DESIGN OF JOINTS IN INDUSTRIAL PORTAL FRAMES "MADE OF SLENDER BUILT-UP MEMBERS. M.BRAHAM Chief Design Engineer Commercial Interech ASTRON Diekireh, Luxembourg, IPLIASPART Research Associate University of Li Lidge, Belgium Depariment MSM 1 ABSTRACT ‘Annes J of Burocode 3, Part 11 [1J, gives rule forthe design of beam-to-column joints in ‘ool strictures. This annex as been recently revised [2] in order to incorporate recent knowledges acquired inthe lst years throughout Europe. Notably, the soiled component method », briefly described in Section 2, has been adopted. However, the revised Annex J stil kas limitations, the main one being the restrieton to joints subjected mainly 10 bending and belonging to rectangular frames made of Hor I profs. In the present paper, recent developments aimed at investigating the behaviour of joins in pitched root lightweight portal frames and extending the scope ofthe revised Annex J to such joint configurations are presented. This work, which has resulted in the preparation ofa design software, is the fruit of a close collaboration between a fabricator, COMMERCIAL INTERTECH, ASTRON Building Systems (Luxembourg), and the University of Lge, MSM Department Belgium), 2. PRINCIPLES OF THE COMPONENT METHOD. “The component method may be presented as an application ofthe well-known frite element method for the ealeulation of structural jolts, ‘The orginslity ofthe component method isto consider any joint asa set of "ndvidal basic ‘components. Inthe particular ease of igute I, the relevant components are the fofowing ‘compression zone “column web in compression ‘beam fan ard we in vompression ‘tension one “column web in tension + column flange in bending + bolts in tension + endplate in bending + beam web in tension ‘= shear zone column web panel in shear igure 1 out in bending with ‘an extended endplateach of these basic components possesses its own strength and siliess in tension, compression or shear ‘The application ofthe component method requires the following steps 4) listing ofthe active components fr the studied joint; evaluation ofthe stifiess andor strength properties ofeach individual base component ©) “assembly” of the components in view of the evaltion of the siffness and/or strength characterises of the whole joint, A sufficient knowledge of the behaviour of the basic components is of Fst importance. The revised Antex J of Eurocode 3 [2} provides information on twelve common components. The ‘combination ofthese components allows to cover a wide range of joint configarations, what should largely be sufficient o satisfy the needs of practitioners as far as beam-C0-colunn joints and beam splices in bending between H- or T-shaped profiles in rectangular frames are concerned should be noted that the framework ofthe component method is sufficiently general to allow the use of various techniques of eomponent characterization and joint assembly. In particular, the sifiess and strength characteristics ofthe components may result fom experimentations in Inboratory, numerical simulations by means of inte element programs or analytical models based on theory. The later may be developed with diferent levels of sophistication according tthe persons to whom they are devoted ‘Complex expressions covering the influence ofall the parameters which afect significantly the component behaviour (stain hardening, bolt head and nut dimensions, bolt prestressing ..) om the boginning ofthe loading tothe collapse ‘+ Rules as those introduced in Annex J of Eurocode 3 which are more simple and are ‘therefore more stable fr hand calelations. + Simplified appronches as now available in [3] and (4] where the procedute for stifiness and strength evaluation are reduced t the esentils and allow a quick and nevertheless accurate prediction ofthe main joint properies. Similar levels of sophistication also exist for wht regards the joint assembly. This one is based ‘ona distribution of the intemal forces within the joint. As a matter of fact, the external loads applied to the joint distribute, at each loading step, between the individual components according to their instantaneous stiffness and resistance. {As sid before, th parallelism withthe fit element method is obvious. To “component and "Join* may be substituted the words “finite element" and “structure, 3, PRESENT LIMITATIONS OF THE REVISED ANNEX J OF EUROCODE 3 Some fields of application are not yet covered by the codes, Amongst them * Joints subjected to bending moment (and shear) and axial compression or tension forces have been less studied and, in particular, the way 10 distribute the internal forces for siffpess and strength calculations (he stitiness and strength component properties remain unchanged whatever is the typeof loading) ‘+ In some eases, the connected elements form an ange higher than 90°. This requites specific amendments to be made to the existing characterization procedures.