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Finite Element Analysis and Tests on Bolted End-Plate Connections in Steel Portal Frames

Bolted end-plate connections are being widely used in steel portal frames. In this paper, some tests on beam-to-column and beam-to-beam end-plate connections are reported and the corresponding finite element analysis (FEA) is carried out to analyze their loading resistance and rotational stiffness characteristics. The design method about extended end-plate connections in current design code is discussed, and the necessary improvements are proposed. Especially, some precautions about the classification criterion of the joint stiffness in steel structures are recommended. From the results of comparison, one new model of the bolt tension force distribution and the corresponding design method are presented. It has been verified by the tests that this method can calculate the actual stresses of the bolts and the end-plates more accurately and mobilize their loading capacities more efficiently with sufficient safety and reliability.