LABORATORY TESTING AND NUMERICAL MODELLING OF FRAME CORNER CONNECTIONS FABRICATED FROM STEEL COLD-FORMED SECTIONS

Abstract

In this study, the behavior of beam to column cold formed section connection subjected to major axis bending moments has been investigated. For this purpose, experimental and analytical models have been developed. Two types of connections have been studied. For the first type, the beam is connected to the column via bracket plate attached to the web of the beam and column sections using self-drilling screw bolts of diameter 6mm, whereas. For the second type, ordinary bolts of grade 4.4 and diameter 12mm are used instead of the screws. Lipped channel sections of height, flange width, lip and thickness of 200,60, 20, and 2 mm respectively are studied. Seven specimens were fabricated to investigate the behavior of the connection. The main parameters were the thickness of the guest plate and the connecting element (self-drilling screws vs ordinary bolts). The same models were simulated numerically using a finite element program. The cold-formed sections were modeled using shell elements while the connecting fasteners were modeled using wire elements.