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Article history: The work presented is part of a research program conducted to study the response of built-up T-stubs under
Received 31 January 2014 cyclic loading. The goal of this research is to demonstrate that the failure modes and limit states that control
Accepted 21 August 2014 the behavior of built-up T-stubs are the same that govern the hot rolled T-stub behavior, therefore current design
Available online 15 September 2014
recommendations for double split tee moment connections are appropriate when built-up T-stubs are used. The
behavior of built-up T-stubs subjected to cyclic loading through the stem is studied through an experimental
Keywords:
Built-up tee
program and numerical analyses: twenty one-half scale T-stub specimens were tested under cyclic loading and
Bolted connection a 3D nite model previously developed was adapted to simulate the cyclic response of the specimens under
Moment connections loading conditions similar to the experimental conditions. The experimental results showed overstrength with
Structural steel respect to that predicted by current design recommendations and differences between the expected and actual
Fillet welds failure modes observed. Only one specimen presented weld damage triggering a brittle failure, caused by a
defective weld. The model reproduced adequately the load-deformation response and failure modes of the
specimens and can be used to study other congurations. It was concluded that the weld has no effect on the
response of the T-stub and, consequently design recommendations for Double Split T connections can be applied
when using built-up T-stubs.
2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction study the feasibility of using a variation of the DST connection, but
based on built-up T-stubs, called double welded tee (DWT) connection.
Prompted by the performance of steel structures observed after In this paper, the most important results from numerical and exper-
the 1994 Northridge, USA, earthquake and the 1995 Kobe, Japan, imental studies on the performance of built-up T-stubs under cyclic
earthquake, numerous investigations on steel connections have been loads through the stem are presented. Previous experimental and nu-
conducted. The outcome of this large research effort has been the im- merical results [2] showed that there was no signicant damage in the
provement of existing connection details and the development of new welded zone of built-up T-stub under monotonic tensile load, hence it
types of connections, capable of providing the structure with enough was envisioned that the design recommendations for DST connections
ductility and strength to achieve the expected seismic performance, [1] would be applicable for DWT connections as well. Therefore, the
for every level of seismic hazard considered. A summary of the results main objective of this research was to conrm this by studying the per-
for moment resisting frames can be found in [1]. formance of T-stubs under cyclic loads.
The double split tee (DST) connection is one of the prequalied con- It was found that: the numerical models reproduced adequately
nections introduced in FEMA 350 [1]. Signicant research has been con- the strength, stiffness, and deformation capacity of the tested speci-
ducted on the behavior of the connection and the T-stub, but almost mens, as well as the failure modes, but could not capture completely
exclusively with elements cut from hot rolled wide ange sections. the slip between the beam ange and the T stem. With the exception
Using built-up instead of hot-rolled T-stubs presents advantages in of one specimen, no damaged to the weld zone could be observed
terms of improved material utilization, freedom of sizing, and availabil- throughout the loading protocol until the failure. Metallographic
ity, but it can introduce brittle failure modes associated with the weld analyses showed that the specimen that exhibited a brittle failure
between the ange and the stem of the T. Therefore, it is of interest to in the welded zone, presented fabrication problems related to lack
of fusion between the ange and the stem of the tee. A direct com-
parison of the experimental load-deformation response of similar
Corresponding author. Tel.: +56 2 29784260; fax: +56 2 26718788.
specimens tested monotonically and cyclically showed that the
E-mail addresses: mibravo@ing.uchile.cl (M.A. Bravo), riherrer@ing.uchile.cl monotonic response curve could be used as an envelope of the cyclic
(R.A. Herrera). force-deformation curve of the built-up T-stub.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2014.08.005
0143-974X/ 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
118 M.A. Bravo, R.A. Herrera / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 103 (2014) 117130
Table 1
Summary of reviewed experimental research on T-stubs.
