Influence of initial imperfection on the behaviour of extended bolted end-plate connections for portal frames

Initial imperfection in bolted end-plate connections is mainly induced by residual deformation of welding. Three typical initial imperfections, namely VV-shape, CC-shape and WW-shape are identified in terms of the geometrical imperfection shapes for extended bolted end-plate connections based on a field study. Seven specimens of extended bolted end-plate connection, among which six specimens with VV-shape initial imperfection and one without imperfection in the end-plates were tested, and the influence of the initial imperfection of the end-plate on the behaviour of the connections was investigated. Test results show that initial rotation stiffness of extended bolted end-plate joints decreases with increase of initial imperfection in the end-plate, however, the strength of the end-plate joints is only affected slightly by the imperfection. Besides, the thicker the end-plate is, the more reduction in the initial rotation stiffness relatively. Further parametric study on 14 extended bolted end-plate connections with three typical shapes of imperfections were conducted based on the finite element analysis. Among the three types of initial imperfection, the VV-shape has the least influence, and the CC-shape has the biggest influence on the initial rotation stiffness of the extended bolted end-plate joints. For initial geometrical imperfection in a VV-shape, its influence on behaviour of extended bolted end-plate connections is negligible as far as the imperfection is limited to the criterion, giving H/300H/300. The influence of initial imperfection in a WW-shape on rotation stiffness should be acceptable if the initial imperfection is limited to the criterion. In the case of a CC-shape initial imperfection in the end-plate, its influence on the rotation stiffness would be substantial; even it satisfies the requirement of the imperfection limit. The results of the study should be applicable to the bolted end-plate connections, whether flushed or extended end-plate beam to column joints in structural frames.