‘+ When builtsp sections are use, thinner plates than in hot-rlled sections ae often selected, ‘what increases the risk of local plate buckling A quite cftcal example is that of the ‘unstfened pane, mainly loaded in shear, nthe knee joints of portal frames, + In built-up constuction, beam sections are most ofthe time momosymmetical, end plates are extended at both ends, and specif sifening systems are applied (intermediate stifeners and siffeners ofthe extended parts ofthe endplates in Figure 2) “The jos shown in Figure 2 belong to pitched roof industrial portal frames; they exhibit most ofthese particular features. Inthe next pages, ll these various aspects are discussed andthe way they have been modelled isbriely described. Sita eed sutees heceded —tnlartie fees sericea, Sie Ca! ST ~ 7 Sie Race it beam pce igure 2 Joints pitched root portal frames 4, DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY “Tivce main research approaches may be contemplated inthe development of appropriate design tols for jolts: the exprinztal oe, the umerial one and the theoretical one. To dese the ules included in Burocode Anse J, the thes ones have been sucesfly apple ‘Hundreds of experimental tess on joins or cn components have ben performed these las, yeas, Standardized data seats fortes date recording have been prepared atthe european level and database program ced SERICON [8] and including the wale information ‘on joints hasbeen developed. + FEM techniques representa powerfl tol forthe tu of joint ay far as ther use is partclaly well maxeed. They alow to obain infomation - dstibuton of sess inthe ‘conection element, spread of pase, contact forces, .- which ean vsually not be well measured in Iborators. The vlity and the accuracy of the numerical slation ate Checked by means of comparisons with experimental celts on joints or components. AS Soon a this is done, the numerical approach may then be used for parametric studies, $0 replcing expensive experimental programmes ‘+ Tnparalh preition model based on theory and onthe experience gained ffom tests and ‘mera simulations have been developed soa to allow an andyteslevlation of the tain joint propertis, Sophisticated research-rened models have fist been proposed and their validity as been demonstted through comparisons with experimental and mumerial avaliable dt After smplieaons, rules have then been deed for inclusion in Eurocode5 Annex J and practical tools for designers have finally been extracted, These ate described in 3) and (4. In the present study, a quite similar approach is followed by the authors on the basis of the available experimental and numerical results [7]. Addiional mumerical simulations are now in ‘progress and complementary est results on ASTRON joints are planned in a near future, 5, OVERVIBW OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS 5. Column web panel in shear Recommendations for the cleulation of column web panel in shear ar included inthe revised ‘Annes J of Eurocode 3. For what regards the shesr design resistauce, the evaluation formula o where: Ay is the shear re ofthe cokimn rss section ‘rua the yield tes ofthe cour web, however restricted to non-sleder panel far whic A sive ® ' where: e= 2557 Up expressed in Mpa) dis the clear dept ofthe column web Inthe ease of transversally stfened panels, an aditional shear resistance is provided by the fame constituted by the column anges andthe transverse web sifeners, For slender panel (dstu2>690), buckling phenomena occur before the shear plastic resistance ‘siven by Formulae (1) i eached, A classical idealization ofthe panel response at ultimate state ‘consists in isolating three contribution to te resistance and suring them up as follows (see Figure 3) v, Vy 4¥,4¥, ® where: pie te ete shear eaistance ofthe pane; Vy isthe shear resistance associated to the diagonal tension fed which resuits fiom the non-iniform distribution of shear stress inthe panel consecutive to its critical shear buckling; Vij isthe shea resistance of he frame constituted by the surrounding