Rotational behaviour of column base plate connections: Experimental analysis and modelling

•An experimental analysis of exposed column base plates has been carried out.•A number of tests has been collected from the scientific literature.•The evaluation of the accuracy of the EC3 model of base plates has been evaluated.•A proposal of a refinement to the component method codified in EC3 has been proposed.

A research program aimed at the development of a mechanical model to predict the rotational behaviour of base plate connections under cyclic loads has been recently undertaken at Salerno University. The evaluation of the accuracy of the component approach for predicting the rotational behaviour of base plate connections up to failure under monotonic loads has been carried out as first step of the planned research activity. The accuracy in predicting the rotational stiffness, the flexural resistance and the overall moment–rotation curve of base plate connections by the component method given in Eurocode 3 is evaluated with reference to the experimental tests recently carried out at Salerno University. In particular, the specimens have been preliminarily tested in elastic range under different values of the column axial load and, successively, loaded up to collapse.Such experimental tests are presented and discussed in this paper. In order to widen the investigated range of the geometrical and mechanical parameters affecting the behaviour of base plate connections, the comparison between the predictions coming from component method and experimental tests has been extended not only to the authors’ own tests, but also to a significant number of tests collected from the technical literature.