Basic issues in the finite element simulation of extended end plate connections

Numerical simulations of steel bolted connections performed with finite element models depend heavily upon constitutive relationships, step size, number of integration points, kinematic descriptions, element types and discretizations. The aforementioned items combined with complex non-linear phenomena which are commonly observed in connections render the finite element technique not attractive for this class of problems. In this paper these issues an scrutinized and both a legitimate methodology suitable to the analysis of extended end plate moment resisting connections and proper three-dimensional finite element models are established. These models are provided first for non-preloaded and preloaded bolted tee stubs which are proposed as benchmarks. Next, both a solid model and an assemblage of three-dimensional beam finite elements, viz. the spin, are proposed to model the bolt behaviour either in a rigorous or simplified fashion, respectively. Lastly, a three-dimensional non-linear finite element model suitable for the analysis of isolated extended end plate connections is proposed and validated. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.