Behaviour of Flush End-Plate Connection for Perforated Section

This paper presents the study on the behaviour of the beam to column connection by using flush endplate connection for I-beam steel section with perforation. Moment rotation and failure pattern of flush end plate connection for perforated section were studied. The model was modelled by using LUSAS software and then analysed with nonlinear finite element analysis. Nineteen models were generated for flush end plate connection with perforated beam section consisting of variable parameters such as opening size, distance between the first opening and column face, and spacing between the openings. The moment resistance and rotational stiffness of the connection are found to be reduced by the presence of the openings. The geometric parameter of the openings affected the behaviour of the connections. It is found that the larger the opening size, the lower the strength and rigidity of the connection. Furthermore, it is found that the presence of openings causes increment in the deflection of the beam. However, some perforated sections with optimum geometric parameters for openings have higher strength to weight and rigidity to weight ratio than normal section without perforation. In this study, the most effective geometric parameter for openings are found to be size of 0.65h, distance between the first opening and column face of 800mm and spacing between openings of 1.3h (h is the depth of the beam web).