plates ‘Tis idealization has been frst applied to beam in bending and shear - the well-known Cardift ‘model - before being applied years later to column web panels in shear by Pasternak (6] who ‘proposed evaluation formulae for each of the three contributions to the ultimate shear resistance. For design purposes, it could probably be considered that only the two fist ‘contributions have 10 be taken into consideration. From comparisons with experimental test results [7], the reasonable accuracy of the model may be shown. No indication is howevergiven by Pasternak on how to derive the shear slifiness ofthe panel in the clstic range nor in tho non-elastc one, {In (7], the avaliable models and test results are discussed and proposals fr improvement ofthe Pasternak prediction model are suggested —. ve — + 1 + 1 + 1 + t — —~ Va (©) Citi cotton (6) Tension eld contbaton (4) Yield mechani comebation Figure 3 Contibution tothe shear resistance of slender column web panels 52, Stilfening systems Suiffening and sicongthening of the extended part of an end-plate in bending ‘The stiffening and the strengthening ofthe extended part of an endplate may be achieved by welding a triangular stiffener as indicted in Figure 2 ‘The stiffness andthe strength of the extended part may be evaluated through the concept of T-stub introduced in Eurocode 3 revised Amex J for plates subjected to transverse bolt frees, The use ofthe formulae proposed in Eurocode 3 however requires the evaluation of appropriate effective lengths forthe equivalent stu which has to be substituted to the actual sliffened extended part ofthe endplate in bending, These have been derived and the interested ‘reader wil find the related information in [5] termediate stiffeners Such so-called intermediate stifeners are welded there where additional isrequied athe level ofa speifc bolt-row, as shown in Figure 2 finess or resistance ‘The concapt of the stu idealization may again be referred to in thie particular situation and this again requires the definition of appropriate effective lengths forthe column flange or the end-plte in bending at the level of he bolt-row being considered, Eurocode 3 Annex J provides the designer with adequate rules for effective lengths as long a8 two successive stiffeners are separated by two balt-rows atleast, When it isnot the case, asia Figure 2, the effective length to apply has been derived. Is expression, given in (5), appears simply as an extension of the cases covered by Annex J 53. Sloped rafters ‘To cover cases, asin pitched-roof industrial portal frames, where the structural elements are not perpendicularly connected (Figure 4), sight modifications have to be made to theBurocode 3 rules for joint characterization. tn fic, the tree main fllowing aspects have to be ‘considered ‘the extemal loading on the joint; {the distribution of internal foress in the joint «the properties of the constitutive components ‘They are succesivly addressed here blow. Loading Because of the inclination of the rafter in Figure 4, the internal forces Maw, Vasu and Nyse ‘cing atthe rafter extremity and obtained through a eame analysis have tobe transformed ito bending moment Mya shear force Vay and an axial force May ating on the connection eross- section ‘These fores are derived as follows Vga = Msc Mast Py bl hes Vsq =V,,sqc0sa+ N,sysina (4.8) was a Not Nise = Naseooer-V,sasina (4s) \Qrate Eat plae ‘Ma Navend Fg ate expose at the level Figure 4 External oes ating ofthe fer neutral eis ‘onthe conection Disstsion of inernal orses ‘The distribution of the external forces Moy, Nay and Vs into internal forces within the joint ‘components relates to what is defined in Section 2 asthe step number three «joint assembly» ‘of the component method, Its not affected by the non-perpendiclarity between the connected members ‘Component properties may be shown that: + some components ae affected by the rafter incination, ‘+ some components ar not affected ‘+ Some components can no more be used as soon a the raters are inclined In Table 1, the components availabe in Eurocode 3 Annex J are casified according to these tivee categories and it is seen thatthe influence ofthe ater inclination is restricted to five com-ponents. In [5], the way to-amend the related formulae for sifness and resistance prediction is expressed,¥ Compare Rieaet | Not | Nomar asec | avalaie To} Catt eb pet aie > 2 | Columanebincompesion : 3 | beam ftangeand web incompresion | x $ * 6 pte inbonding| x 7 