Experimental investigation on flush end-plate bolted composite connection in fire

Three tests at elevated temperatures were carried out to invest the fire-resistant capacity of flush end-plate composite joints. The axial force was considered in two of the three tests simulating fire conditions to investigate its effect on the connection's load carrying ability (one with fire protection and the other without fire protection). Summaries have been given on the failure mechanisms, temperature distribution, loading carrying capacity of the composite joint and the mutual influence between joints and beams at elevated temperatures. Date shows that the failure mode of the flush end-plate joint without stiffener is usually dominated with the yielding of the bottom flange of steel beam near the supports, elements of the composite connection have different rate of temperature increase, and the axial force from restrained composite beam influences the rotational stiffness and moment capacity of joints. This paper also theoretically presents how the interaction of joints and beam developed in fire conditions. A practical simplified method is proposed to calculate the non-linear variable characteristics of composite connection in the analysis of catenary action of beams at elevated temperatures. The proposed method is verified by the experimental investigations. This study offers a feasibility of fire-resisting design and evaluation for the composite beam with semi-rigid connections in the complete temperature range.

► Behaviour of composite connections in fire was experimentally studied.
► Mutual action between connections and beams was discussed.
► How interaction of joints and beams develops in fire was theoretically presented.
► Simplified method was proposed to calculate characteristics of composite connections.