ABSTRACT:In this paper, four specimens of steel beam to column joints with different configuration of bolted angle connections are experimentally tested. The specimens are double sided beam to column connections and are tested under bending loading conditions in order to investigate elastic and inelastic connection behaviour. The semi-rigid beam-to-column connections were subjected to monotonous static loading. The bolted beam-to-column connections are composed from top and seat angle connections with and without web angles as well as with stiffened top and seat angle cleats. The intent of the experimental investigations is to highlight the ability of the connections to maintain strength and to provide rotational capacity. The experimental results are evaluated with the measured force displacement data, from which the characteristic moment-rotation curves were established. The experimental results indicate the primary failure modes include member deformation. The moment-rotation relationship of the tested joints exhibits a significant inelastic nonlinear response. The paper concludes with the comparison of the tested joints in terms of strength and stiffness, highlighting the advantages and weaknesses of the studied joint typologies.

Based on the results of experimental tests, presented in the first part of this paper, Part 1-Experimental Investigations (Ghindea M., Catarig A., Ballok R.) advanced numerical simulations were performed using FEM based software Abaqus. The recently arise of high speed computers and advanced FEM software packages allow to create and solve extensively detailed 3D models. The aim of this second part of the paper is to develop accurate FEM models for better approach of the studied beam-to-column connections. The paper presents the designed numerical models and the results for four bolted beam-to-column connections using top-and-seat and/or web angle cleats, in different configurations. The objective of this paper is to achieve functional numerical models which, by faithfully running, reproduce the experimental results. Thus, calibrating the numerical results with the experimental ones it can be perform then parametric studies, achieving reliable results for similar configurations of joints. The results obtained after numerical simulations were compared with experimental data. The behavior moment-rotation curve and the deformation process of the experimental captured specimens were virtually reproduced with minimum deviation.