Proceedings of the 8th U.S.

National Conference on Earthquake Engineering

April 18-22, 2006, San Francisco, California, USA
Paper No. 1383

INTRODUCING AN INNOVATIVE MOMENT CONNECTION DETAIL FOR STEEL

AND COMPOSITE MOMENT FRAMES WITH BOX-SHAPED COLUMNS

S. R. Mirghaderi 1 and K. Karbasi Arani 2

ABSTRACT

Advantages of composite construction in improving seismic performance of

structures have already been recognized. Composite construction is a good
solution for improving both local and general behavior of steel structures alone or
reinforced concrete structures alone. In most cases composite construction
provide less material also. But detailing requirements of these structures specially
in connections may impose some difficulties and higher costs. This paper
introduces an innovative moment connection detail which suites for Concrete
Filled Tube (CFT) columns and also for steel lozenge built-up box or HSS
columns. The force transfer mechanism in sub-frames consist of this connection
provides the conditions that plastic hinges occur in the beams meanwhile other
sub-frame components remains essentially elastic under seismic loading.

Introduction

In order to qualify a moment connection seismic performance, it is usual to build a sub-

frame consists of half span of the beam and half height of the column below and up the beam
elevation. Various types of loading histories have been applied by researchers at various
locations of sub-frames, depending on end restraint conditions. Each sub-frame may be assumed
as a set of some rotational springs. In Fig. 1 this simplicity is shown. Sub-frame has been
simplified by three rotational springs. The first spring represents the column characteristics, the
second is for connection area which is basically arising from panel zone characteristics
(assuming that connection devices are stiff and strong enough) and the third is for beam. Hence
it is expected that in case of strong panel zone a curve such as in Fig. 2 and in case of weak panel
zone a curve such as in Fig. 3 are obtained. In these figures M is the applied external moment on
the sub-frame which is contributed by all three springs and θ is the sub-frame total rotation
which also is contributed by all three springs. Each spring curve may be obtained by assuming
all other springs are rigid with infinite strength. These rotational springs assemble in series and
the elastic stiffness of sub-frame (K) is affected by all three spring stiffness values and is
calculated by Eq. 1.
1
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: kami_k_a@yahoo.com
 1/K=1/K1+1/K2+1/K3 (1)

The strength of sub-frame is controlled with the lowest strength at the set which is
preferred to be the beam strength (Fig. 2).

According to above mentioned idea, panel zone plays an important role in final behavior
of sub-frames. It must be stiff and strong enough that plastic hinges form in beams certainly. In
moment-resisting frames consist of steel built up square box columns, for mobilizing panel zone
action and transferring in-plane actions of beam flanges into in-plane actions of column flanges,
using continuity plates is the most known solution. In Fig. 4 the force transfer mechanism in
connection area of these sub-frames has been depicted. Beam flange forces transfer to the
continuity plates, and continuity plates transfer these forces to the column panel zone through
shear forces. Because of equilibrium and strain compatibility rules, vertical forces, F' are induced
in panel zone and transfer to the column flanges.
Sub-frame Rotational Spring , K

Column Rotational Spring , K1 Beam Rotational Spring , K3

Connection Area Rotational Spring , K2

Figure 1. Simplification of the sub-frame with three series rotational springs

Sub-frame Sub-frame

Figure 2. Strong panel zone case Figure 3. Weak panel zone case

In steel built up square box columns, placing continuity plates inside the columns causes
some constructional problems. The primary idea in proposing the new connection detailing was
to eliminate the constructional complexities of beam to steel box column connections. In Fig. 5
proposed connection detail is shown. Beams are double channel and column is a built-up steel
box, which are connected together with a through-plate. But this primary idea has some
problems which cause us not to use it in steel square box columns. The main problem is poor
ability of this system for transferring diaphragm forces to the moment-resisting frame. In Fig. 6
exaggerated deformation of column flanges due to transferring forces from diaphragm to
moment-resisting frame has been shown. In Fig. 7 the system has been simplified by some
springs. Really, weak out of plane stiffness of the column flange causes this problem. For the
reason two solutions were proposed.

First, using lozenge box steel columns to provide a high out of plane stiffness and
second, using Concrete Filled Tube (CFT) box columns. In Fig. 8 the cross section of steel
lozenge box column in connection area has been shown.