Swanson and Leon 2000 48 Full Hot rolled T-stub Cyclic and monotonic
Piluso et al. 2001 12 Reduced Hot rolled T ange Monotonic
Welded T ange
Giro Coelho et al. 2004 32 Reduced Welded T ange Monotonic
Hantouche et al. 2009 24 Full Welded T-stub Cyclic and monotonic
Herrera et al. 2009 22 Reduced Welded T-stub Monotonic
2. Previous research cracking in the heat affected zone in the T-ange. They concluded that
this failure mode was affected by the residual stresses and modied mi-
2.1. Experimental studies crostructure in the heat affected zone, which was highly dependent on
the type of electrode used and the hydrogen content. A fracture of the
Most of the research has been conducted on hot-rolled T-stubs. The weld between stem and ange was observed in the single welded spec-
main study that inuenced the FEMA 350 [1] recommendations is imen tested by Piluso et al. [6], starting in the center and propagating to-
Swanson and Leon's [3] experimental research program. They tested ward the ange edges. These authors postulated that the stress
48 T-stubs under monotonic and cyclic loading: 24 T-stubs failed due concentration generated by 3D effects in the central part of the ange
to net section fracture of the stem; 21 failed by fracture of the tension could produce the cracks.
bolts; 2 failed by fracture of the shear bolts; and 1 specimen developed More recently, Hantouche et al. [8] developed a wide test program
a block shear failure. The fracture of the tension bolts strongly depends on built-up T-stubs. The 24 specimens of uniform size with a ange
of the prying of the T ange that is mainly controlled by the tension bolt thickness of 50 mm and a stem thickness of either 19 or 32 mm, fabri-
gauge distance and ange thickness. The energy was dissipated through cated using llet or complete joint penetration (CJP) welds, were tested
bending of the T anges, caused by prying effect, and friction between through the piece of beam ange under axial monotonic and cyclic
the T stem and the beam ange. Following these component tests, loads. In general, the thinner stem specimens failed by net section frac-
they tested six full-scale beam-column connections, where similar fail- ture of the stem, while the thicker stem specimens failed by tension bolt
ure modes were observed, but only after signicant plastic hinging had fracture with little or no yielding of the ange. Considering that each
developed in the beams. They also concluded that existing strength specimen was tested under monotonic and cyclic load, the author con-
models [4] provided adequate predictions for the strength of the ange cluded that T-stubs fabricated using either llet welds or CJP welds per-
and tension bolts, but were unconservative in the case of net section formed adequately under both loading protocols.
tensile fracture when the Whitmore section [5] was used to determine Finally, Herrera el al. [2] tested 22 built-up T-stubs under monotonic
the resisting area, rendering these expressions unt to establish what tensile load. All specimens were fabricated using llet welds and none
failure mode controlled the design. showed any signs of weld damage. The majority of the specimens failed
Piluso et al. [6] tested 11 back-to-back T-stubs loaded through the by fracture of the tension bolts after bending deformation of the T
stems under monotonic tensile load up to the failure, and conrmed ange. This fracture was caused by a combination of the direct axial
the conclusions related to the behavior of the ange. This experimental load and bending due to prying of the T ange. The thinner stem speci-
program did not consider the effect of failure modes associated with the mens failed due to tensile fracture on the net section of the stem. A sum-
T-stem or the shear bolts, because of the way the experiments were mary of this review is show in Table 1.
conducted.
Concerning built-up T-stubs. Giro Coelho et al. [7] tested 32 back- 2.2. Analytical and numerical studies
to-back specimens loaded through the stems under monotonic tensile
load, where the parameters studied were thickness and type of weld, The performance of a DST connection is a complex phenomenon due
size of T-stub, type and diameter of the bolts, and steel grade. The to the stiffness and strength interaction of the elements that compose it,
most common failure mode was fracture of the tension bolts after bend- namely T-stub, beam ange, column ange, and bolts. Therefore, the
ing deformation of the T ange; however, some specimens failed by formulation of an analytical model is also a complex task, often
76 200
L3
H1
L2
e2
L2
200
150
H2
L2
B4
L1
W
H1
e1
Table 2 Table 4
Specimen dimensions. Bolt material properties.
Specimen e1 e2 W B4 L1 L2 L3 H1 H2 Wt Bolt Fy Fu
[mm] [mm] [mm] [mm] [mm] [mm] [mm] [mm] [mm] MPa MPa
Table 3
A36 steel average material properties.
E Fy Fu u
Table 5
Experimental results.
