ELASTO-PLASTIC FE ANALYSIS ON MOMENT-ROTATION

RELATIONS OF TOP- AND SEAT-ANGLE CONNECTIONS

M. Komuro, Muroran Institute of Technology, Japan

N. Kishi, Muroran Institute of Technology, Japan
W.F. Chen, University of Hawaii, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT
To establish a numerical analysis method for appropriately evaluating moment
relative-rotation relations of top- and seat-angle connections under monotonic
loading, three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element analysis was performed
under following considerations: 1) all the connection components are modeled
using solid element; 2) a contact surface algorithm is applied between every
adjacent two components; and 3) bolt pretension is introduced. An applicability
of this analysis method for this type connections was discussed comparing
with the experimental results. From this study, it can be concluded that
applying the proposed analysis method, moment relative-rotation relations of
top- and seat-angle connections can be accurately estimated up to the ultimate
state.

INTRODUCTION

To perform the semi-rigid frame analysis and design, it is important to evaluate the moment
relative-rotation behavior of the beam-to-column connections. Many experimental studies
have addressed prediction of the moment relative-rotation characteristics of top- and seat-
angle type connections all over the world (1, 2, 3, 4). On the other hand, over the past few
years, several numerical simulations of angle type connections have been conducted by
means of elasto-plastic finite element (FE) analysis method. Kishi et al (5) and Citipitioglu et
al (6) investigated the effects of pretension of bolts and friction coefficient between
connection components on moment relative-rotation curves of top- and seat-angle type
connections in detail. In these studies, moment relative-rotation curves of the connections in
the initial loading area can be approximately predicted by using the FE analysis. However, in
the large deformation area including plastic deformation, connection moment relative-rotation
relation may not be appropriately estimated.

In this study, in order to establish a numerical analysis method for appropriately evaluating
moment relative-rotation relations of top- and seat-angle with/without double web-angle
connections in the finite deformation area under monotonic loading, three-dimensional
elasto-plastic FE analysis was performed under following considerations: 1) all the
connection components (beam, column, angle, etc.) are modeled using solid element; 2) a
contact surface algorithm is applied between every adjacent two components; and 3) bolt
pretension is introduced. Here, ABAQUS code (7) was used for numerical analysis of the
three kinds of connection specimens, in which dimensions of the web angles were taken as
variables. An applicability of this analysis method for this type of connections was discussed
comparing with the experimental results conducted by the author’s laboratory (4). Moment
relative-rotation behavior of the connection, strain relative-rotation relations of top and/or web

Connections in Steel Structures V - Amsterdam - June 3-4, 2004 111

angle, and failure mode of the connection were used for this investigation.

EXPERIMENTAL OVERVIEW

Specimens

To investigate an influence of dimensions of web-angles on moment relative-rotation

behavior of top- and seat-angle type connections, three kinds of specimen were prepared.
The configuration and dimensions of the specimens are shown in Figure 1. Sections of
beam, top/seat angle and web angle are H400×200×13×8, L150×100×12 and L90×90×7,
respectively. F10T high strength bolts of 20 mm in diameter were used in this study, in which
the standard torque (480 N-m) was introduced in these bolts. Nominal name of each
specimen is designated using length of web angles, in which m of Wm means a length of
web angle (cm). Mechanical properties of the members are listed in Table 1, which were
obtained from the coupon test using JIS No. 6 specimens. Figure 2 shows the stress-strain
characteristics for each connecting member.

Test setup

Dimensions and geometry of the specimens are shown in Figure 3. The specimens were
attached to the column (H408×408×21×21), which was set on the steel bed and was
strengthened welding vertical stiffeners to keep from local buckling. The lateral load was
applied to the top end of cantilever beam through a swivel using a 500 kN screw jack. The
loading point was at a height of 1,500 mm from the column face. Two guide rails were used
to control the loading direction.

(a) W00 (b) W18 (c) W29

Figure 1. Configuration and dimensions of test specimens.

Table 1. List of material properties.

Young's Poisson's Yield Tensile
Connecting Elongation
Grade modulus ratio stress strength
member (%)
Es (GPa) νs fy (MPa) fu (MPa)
beam web 210 385 481 37.1
flange 210 325 463 39.4
SS400
top / seat angle 210 0.3 282 449 44.6
web angle 209 315 469 41.7
bolt F10T 212 1,060 1,098 19.7

112 Connections in Steel Structures V - Amsterdam - June 3-4, 2004

 Figure 2. Stress-strain relation Figure 4. Measuring points for evaluation of
for each steel and bolt. relative-rotation of connection.

Figure 3. Test set-up.

The lateral load and displacement were measured by using a load cell (capacity: ± 300 kN)
and laser type Linear Variable Displacement Transducers (LVDTs) (maximum stroke: ± 250
mm), respectively. The vertical displacements at the four side-edges of beam flanges bolted
to angles were measured by using laser type LVDTs to evaluate the relative-rotation of
connection (Figure 3). Strains at some locations of angles were measured to investigate
strain and deformation behavior of angles. All of these measured data were continuously
recorded using digital data-recorders.

