End Plate-Stiffener Connection for SHS Column and RHS Beam in Steel-Framed Building Modules

This paper investigates the mechanical performance of beam-to-column connections for steel-framed building modules with RHS and SHS sections of relatively small member sizes. In the experimental program, three forms of connections are tested under static bending, including a completely welded connection (W), a bolted end plate connection (EP) and the proposed end plate-stiffener connection (ST), and the failure modes, moment-rotation behaviours and strain responses were recorded during experiments. Results show that ST connection exhibited superior connection strength, stiffness and ductility compared with the EP connection. In addition, a detailed finite element analysis was conducted to model the connection behaviours, considering bolt pretension, contact behaviours and detailed bolt geometry, showing good comparison with experiments. Furthermore, a parametric study was performed on the end plate thickness and stiffener thickness for the proposed end plate-stiffener connection. Such results finally enable a comparative study to investigate the performance of module during road transportation, highlighting the effects of connection stiffness.