Specimen Failure mode Maximum Load Max. displacement Min. displacement Initial stiffness Energy dissipated
kN mm mm kN/mm kNmm
Notes: WF: welded fracture; BF: bolt fracture; SF: stem fracture.
M.A. Bravo, R.A. Herrera / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 103 (2014) 117130 121
Figs. 4 and 5 show the experimental results for total and stem deforma- important parameter, particularly when the failure mode is placed in
tion, respectively. the T-stem. The results are shown in Table 5, and Figs. 6 and 7
respectively.
3.1.2. TSM4TSM5
The purpose of these specimens was to study the T-stem thickness 3.1.3. TSM6TSM7
inuence. Specimens TSM-4 and TSM-5 had stems 4 mm and 5 mm The purpose of these specimens was the study of the effect of prying
thick. The expected failure mode was tensile stem fracture, calculated deformation of the ange. Therefore the parameter of interest was the
using nominal properties and the recommendations in [1], which coin- distance between tension bolts. The gauge distance between tension
cided with the obtained experimentally. The T-stem thickness is an bolt lines was 90 mm and 70 mm for specimens TSM6 and TSM7,
respectively. A490 tension bolts of 12.7 mm diameter were used for counterparts. Figs. 8 and 9 show the experimental curves for total and
these specimens, in order to delay tension bolt fracture, and conse- ange deformation, respectively.
quently observe the effect of signicant prying deformation. The maxi-
mum loads and deformations are shown in Table 5. The TSM6 3.1.4. TSM8TSM9
specimens eventually failed by tension bolt fracture, but previously de- The objective of these specimens was to study the effect of the type
veloped a signicant uplift deformation of 11.5 mm in the T-ange. The of weld used. The specimens were geometrically almost identical, but
TSM7 specimens developed a smaller T-ange deformation, reaching the TSM8 specimens were fabricated using complete joint penetration
6.5 mm and nally failed by tensile stem fracture. On average, the (CJP) welds and 6 mm thick stems, while the specimens TSM9 used llet
specimens TSM6 reached a 10% higher capacity than their TSM7 welds and 5 mm thick stems. Specimen TSM8-1 failed by tension bolt
fracture, having developed minor T-ange deformation in the elastic without visible damage in the weld zone. The results are shown in
range, as no sign of plastic deformation was found in the 12 mm thick Table 5. The experimental curves for total and stem deformation are
ange. However, specimen TSM8-2 showed a brittle failure in the shown in Figs. 10 and 11, respectively.
weld zone, and reached a 31% lower capacity than TSM8-1. The failure
in the weld zone was caused by a defective weld as will be later ex- 3.1.5. TSM10
plained. The couple of specimens TSM9 failed by tensile net section These specimens were designed and fabricated to try to observe a
stem fracture, even though the expected failure mode was weld frac- failure through yielding of the T-stem gross area. Both specimens devel-
ture, when calculated using nominal properties and the recommenda- oped signicant plastic deformation on the stem, nally reaching a stem
tions in [1], and showed little difference in their performances, fracture. The failure began between the last two bolts in the stem, in the
same way as the others specimens that failed by stem fracture, but the 3.2. Weld performance
spread towards to the edges was more gradual. The load-deformation
curves show similar ductility to the others specimens with the same As previously stated, 18 specimens were fabricated using llet welds
failure mode. The experimental results are shown in Table 5 and the ex- and only 2 (the TSM8 series) were made using CJP weld for 2 specimens,
perimental curves for total and stem deformation are shown in Figs. 12 all in accordance with the requirements [4]. Only TSM8-2 developed a
and 13, respectively. brittle failure in the CJP weld zone. All the other specimens, including
Finally, for the level of loads applied in compression, none of the TSM8-1, showed no visible damage in weld zone. From these results
specimens presented instability failure in the T-stem during the com- and taking into account that the weld performance was one of main pa-
pression cycles. rameters of this investigation, a metallographic analysis was conducted
on the specimen TSM8-2. A rectangular section of 10 30 mm of the fusion can be observed in the middle of the weld, near the T ange,
ange and weld of the specimen was cut and one of the faces perpendic- and from this point a crack propagates upwards. This crack eventually
ular to the weld was sanded with ne grain sand paper. Next, a solution separated the T-stem from the left side (in the picture) of the weld,
of 3% nitric acid and alcohol was applied to this face for one minute to overloading the weld right side, which had to take the total load passing
induce a chemical reaction, and then, the treated face was observed through the T-stem, and nally a complete fracture developed along the
under the microscope. The results of the metallography are shown in weld. The lack of fusion also explains why there were no traces of base
Fig. 14, including the entire sample and specic zones magnied 50 material from the T stem on the weld. The vertical stretch marks in zone
and 80 times. In the H, G and F zones in the fracture surface, there H conrm the point where the high stress concentration developed be-
were no base material traces from the T-stem. A zone of incomplete fore the brittle failure occurred.
