ARTICLE IN PRESS

Fire Safety Journal 44 (2009) 976988

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Fire Safety Journal

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/firesaf

Modeling of bolted angle connections in re

Amir Saedi Daryan , Mahmood Yahyai
Civil Engineering Department of K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

a r t i c l e in f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Recent structural collapses caused by re have focused attention on research concerning re safety in
Received 29 March 2008 building design. The high cost of experimental tests and limitations in the number of geometrical and
Received in revised form mechanical parameters, in addition to advances in numerical methods that provide the ability to
3 March 2009
simulate complicated structures with numerous parameters, make the nite element method an
Accepted 15 June 2009
Available online 25 July 2009
attractive device for modeling the behavior of structural connections in re.
In this paper, the behavior of bolted angle connections was studied at ambient and elevated
Keywords: temperatures using the ANSYS nite element software. Steel members and connection components
Bolted angle connections were considered to behave nonlinearly. Degradation of steel properties with increasing temperature
Finite element modeling
was assumed to be in accordance with EC3 [Euro Code 3: Design of Steel Structures, Part 1.2: General
Fire modeling
Rules Structural Fire Design (drafts), Document CEN, European Committee for Standardization, 1995 [1]]
Elevated temperature
recommendations. Finite element results and experimental tests conducted on bolted angle connections
in re conditions were compared, and modeled failure modes and momentrotationtemperature
characteristics were in good agreement with those associated with experimental tests.
& 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction geometrical and mechanical parameters is limited in experimen-

When exposed to high temperatures during re conditions,
steel experiences a signicant and sudden decrease in strength
and stiffness, resulting in decreased load carrying capacity.
Therefore, steel structures should be constructed in a way that
assures their safety during res. Many experimental tests have
been conducted in the last three decades to study the effect of re
on structures. These tests have been conducted either on full-scale
steel structures or on isolated steel members like columns, beams
and connections. In common steel structure design, beam-to-
column connections were assumed to be rigid or pinned, and the
connections were assumed to possess signicant stiffness and
strength at elevated temperatures. However, actual connection
behavior exhibits a wide spectrum of characteristics between
these two limits. Because these connections play an important
role in the survival time of structures, experiments have been
conducted to study the behavior of connections at elevated
temperatures. Experimental tests provide reliable results that
accurately describe the behavior of the beam-to-column connec-
tions. However, physical experiments are sometimes either not
feasible or too expensive to conduct. In addition, the number of
 Corresponding author. Tel.: +982122749398; fax: +982122749399.
E-mail addresses: amir_saedi_d@yahoo.com (A. Saedi Daryan),
m_yahyai@yahoo.com (M. Yahyai).
tal studies.
As a result, signicant advances in the nite element method
have made it one of the most powerful numerical methods
available for modeling the behavior of connections, especially at
elevated temperatures.
The use of nite element modeling to study connection
behavior began in the early 1970s, as the potential for the
application of computers to solving structural problems became
evident. The modeling of the behavior of connections at elevated
temperature was rst performed in the 1990s. Early attempts at
modeling connection behavior in re were initiated by Liu and
Morris [2] and Liu [36], who developed a nite element model,
FEAST, to simulate the various types of connections under re
conditions. The beam, column, end plate and stiffeners were
modeled using eight-node shell elements, and the nonlinear
behavior of the material at elevated temperatures was considered.
The stressstraintemperature characteristics were adopted
based on recommended values from experimental tests, and
the models showed close agreement with experimental data.
El-Houssieny et al. [7] developed a three-dimensional (3-D) nite
element model to simulate the response of extended end plates at
both ambient and elevated temperatures. Close agreement with
experimental work was obtained, and subsequent parametric
studies were conducted to investigate the inuence of connection
behavior at normal and elevated temperatures. Spyrou et al. [8]
modeled T-stub specimens at elevated temperatures using the
nite element program ANSYS. A close agreement was found