Shear Panel Zone Top Continuity Plate

Bot. Continuity Plate

Near Column Flange

Figure 4. Force transfer mechanism Figure 5. The primary idea for

in connection area Through-Plate connection

Figure 6. Exaggerated deformation of column flanges due to horizontal force transfer from
diaphragm to moment-resisting frame
Basically, lozenge cross sections have the shape factor (M/My) more than other cross sections
(Fig. 9). In other words, there is more lag between occurance of first yielding and full yielding of
the cross section which is the desirable characteristic for column sections. In the case of using
one section for both square and lozenge section (45 degree rotating of the square section),
moment of inertia does not change which means these two sections have the same effects on the
structure drifts, but the elastic modulus and plastic modulus of lozenge cross section respect to
square cross section are respectively 0.71 and 0.95. Hence, proportioning of columns which are
force-controlled parts of a moment-resisting frame is not affected by decreasing elastic and
plastic modulus. Only 5% decreasing in plastic modulus have little effects on satisfying strong
column-weak beam criteria.
In-Plane stiffness
of column flange
(High Value)

Out of plane
stiffness of column
Th. Pl.
flange (Low Value)

Figure 7. Simplification of column Figure 8. cross section of steel lozenge

flanges by springs box column in connection area

In Fig. 10 the cross section of CFT column in connection area with a simplified model
based on two parallel springs for two far and near flanges of column has been shown. Since these
two springs are parallel, this system can provide a high out of plane stiffness.

Figure 9. Comparison between various cross sections shape factors (Bruneau M. 1998)

Proposed Various Details

After developing the idea of using Through-Plate connection as a moment connection in

moment-resisting frames consisting CFT columns and steel lozenge box columns, some details
were proposed. In Fig. 11 two proposed details have been depicted. Shear connection of beam
web to Through-Plate can be with usual shear tab plate or with stiffener plate and shear plate.
Welds of beam flange to Through-Plate can be in-site full penetration weld or in the case of
column tree it can be in-shop full penetration welds. Welds of Through-Plate to column can be
fillet weld or partially penetration weld with additional fillet welds (Fig. 12). It must be noted
that the emphasis in this paper is on using Through-Plate for CFT columns and above mentioned
details are suit for CFT columns.

Far column flange spring (High Value)

Simplification

Near column flange spring (Low Value)

Figure 10. Cross section of CFT column in connection area and simplified model based on two
parallel springs

Figure 11. Two proposed details for Through-Plate connection

 Figure 12. Proposed welding details

Force Transfer Mechanism

Consider the sub-frame consists of Through-Plate connection in Fig. 13, one may
simplify it by assuming column flanges in-plane stiffness as two springs (Fig. 14). Because of
high stiffness of these springs they can be approximated by rollers such as in Fig. 15, hence one
can calculate the forces which have transferred to the column (F') with equilibrium rule. Moment
diagram in beam and Through-Plate have been shown in Fig. 16. Through-Plate induced actions
and deformations are as Fig. 17. In other words, Through-Plate behaves as a shear link. Shear
stresses mobilization has been depicted in Fig. 18. In Fig. 19 distribution of bending and shear
stresses in critical section has been shown.

Figure 13. A sub-frame consists of Figure 14. First simplification of column

Through-Plate connection

Figure 15. Second simplification of column Figure 16. Moment diagram in beam
and Through-Plate
 Figure 17. Through-Plate induced actions Figure 18. Shear stresses mobilization
and deformations

3/2 Vavg.

Simplification

Shear Flexural
Stresses Stresses

Figure 19. Distribution of bending and shear stresses in critical section of Through-Plate

But for seismic design of Through-Plate connection with capacity design philosophy
such as what has been introduced in FEMA-350(2000), it is assumed that plastic hinges occur in
a distance equals to column flange face to plastic hinge location (Lp) which is approximated by
Eq. 2 where db is the beam depth and Lt is the projected Through-Plate length after column
flange face. The moment at the column face (Mf) and the moment at the center of Through-Plate
(Mc) are calculated from Eq. 3,4 in which Vp is the shear at plastic hinge and Mpr is defined by
Eq. 5 (FEMA-350 (2000)).