3.3. Comparison with monotonic tests for all parts. Only half of the T-stub was modeled, taking advantage of
symmetry considerations. Fillet welds between stem and ange were
Fig. 15 shows the T-stem forcedeformation of TSE 8 and TSE 10 considered using the same experimental llet sizes, and a gap was pro-
tested monotonically by [2] superimposed on the T-stem forcedefor- vided between the ange and the stem, to simulate the limited fusion of
mation curve from TSM 4-2 and TSM 5-2 respectively. These specimens the llet welds through the thickness of the stem. Complete analysis de-
were identical to each other except for the load history and all failed by tails and material properties have been presented previously in [2] and
tensile net section fracture of the T stem. Superimposing the two curves [18]. The actual measured material properties for the base material and
respectively shows that the monotonic data provides an accurate enve- the bolts were considered in the nite element model. Two types of
lope of the cyclic data. analyses were conducted on the models: a monotonically increasing
The slightly lower strength of the monotonically tested TSE10 with tensile displacement up to the maximum displacement in tension ap-
respect to TSM5-2 can be explained by lower strength of TSE10 base plied; and a cyclic tensioncompression displacement that reproduced
material. The elastic and secant stiffness are similar for both the mono- the experimental protocol. In both analyses, the bolts were subjected to
tonic and the cyclic specimens. a pretension equal to the minimum pretension required by the AISC
specication [4], before any displacement was applied to the beam
ange.
4. Finite element studies Fig. 16 shows the comparison between the results of the cyclic test
and the numerical simulations for the ange deformation of specimen
The nite element model presented in [2] and [18], developed using TSM7-2, and Fig. 17 shows the same comparison for the stem deforma-
ANSYS [19], was used to reproduce the cyclic load experiments. The tion of specimen TSM4-2. The numerical model adequately reproduces
model was built using hexahedral and tetrahedral 3D solid elements the strength, stiffness, and deformation capacity of the test specimens.
Moreover, all failures modes can be reproduced by the numerical The cyclic experimental capacities and failure modes observed
model, including bending of tension bolts produced by prying of the were compared with the capacities and failure modes predicted by
T-ange and bearing deformation of the bolt holes in the stem. To the numerical model under tensile monotonic deformation. Table 6
study the failures, the nonlinear behavior of the material was modeled shows this comparison. Similarly to the results presented in [3],
using a Von Mises yield criterion with isotropic hardening. The criteria the experimental capacities are exceeded by the numerical predic-
used for weld and bolt fracture was the attainment of a strain consistent tions by 5% on average. This shows that the monotonic force-
with the fracture strain from the materials tests. deformation curve can be used as an envelope to predict the cyclic
In line with the experimental observations, no sign of signicant force-deformation response of the built-up T. Therefore, throughout
weld distress was predicted by the numerical model, for any of the spec- the cyclic response of the built-up T, no signicant degradation can
imens modeled. be observed from its capacity.
Table 6 numerical model shows earlier slip strength than the experimental re-
Failure mode and capacity of specimens versus FEMA 350 prediction and numerical sponse, this difference may be explained in part by the following
results.
reasons:
Specimen FEMA 350 Experimental Numerical
Bolt pretension applied in the experimental stage by a torque
Failure Strength Failure Strength Failure Strength
wrench probably was higher than the nominal minimum pretension
mode kN mode kN mode kN required by the AISC specication [4] applied in the numerical
TSM1-1 BS 199 SF 229 SF 238 model.