Lateral load was surcharged following a displacement control method. No axial load was
applied to the beam. To ensure the safety of experiment, monotonic load was increased until
displacement at the loading point reaches about 145 mm except the case of W00 specimen
which reached ultimate state due to bolts failure. Therefore, ultimate moment capacity of
connection for W18 and W29 specimens may not be precisely evaluated in this experiment.

Evaluation of relative-rotation

In order to precisely evaluate the relative-rotation of connection, the vertical displacements at

four side-edges of beam flange bolted to angles were measured by using the laser type
LVDTs (Figure 3). Assuming that angles deform such as shown in Figure 4, the relative-
rotation θr of connetion is estimated as follows:
δ1 − δ 2
θr = (1)
dl

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where δ1 and δ2 = vertical displacements at tension and compression side edge of beam
flange bolted to angles, respectively; dl = the horizontal distance between two laser type
LVDTs set at tension and compression side flange of beam. Here, the relative-rotation θr was
evaluated using a mean value of rotations obtained from both sides of beam flange.

The connection moment M is represented as follows:

M = PH ⋅ h (2)

where PH = laterally surcharged load; h = a distance from the center of swivel to column face
(h = 1,500 mm).

Relative connection rotation θr and connection moment M discussed later was estimeted
using Eqs (1) and (2), respectively.

FE MODEL

In this study, ABAQUS code was used to estimate the connection moment relative-rotation
behavior of angle type connections. Figure 5 shows an example of FE model for W29
specimen. A half of specimen referring to the symmetrical axis was modeled. All connection
components (angle, beam, column, bolt) were modeled using eight-node solid elements.
Total number of nodal points and elements for W29 specimen are 55,810 and 33,729,
respectively. The bottom flange of column is assumed to be perfectly fixed according to the
experimental boundary conditions.

To accurately simulate the connection behavior, small sliding occurred between every
adjacent two components is explicitly considered applying a contact surface algorithm
prepared in ABAQUS code. These are 1) between bolt shank and bolt hole, 2) between bolt
head/nut and connecting components, and 3) between angles and beam/column flanges. All
components including bolts are completely independent from each other as assemblages in

Figure 5. FE model and boundary conditions for W29 specimen.

114 Connections in Steel Structures V - Amsterdam - June 3-4, 2004

Figure 6. Contact surface and Mises stress Figure 7. An example of stress-strain
contour after introducing pretension relation used in this analysis.
force into bolt.

(a) W00 (b) W18 (c) W29

Figure 8. Comparison of M-θr curves between numerical and experimental results.

real connection. Bolt holes which are 2 mm larger than the bolt size (D = 20 mm) were drilled.
178 kN pretension force was introduced into each bolt according to the experimental
conditions. Figure 6 shows the contact surface of top angle and Mises stress contour after
pretension being introduced into bolts. From this figure, it is confirmed that the pre-stress
was transfer from bolt to angle.

Stress-strain relation for each connection component is represented using multi-linear

constitutive model according to the material properties as shown in Figure 2 and Table 1.
Isotropic hardening rule with von Mises yielding criterion was applied for simulating plastic
deformation of connection. Figure 7 shows an example of stress-strain relation for top angle
used in this analysis.

Bending moment is surcharged to the connection by employing prescribed horizontal

displacement at the loading point as shown in Figure 5 according to the experimental
condition. In this study, automated loading increment scheme is preferred because ABAQUS
code can automatically decide an increment of loading so as to keep a high computational
performance.

Connections in Steel Structures V - Amsterdam - June 3-4, 2004 115

COMPARISON BETWEEN NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Moment relative-rotation relation

Figure 8 shows comparison of moment relative-rotation relations between numerical and

experimental results. From these figures, initial connection stiffness for each specimen
obtained from numerical analysis agrees accurately with that obtained from experimental
results. Connection moment obtained from numerical analysis is a little bigger than that of
the experimental results in the region of 5 ≤ θr ≤ 30 mrad. It may be for this reason that the
center of bolt does not coincide to that of bolt hole. However, both numerical and
experimental connection moments better correspond to each other in the region of θr > 30
mrad. Moreover, the relative-rotation corresponding to the maximum connection moment
obtained from numerical analysis for W00 specimen is in good agreement with the
experimental maximum one. Therefore, moment relative-rotation relation of top- and seat-
angle type connections can be accurately estimated by using proposed numerical analysis
method regardless of longitudinal size of web angle.

Figure 9 shows examples of deformation configuration of W29 specimen. These figures

show the results for the three loading stages. From these figures, it is seen that angles are
gradually deformed with an increment of relative-rotation θr.

(a) θr = 23 mrad (b) θr = 40 mrad (c) θr = 96 mrad

Figure 9. Deformation configuration of W29 specimen for three loading steps.

Figure 10. Comparison of stress relative-rotation relation in top angle between numerical
and experimental results.

