STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT OF STEEL RIGID CONNECTION WITH HSS COLUMNS USING COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS

Abstract

Moment connections of steel moment resisting frames between I beams and HSS columns are studied. Two experimental prototypes were modeled and calibrated with numerical simulations using ANSYS Workbench software. In these models, good enough approximations were computed with respect to reported experimental results. Aditional prototypes were analyzed with non-liner finite element, some connections of I-beam to HSS tubular columns with external diaphragm were modeled, and others connections with concrete filled tubular (CFT) columns. Some of the variants studied are external diaphragms with a perimetral ring, with a perimetral ring and partial lateral plates, and with a perimetral ring and complete lateral plates. The variation in the width of the joint between the flanges and the column wall is also analyzed. Strengths and stiffnesses are compared between filled and no filled connections. Nonlinear finite element analysis showed that the connections fail at storey drift angles larger than 2.0%. These results are the base of a ductile design procedure for steel buildings with these type of connections.