Integrity of Bolted Angle Connections Subjected to Simulated Column Removal

Published

December 8, 2015

Author(s)

Jonathan M. Weigand, Jeffrey W. Berman

Abstract

Large-scale tests of steel gravity framing systems (SGFSs), one of the most commonly used structural systems in the United States, have shown that enhancements may be required to achieve the desired levels of integrity to collapse when a column suffers damage that compromises its ability to carry gravity loads (Johnson et al. 2014). When supporting columns were removed, the SGFSs resisted load through the development of an alternate load path in a sustained tensile configuration resulting from large vertical deflections. The ability of the system to develop such an alternate load path depends on the capacity of the gravity connections to remain intact after undergoing large rotation and axial extension demands, for which they were not designed. This study experimentally evaluates the performance of steel bolted angle connections subjected to loading consistent with an interior column removal. The characteristic connection behaviors are described and the performance of multiple connection configurations are compared in terms of their peak resistances and deformation capacities.

Citation

Journal of Structural Engineering-ASCE

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

Steel, Connections, Structural Integrity, Robustness, Disproportionate Collapse, Bolted Angle, Gravity Framing

Citation

Weigand, J. and Berman, J. (2015), Integrity of Bolted Angle Connections Subjected to Simulated Column Removal, Journal of Structural Engineering-ASCE, [online], https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0001429 (Accessed December 4, 2024)