116 Connections in Steel Structures V - Amsterdam - June 3-4, 2004

Strain relative-rotation relation

Figure 10 shows comparison of strain relative-rotation relations in top angle between

numerical and experimental results in cases of W00 and W29 specimens. Here, the strains
near fillet of angle in both column and beam flanges were investigated. From these figures, it
is seen that at beginning of loading, the experimental strain of angle in beam flange is bigger
than that in column flange. Moreover, the former intends to increase from around 4 mrad of
relative-rotation at which connection is yielded. Although the numerical analysis cannot
estimate adequately the tendency of rapidly increasing of these experimental strains of angle
in beam flange, it is seen that the strain distributions obtained from numerical analysis are
qualitatively similar to the experimental ones.

Figure 11 shows the deformation configuration and equivalent plastic strain distribution of top
angle of W00 specimen. From this figure, it is observed that the toe of the fillet of angle in
beam flange and the area around bolt hole of angle in column flange have been yielded from
the initial loading stage, and these areas are gradually extended with an increase of relative-
rotation θr. Since a similar behavior was also observed from experimental results, the
proposed numerical analysis method can appropriately estimate the strain distribution of the
top angle.

Figure 11. Deformation configuration and equivalent plastic strain distribution of

top angle of W00 specimen.

Figure 12. Comparison of stress relative-rotation relations in web angle of W29 specimen
between numerical and experimental results.

Connections in Steel Structures V - Amsterdam - June 3-4, 2004 117

Figure 12 shows the comparisons of strains at fillet of web angle in case of W29 specimen
between numerical and experimental results. From the comparisons, it is seen that the
experimental results for angle in beam web are bigger than those of analytical ones as well
as strain distribution of top angle. Since both analytical and experimental results for strains of
angle in beam web are bigger than those of web angle in column flange, the strains of web
angle may be better estimated by using the proposed FE method qualitatively.

Figure 13 shows the deformation configuration and equivalent plastic strain distribution for
web angle of W29 specimen. From this figure, it is seen that the toe of the fillet of angle in
beam web is yielded first at θr = 11 mrad, and then yielded area is developed from tension
side (c1 section) to compression side (c5 section) with an increase of θr.

Figure 14 shows the deformation configuration and Mises stress distribution of top angle
including bolt at four loading stages. From these figures, it is observed that the heel of top
angle is apart from the surface of column flange at θr = 5 mrad, and then top angle is
gradually deformed with an increase of θr. At θr = 39 mrad, the area from edge of bolt hole
through angle’s heel is completely apart from the surface of column flange due to the prying
action of angle. Moreover, the yielded area is developed to the middle of bolt shank, in which
Mises stress reached up to more than 1,000 MPa. At θr = 85 mrad, yielded area is developed
to the whole of the bolt shank.

Figure 13. Deformation configuration and equivalent plastic strain distribution

in web angle of W29 specimen.

Figure 14. Deformation configuration and Mises stress distribution of

top angle of W00 specimen.

118 Connections in Steel Structures V - Amsterdam - June 3-4, 2004

 Figure 15. Deformation and Mises stress distribution from FE analysis and a look of
failure bolt in experiment for top angle of W00 specimen.

Figure 15 shows the deformation configuration and Mises stress distribution of the top angle
including bolt at θr = 114 mrad of relative-rotation at which bolt failure was occurred in
experiment, and a look of failure bolt after the experiment. From this figure, it is observed that
the bolt shank was significantly deformed in numerical analysis, and the deformation
configuration of bolt is good correspond to a look of fractured bolt in experiment. Thus, it is
indicated that the collapse mode of the top- and seat-angle type connections may be
appropriately estimated using the deformations and Mises stress distribution of connection
components.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, in order to establish a numerical analysis method for appropriately estimating
moment relative-rotation relation of top- and seat-angle with/without double web-angle
connections from initial stage to finite displacement stage under monotonic loading, three-
dimensional elasto-plastic finite element analyses were performed. The results obtained from
this study are as follows:
1) applying the proposed FE analysis method, moment relative-rotation relations of top- and
seat-angle type connections can be better estimated regardless of longitudinal size of
web angle;
2) strain distribution of top- and/or web-angle can be estimated by using the proposed
analysis method qualitatively, and
3) failure mode of connection may be estimated using the deformation and Mises stress
distribution of connection components.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This research was supported in part by a grant from ‘The Japan Iron and Steel Federation’.
The support is gratefully acknowledged.

Connections in Steel Structures V - Amsterdam - June 3-4, 2004 119

NOTATION

dl horizontal distance between two laser type LVDTs set at tension and compression
side flange of beam
Es Young's modulus of steel
fu tensile strength of steel
fy yield stress of steel
h distance from the center of swivel to column face
M connection moment
PH lateral surcharged load
δ1 vertical displacement at tension side edge of beam flange bolted to angle
δ2 vertical displacement at compression side edge of beam flange bolted to angle
θr relative connection rotation
νs Poisson's ratio

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120 Connections in Steel Structures V - Amsterdam - June 3-4, 2004