduced the beam fire resistance by about 100 s. In contrast, decreasing the beam’s load ratio from 0.5 to 0.3 allowed the beam to easily achieve a 30-min fire resistance rating with no fire protection applied.

Experimental parametric studies are difficult to control in a laboratory setting and are also expensive and time consuming. Therefore, the reasonable accuracy of the validated FE model in reproducing the experimental fire behaviour of steel beams and their end connections makes it a very useful tool for both numerical and analytical studies.

In this paper, a closed-form analytical solution for the prediction of moment-rotation and the rotational stiffness-rotation curves of I-shaped beam to cylindrical column connections, commonly used on offshore platforms, at room and elevated temperatures, are presented.

An analytical solution for the prediction of moment-rotation and the rotational stiffness-rotation curves of I-shaped beam to cylindrical column connections is presented. The results of this model are compared with those of a non-linear coupled mechanical-thermal finite element model and small-scale experimental tests previously provided by the authors.

In this paper, a closed-form analytical solution for the prediction of moment-rotation and the rotational stiffness-rotation curves of I-shaped beam to cylindrical column connections, commonly used on offshore platforms, at room and elevated temperatures, is presented. The required yield and plastic moments in this model are provided as an extension to Roark's relationships. The results of this model are compared with those of a non-linear coupled mechanical-thermal finite element model and small-scale experimental tests previously provided by the authors. A reasonable agreement has been found between the analytical model results and the experimental/numerical modeling results.

This article is extracted from the author’s doctoral thesis, and all its achievements belong to the authors of the article.

This research study focuses on investigating the seismic performance of non-straight beams in steel structures and exploring the mechanism by which plastic hinges are formed within these beams. The findings contribute to the understanding of their behaviour under seismic loads and offer insights into their potential for enhancing the lateral resistance of the structure. The abstract of the study highlights the significance of corners in structural plans, where non-coaxial columns, diagonal elements or beams deviating from a straight path are commonly observed. Typically, these non-straight beams are connected to the columns using pinned connections, despite their unknown seismic behaviour. Recognizing the importance of generating plastic hinges in special moment resisting frames and the lack of previous research on the involvement of these non-straight beams, this study aims to address this knowledge gap.

This study examines the seismic behaviour and plastic hinge formation of non-straight beams in steel structures. Non-straight beams are beams that connect non-coaxial columns and diagonal elements, or deviate from a linear path. They are usually pinned to the columns, and their seismic contribution is unknown. A critical case with a 12-m non-straight beam is analysed using Abaqus software. Different models are created with varying cross-section shapes and connection types between the non-straight beams. The models are subjected to lateral monotonic and cyclic loads in one direction. The results show that non-straight beams increase the lateral stiffness, strength and energy dissipation of the models compared to disconnected beams that act as two cantilevers.

The analysis results reveal several key findings. The inclusion of non-straight beams in the models leads to increased lateral stiffness, strength and energy dissipation compared to the scenario where the beams are disconnected and act as two cantilever beams. Plastic hinges are formed at both ends of the non-straight beam when a 3% drift is reached, contributing to energy damping and introducing plasticity into the structure. These results strongly suggest that non-straight beams play a significant role in enhancing the lateral resistance of the system. Based on the seismic analysis results, this study recommends the utilization of non-straight beams in special moment frames due to the formation of plastic hinges within these beams and their effective participation in resisting lateral seismic loads. This research fills a critical gap in understanding the behaviour of non-straight beams and provides valuable insights for structural engineers involved in the design and analysis of steel structures.

The authors believe that this research will greatly contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the seismic performance of non-straight beams in steel structures.

This study aims to investigate the thermal creep behavior of steel frame assemblies with shear tab connections subjected to transient-state fire temperatures. Different key parameters are investigated to study their effect on the global response of the steel frames in fire.

Finite element (FE) models of connection assemblies are first analyzed using Abaqus under transient-state temperature conditions and validated against experimental work available in the literature. Upon acquiring the validated conditions, parametric studies are carried out to study the effect of key geometric and heating parameters on the overall response of the frame assembly to fire temperatures. Thermal creep material is also incorporated in the analyses through a user-defined subroutine, and a comparison between including and excluding creep material is illustrated to show the effect of thermal creep on the structural behavior.

The results reported herein indicate that having a rigid column increases the thermal-induced axial forces, thus increasing the development of thermal creep strains. Slow heating rates can cause axial stress relaxation in the restrained beam and increase the mid-span deflection and consequently the development of beam catenary action. The results also show that reaching higher initial cooling temperatures and having longer cooling phase durations result in more tensile forces at the end of the cooling phase.

Previous studies were limited to isolated steel connections under steady-state conditions. This study investigates the creep behavior of shear tab connection assemblies under transient-state conditions of fire when creep effects are explicitly considered. This can provide a rational and realistic assessment of the steel behavior in fire events.

This paper aims to address a need for improving the structural resilience to multi-hazard threats including fire and progressive collapse caused by the loss of a column.

The focus is on a steel moment frame that uses welded-unreinforced flange-bolted web connections between the beams and columns. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) model was created in ABAQUS with temperature-dependent properties for steel based on the Eurocode. The model was validated against experimental data at ambient and elevated temperature.

The failure mechanisms in the FE model were consistent with experimental observations. Two scenarios were considered: fixed load with increasing temperature (i.e. simulating column failure prior to fire) and fixed temperature with increasing load (i.e. simulating column failure during fire).

A macro element (or component-based) model was also introduced and validated against the FE model and the experimental data, offering the possibility of analyzing large-scale structural systems with reasonable accuracy and improved computational efficiency.