Parametric study on moment–rotation characteristics of reverse channel connections to tubular columns

• The effect of geometrical configurations of RCC on the M-f relationship was monitored and captured under monotonic loading.
• For sensitivity study, attention should be paid to loading duration, the mesh size and the friction coefficient.
• The main emphasis was on the stiffness, strength, sources of deformability, rotational capacity and failure mechanisms.

The significance of this parametric study initiates from the need for further understanding of the behavior of semi-rigid/partial-strength I-beam to tubular column connections. This research attempted to gain a qualitative understanding of the influence of the geometrical configurations of reverse channel connections (RCC) on the moment–rotation (M-ϕ) response. Hence, ABAQUS (v.6.12) software was used to develop three-dimensional (3-D) FE models for thirty specimens. The FE models developed were validated against the experimental results available from literature where 268 FE models were used for sensitivity analysis. The main emphasis of this research was on the stiffness, strength, sources of deformability, rotational capacity and failure mechanisms of the RCC. All tests were able to achieve a rotational capacity beyond the minimum 0.03 rad, in most cases more than 0.06 rad and in one case reached 0.16 rad. For the same configuration of RCC, it was found that the channel wall thickness to the flush end-plate thickness ratio is the key to the rotational capacity of RCC. In addition, the deformability of the column face was mainly dependent on the ratio of channel depth to square hollow section (SHS) width and the minimum value of this ratio is recommended to be kept equal to 0.72.