Full-scale Tests of Stabilized and Unstabilized Extended Single-plate Connections

Little guidance is available in the literature that is suitable for use in the design of extended single-plate connections. In particular, these connections have not been studied sufficiently for scenarios that involve axial load, which is relatively common in industrial applications. To address this shortcoming, an investigation into the behaviour of extended single-plate connections was completed by testing 23 full-scale specimens. Connections with and without stabilizer plates were tested that varied in plate thickness, plate depth, and the number of horizontal bolt lines. Horizontal loads varied from 500 kN in compression to 200 kN in tension. The influences of the test variables on connection behaviour, capacity, and failure mode are discussed. Among the findings of this research are that despite their slenderness these connections tend to be quite ductile, and the capacities of the unstabilized connections without axial load were much larger than those predicted by available design provisions.