Steel T-stub connections under static loading: an effective 2-D numerical model

The proposed numerical model concerns the simulation of the structural behaviour of steel bolted T-stub connections in the case where the development of zones of plastification, as well as unilateral contact effects on the interfaces between connection members and bolts, are taken into account. Within such a framework; an effective two-dimensional finite element model capable of describing plasticity, large displacement and unilateral contact effects is proposed The model constitutes an easy-to-use and accurate numerical model for the analysis of steel connections subjected to tensile loading and is a simplification of a respective three-dimensional one and aims to reduce in a reliable way the huge computational effort required for the analysis of fine meshes of discretized steel bolted connections. The validity of the assumptions that led to the proposed 2-D model is demonstrated by comparing the numerical results with those obtained by laboratory rests. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.