Experimental Full-Range Behavior Assessment of Bolted Moment End-Plate Connections

The paper summarizes experiments conducted at the University of Sydney on bolted moment end-plate connections. The overall context of this work was to obtain full-range moment-rotation curves of the connections which can be used to validate analytical and numerical models. The full-range moment-rotation curve covers not only the elastic and inelastic ranges but also the postultimate and postfracture ranges. Thirteen specimens were tested, with failure modes being either end-plate bending failure or column web buckling failure. Results of all experiments are provided in detail, including the full-range moment-rotation curves, observations of the two failure modes and deformations of individual joint components. The ultimate resistance measurements of the bending tests were compared with those predicted by the relevant standards.