Lp=Lt+db/4 (2)

Mf=Mpr+VpLp (3)

Mc=Mpr+Vp(Lp+dc/2) (4)
 Mpr=CprRyZeFy (5)

It is proposed that Through-Plate designed for bending actions and controlled for shear
actions. It must be noted that no force transfer mechanism has been considered between steel and
concrete, because investigation about the formation of compression struts, like such have been
observed in Through-Beam connection (Azizinamini 2001), needs experimental research and
also because of high shear stiffness of Through-Plate and consequently very small horizontal
deformations of Through-Plate it seems that the formation of concrete compression struts is
prevented. In the other hand, lack of confined corners in connection area like Through-Beam
connection (Azizinamini 2001) causes the force transfer between steel and concrete in
connection area be doubtful. Hence, because the columns are force-controlled parts of moment-
resisting frames, contribution of concrete might be considered only in providing elastic stiffness
for the frame.

Finite Element Modelling

Two finite element models have been prepared. The first model is a sub-frame consists of
IPE360 beam and CFT square box column of 400x400 mm dimensions with 15 mm wall
thickness. The second model is a sub-frame consists of IPE360 beam and steel lozenge box
column of 400x400 mm dimensions with 20 mm wall thickness. These sub-frames are parts of a
moment resisting frame with beam span length of 6000 mm and column height of 3000 mm.

All of the steel components have been meshed with a four-node shell element
(SHELL43 of ANSYS (1992)) and the concrete core of the CFT column has been meshed with
an eight-node brick element (SOLID65 of ANSYS (1992)). A rate independent plasticity model
was used to model the inelastic behavior of steel components. Von misses yield criterion was
used to define material yield surface, and an associated flow rule was used to determine the
plastic deformation. A tri-linear isotropic hardening model with yield strength of 250 Mpa at
strain from 0.0012 to 0.014 and ultimate strength of 410 at strain of 0.25 was used to model the
elastic and inelastic behavior of all steel components. The welds were idealized by providing
common and coupled nodes. The concrete model of ANSYS (1992) which its failure surface is
the well-known five parameter model of William and Warnke were used with values for a high
hydrostatic stress component that takes place in CFTs under sever applied loading( William KJ
1975). Utilizing these values, close agreement has been observed in both the hydrostatic and the
deviatoric sections test data of Launay and Gachon (Launay P 1971). Ultimate uniaxial
compressive strength of concrete was assumed to be 25 Mpa.

Two types of analysis have been done. One accounts only nonlinear material properties
for elements and the other one account for both material nonlinearity and geometry nonlinearity.
In the case of nonlinear geometry some initial imperfections have been applied to the model for
considering probable local buckling of beam flange and Through-Plate.
In Fig. 20 the meshed models have been shown.
 Figure 20. Meshed finite element models

Analysis Results

In Fig. 21 Moment-Total Rotation curves for two models have been shown. In Fig. 22
distribution of Von Misses plastic strains have been depicted. This figure shows that by using
this connection, plastic hinges form certainly in beams at total rotation of 0.04 radians. Also this
formation of plastic hinges outside the connection region, has not been affected by little shear lag
effects which are because of connection configuration between beam flanges and Through-Plate.

Figure 21. Moment-Total Rotation curves

Conclusions

Analytical investigations of innovative connection detail that introduced in this paper,

showed that it can be used as a moment connection in moment resisting frames of consisting
CFT and steel lozenge box columns. Depending on construction practice in different countries, it
may cause some economical benefits and solve the problem of connection between CFT columns
and steel I shaped beams and also remove the need for continuity plates in built-up steel box and
HSS columns. Experimental investigations about the seismic performance of this connection
should be done to prove the analytical results.
 Figure 22. Distribution of Von Misses plastic strains

References

Bruneau, M., C.-M.Uang, and A.Whittaker , 1998. Ductile Design of Steel Structures, McGraw-Hill, New
York, NY.

Elremaily, A., A. Azizinamini , 2001. Design provisions for connections between steel beams and
concrete filled tube columns, Journal of Constructional Steel Research 57, 971-995.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 2000. Recommended seismic design criteria for new
steel moment-frame buildings, FEMA-350, Washington, D.C.

Launay, P., and H. Gachon, 1971. Strain and ultimate strength of concrete under triaxial stress,
Proceeding of the First International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor
Technology, Berlin.

Swanson Analysis Systems Inc., 1992. ANSYS (Release 5.4), Reference Manuals.

William, K. J., and E. D. Dawson, 1975. Constitutive model for the triaxial behavior of concrete,
Proceeding of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, Italy.