Beam web tension * ‘ ang eatin bending x > Basson x to alsin shew : alsin ering x | Plate ination oF compression x * For welded nections only ‘Table Influence of rafter inclination on the component propetes| $4. Combination of applied axial forces and bending moments Several joins are subjected to axial compressive or tensile forces in addition to in-plane bending moments and shear frees. These forces affect the joint response in terms of stiffness, resistance and rotation capacity. They can therefore not be disregarded, i ey ev gi Srl eg eee ey acetate : [an a For joints which would not ful this "10 % rule", Eurocode 3 gives no recommendations. [a {ict the designer may sil refer to the component method to evaluate the joint properties ~ the Individual esponse a the basic components being not dependent on the extemal loading ofthe jin but he has to determine by himself the procedure 1o assemble the components. As & Imatter of fact, few research works have been devoted to this topic - these are summarized in [5] ~ and none of them may be considered as fully satisfactory. Therefore software approsch has been worked out, in which the component method is refered to and all the aspects of silfness, resistance and deformation capacity are taken into consideration. The software is ‘based on a so-called mechanical model in which [5] (se Figute 5) ‘+ each components simulated by an extensional spring (FiguteS ‘the nonlinear behaviour law of each component is that preicied by Eurocode 3 revised ‘Aanex J or by additonal ules presented in Sections 5,1 t0 5,3 of the presen paper, * the our basie requirements that any distribution of internal forces should fulfil are satisfied, i.e: () equlbrium between internal and external forces, (ji) compatbiliy of the internal islacements, (i limitation ofthe intersl forces to their design values and (iv) imitation ‘of the deformation ofthe components to their maximum value,(on detating Iectancl mods (6) Bebavou ta fr components her clu ven compreon) Figure Mechanical model ‘The deformabily curve characterizing the response of the whole system i built progressively by applying successive inerements of loads 10 the mechanical model and evaluating then the resulting deformation of the system and its consiutve components. As the components cxhbit a non-linear behaviour, the solution may only be Found through an iterative procedure At each iteration, the tangential sifness ofeach component is evaluated so as to reflect the actual contribution ofthe ater tothe sifiess ofthe whole system In. second step, this sophisticated too, simed at reflecting as closely as possible the actu esponse of the joint throughout its whole loading, can then be used in the ffame of parametrical studies to better understand how the joints behave, and constitute a sot of reference when validating, at the end, simplified hand calculation procedures based on the ‘knowledge acquire inthe previous research steps, ‘Such applications of tbe model to actual joint conBiguations and parametrcal studies have ‘been performed, in [5] and [9], which show the ability of the software to characterize the response of the specific joints here envisage. It is however too early 10 publish extensive results of the work. This could be done in a neat fatur, 6, REFERENCES 1n} Burecode 3 Design af Stel Src, Part 1: Genoa Rosa Rls for Bulings, open Presinard ENV 195-1, 1992, [2] Revised Annex} of Eurocode 3 ox Jintsin Bung Frames, cite approved da, CEN De (CEN/TC2SOSCIMN 61 fans 1997. [a] RUN Contac RAS, Stel moment comectons eccwdg wo Eurocade 3. Sipe design for "ig an sed ts. CRU, Uni Lie, CTICM Gans). Uni. Trea ad LABEIN (30) toozt6, [a] ECSc Reseach Cons 7210722 aa 320 on «Frame design nang join _tetvioe , Ua, Lge), CTICM (Uni. Aachen D), TNO Dall (NL) al CRF (8, 193-196. Is] JASPART LP, Recelsdancs tid of el ors, Column bse nd fro soniguatons {or bean tcc jis an eam spies, ro. Tes, Dpatent MSM, Univesity of igs 1997 lo] VAYAS ERMOPOULOS and PASTERNAK H, Designo st fer wit slender ont pael Soural of consructional sel esac, vl. 3, a°2, 1998 1M] CERFONTAINE F., Dimetioneme’ ct conception &onomiques des assonagestuloans ete pai ts ndaliqes recone par sutage, Diplo Work, Deatnent MSM, Unesiy of Lig, 199, 181 SERICON, international Databank Syste for Semi-gid CONnszens, ECCS TCH and COST C, Yersion 15, RWIH Aachen, Germany, 199, [PI PAQUET R. Les ssnblags sue ein: nape des meds radon spl ae de ‘Annexe de "Burocode Diploms Wek tsutt Grate Lita, 196.