TSM1-2 SF 226 The friction coefcient of 0.33 between the beam ange and the T
TSM2-1 BS 219 SF 241 SF 238 stem, corresponding to Class A surface condition according to RCSC
TSM2-2 SF 257
[20] may be underestimated with respect to the actual conditions
TSM3-1 BS 238 SF 166 SF 245
TSM3-2 SF 228 in the experiment.
TSM4-1 SF 308 SF 217 SF 339
TSM4-2 SF 251 However, for the larger deformation cycles, when the slip strength
TSM5-1 SF 246 SF 314 SF 259 has already developed some capacity degradation, the numerical esti-
TSM5-2 SF 320 mation adequately follows the experimental response, at least in the
TSM6-1 SF 367 BF 478 BF 422 tension stage.
TSM6-2 BF 430
TSM7-1 BF 458 SF 475 SF 519
Fig. 19 shows the experimental and numerical cyclic ange deforma-
TSM7-2 SF 528 tion results for specimen TSM6-2. In general, the numerical model re-
TSM8-1 SF 369 BF 428 BF 454 produces adequately the ange stiffness and strength capacity. Finally,
TSM8-2 WF 355 Fig. 20 shows the experimental and numerical stem deformation for
TSM9-1 WF 297 SF 304 SF 309
specimen TSM3-2, where can be clearly seen the net section failure
TSM9-2 SF 289
TSM10-1 CSF 251 SF 264 SF 263 and the main stress ow.
TSM10-2 SF 255
Notes: WF: weld fracture; BF: bolt fracture; BS: block shear; SF: stem fracture; CSF: cross
5. Discussion and conclusions
stem fracture.
An experimental program was developed to study the performance
of built-up T-stubs under cyclic loads to evaluate its suitability for use in
An example of one of the congurations analyzed under cyclic Double T moment connections. The experimental results were further
deformations is shown in Fig. 18; this gure shows the total force- compared with the results of nite element models to validate the con-
deformation response of specimen TSM3-2, where the experimental clusions of the experiments.
cyclic response is overlaid on top of the numerical cyclic response. The The net section fracture of the stem was the most common failure
numerical model adequately reproduces the nal strength and defor- mode observed in the experimental program. For specimens with
mation capacity, but it is not capable to reproduce the stiffness of the thicker stems the failure mode was the fracture of the tension bolts
rst cycles and the slip strength in tension and compression stage. The due to signicant prying of the tee ange. Only one specimen showed
Fig. 19. Flange deformation on TSM6-2 specimen and nite element model.
damage in the weld zone triggering a brittle failure. From a metallo- The numerical models can consistently reproduce the results of the
graphic study, it was found that defects in the welding procedure used experiments in terms of strength, stiffness, and deformation capacity
to fabricate the CJP weld were the cause of the failure. The strength of the tested specimens, as well as failure modes. The modeling method-
was larger than the strength predicted by current design recommenda- ology can be used to study other congurations of welded T-stubs, to
tions by 5.8% on average. Regarding failure modes, the Whitmore sec- extend the conclusions reached in this study.
tion with a 30 degree angle for the evaluation of the net section From the comparison of the results for similar specimens tested
capacity of the stem in tension over predicts the actual strength of this under monotonic and cyclic load loading, it was possible to conrm
failure mode, as it had already been observed for the hot rolled speci- that the monotonic load-deformation curve can be used as an envelope
mens tested by Swanson et al. [3], which are the base of the recommen- to predict the cyclic response of built-up T-stubs, indicating that low
dations in [1] for DST connections. cycle fatigue did not play a signicant role for these specimens.
Fig. 20. Stem deformation on TSM3-2 specimen and nite element model.
130 M.A. Bravo, R.A. Herrera / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 103 (2014) 117130
Finally, both the experimental and numerical results for the built-up [7] Giro Coelho A, Biljaard F, Gresnigt N, Simoes Da Silva L. Experimental assessment of
the behaviour of bolted T-stub connections made up of welded plates. J Constr Steel
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welds. The zones B and D of the metallography in Fig. 14 show the HAZ [8] Hantouche EG, Rassati GA, Kukreti AR, Swanson JA. Built-up T-stub connections for
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