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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.

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the dynamic contact characteristics of the slip ring. Dynamic contact resistance models considering wear and self-excited were established based on fractal theory.

The effects of tangential velocity, stiffness and damping coefficient on dynamic contact resistance are studied. The relationships between fractal parameters, wear time and contact parameters are revealed.

The results show that the total contact area decreases with the friction coefficient and fractal roughness under the same load. Self-excited vibration occurs at a low speed (less than 0.6 m/s). It transforms from stick-slip motion at 0.4 m/s to pure sliding at 0.5 m/s. A high stiffness makes contact resistance fluctuate violently, while increasing the damping coefficient can suppress the self-excited vibration and reduce the dynamic contact resistance. The fractal contact resistance model considering wear is established based on the fractal parameters models. The validity of the model is verified by the wear tests.

The results have a great significance to study the electrical contact behavior of conductive slip ring.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-09-2023-0300/