Behaviour of end-plate moment connections under earthquake loading

A series of eight full-scale structural steel beam-to-column end-plate moment connection specimens was tested under cyclic loads. The parameters investigated were end-plate thickness, bolt diameter, end-plate extended stiffener, column stiffener, type of flush and extended end-plate. The experimental results are presented in terms of moment capacity, rotational stiffness, rotation capacity and hysteretic curves. The test results indicate that extended end-plate connections have adequate strength, joint rotational stiffness, ductility and energy dissipation capacity required for use in seismic moment frames. Based on the test results and analysis, details on end-plate moment connections for seismic steel frames has been proposed, three failure mode requirements and the corresponding resistance have been recommended to assure that the end-plate connection can provide enough rotation capacity and energy dissipation capacity under earthquake loading and its ultimate failure mode is ductile. A bilinear kinematic hardening hysteretic moment–rotation (M–ϕ)(M–ϕ) model for the end-plate connection extended on both sides has been proposed.