The semi-rigid behaviour of three-dimensional steel beam-to-column steel joints subjected to proportional loading. Part II: Theoretical model and validation

The component method proposed by the Eurocode is an excellent and versatile analysis tool, which can be applied to a wide variety of joints. However, it lacks appropriate components to predict the behaviour of minor-axis and three-dimensional joints. In this paper, a new component for laterally supported plates in bending (applied here to the column web and to the additional plate in bending) is presented and applied to minor-axis joints. Also, complete elastic models for both major- and minor-axis three-dimensional joints are presented. The proposed models take into account the effects on the elastic behaviour of each component caused by proportional loading along both axes. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.