Elevated-temperature moment-rotation tests on steelwork connections

This paper summarizes the results from the first phase of a collaborative project to investigate the moment-rotation behaviour of commonly used connections at elevated temperatures. The results from a single test at ambient temperature and five tests at elevated temperature of a bare steel flush endplate beam-to-column connection are presented and discussed. Failure mechanisms are compared with those calculated according to existing design codes. A mathematical expression is proposed in order to represent the test data at a number of temperatures. Resultant connection characteristics are incorporated within existing software in order to assess the influence of realistic connection characteristics on frame response. Recommendations are made for future tests and for numerical analysis to be carried out based on the work conducted to date.