Experimental investigation of steel single plate beam end connections at elevated temperatures

•Connection strength and deformation capacity at elevated temperatures are obtained.•Connection failure modes at elevated temperatures are evaluated.•Connection has a fairly large rotation capacity before final failure is achieved.•Connection behavior after heating and cooling are tested.•Connection strengths agree well with FE and simple equation results.

This paper presents the results of a recently completed experimental research program on the performance of simple beam end framing connections at elevated temperatures. Connections are critical elements in maintaining the integrity of a structure during a fire, but the strength and deformation capacity of connections in fire are not well understood. In the US, one of the most common types of simple beam end framing connections is the single plate connection, which was the subject of this study.In this research investigation, a series of experiments were conducted on connection subassemblies at elevated temperatures to understand and characterize connection stiffness, strength, and deformation capacity, as well as failure modes. This paper first describes the testing facilities and procedures used for these experiments. The results of a series of tests are then described. The measured and observed performance of selected specimens is compared to the predictions from a finite element model, and the test results are also evaluated using simplified equations provided in the AISC Specification.