Behaviour of steel beam-column joints subjected to quasi-static and impact loads

Abstract

Currently, there are very few numerical and experimental studies of commonly-used fin plate (or shear tab) and welded unreinforced flanges with bolted web joints subjected to impact loads. In this paper, an experimental programme of these two types of joints was presented and five steel specimens were included. Structural behaviour of both types of joints subjected to quasi-static and impact loads was investigated. Besides, numerical simulations were conducted using the commercial software LS-DYNA. Finite element modelling techniques were introduced and validated against the test results. Using validated numerical models, governing parameters including mass, velocity, momentum and energy were investigated. Energy was found to govern structural behaviour of specimens subjected to impact loads. To evaluate the performance of beam-column joints subjected to impact loads, two indices, namely energy ratio and deformation ratio were proposed based on energy of impactor. It was found that deformation ratio was more appropriate and relevant than energy ratio for evaluating residual deformations and energy absorption.