0379-7112/$ - see front matter & 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.resaf.2009.06.005
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between the experimental results and 3-D analyses. Rahman et al.
[9] used ANSYS to study the behavior of n plate connections
in re. For modeling the beams, columns, n plates and bolts,
the authors used 3D solid, prestressed and contact elements,
respectively. Despite the prediction of realistic results by the
model, no experimental data were used to quantify its accuracy.
Sarraj et al. [10] also developed 3-D ABAQUS models of n plate
connections, which included the important contact interaction
between the bolts and the n plate and beam web. The models
were validated against lap joint data at ambient temperature. In
2005, a re test was conducted by Wald et al. [11] at the Czech
Technical University. A nite element model was developed by
Al-Jabri et al. [12] to study the behavior of ush end plate bare
steel joints at elevated temperatures using the general purpose
nite element software ABAQUS. The nite element model was
used to establish the momentrotation characteristics of the ush
end plate bare steel joints with a concentrated force at elevated
temperatures. The joint components were modeled using 3-D
brick elements, while contact between the various components
was modeled using Coulomb friction. Material nonlinearity was
considered to model steel members and the joint components.
Degradation of steel properties with increasing temperatures
was taken in accordance with design code recommendations.
The obtained FE-simulated failure modes and momentrotation
temperature characteristics of the joints compared well with the
experimental data in both the elastic and plastic regions.
Lou and Li [13] used ANSYS to model the behavior of cruciform
tests with extended end plates in re. A sequential analysis was
used; a transient thermal analysis was conducted rst, followed by
a static structural analysis. Non-uniform thermal expansion,
geometric nonlinearity, temperature-dependent nonlinear material
behavior, bolt pretension and surface-to-surface contact were
all included in the analyses. Excellent correlation was achieved
between the analyses and experimental results from two re tests.
Saedi et al. [14] carried out four experimental tests on Khorjini
connections as semi-rigid connections at elevated temperature. The
connections were modeled using ABAQUS nite element program.
Comparison between the result of numerical models and experi-
mental test results showed good agreement in elastic and plastic
ranges. These results show that the nite element method is suitable
for accurately predicting the behavior of connections at elevated
temperatures, and can simultaneously consider several parameters,
each of which would require a separate experimental test.
In this article, a nonlinear nite element model of bolted angle
connections with and without web angle at ambient and elevated
temperatures using ANSYS [15] is presented, and the results of
models and tests were compared. In addition, the accuracy of the
analysis is compared to experimental tests at ambient and
elevated temperatures. It should be noted that the design method
details for angle bolted connections with and without web angle
is presented in many construction codes [16,17]. In some countries
such as Iran, these connections are widely used as semi-rigid
connections in braced frames.
2. Connection geometry
To study the behavior of steel connections at ambient and
elevated temperatures, two series of experimental tests on bolted
angle connections were selected. It should be noted that these two
series of tests are selected from two different references and are
completely independent.
2.1. Experimental tests at ambient temperatures
Tests carried out by Azizinamini [18], which are valid
references for numerical studies on angle connections, were
selected. Dimensions, sizes and detailed properties of the test
specimens are tabulated in Table 1.
The test arrangement conducted by Azizinamini is shown in Fig. 1.

Table 1
Properties of connection components tested by Aziznamini.

Specimen no. Bolt diameter Column Beam Top and seat angles Web angle
(mm) section section
Angle Length Gauge Bolt spacing Angle Length
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)

8S1 19.1 W12  58 W8  21 L6  31/2  5/16 152.4 50.8 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7
8S2 19.1 W12  58 W8  21 L6  31/2  3/8 152.4 50.8 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7
8S3 19.1 W12  58 W8  21 L6  31/2  5/16 203.2 50.8 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7
8S4 19.1 W12  58 W8  21 L6  6  3/8 152.4 137.2 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7
8S5 19.1 W12  58 W8  21 L6  4  3/8 203.2 63.5 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7
8S6 19.1 W12  58 W8  21 L6  4  5/16 152.4 63.5 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7
8S7 19.1 W12  58 W8  21 L6  4  3/8 152.4 63.5 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7
8S8 22.3 W12  58 W8  21 L6  31/2  5/16 152.4 50.8 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7
8S9 22.3 W12  58 W8  21 L6  31/2  3/16 152.4 50.8 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7
8S10 22.3 W12  58 W8  21 L6  31/2  1/2 152.4 50.8 88.9 2L4  31/2  1/4 139.7

Fig. 1. Details of the test conducted by Azizinamini.

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2.2. Specimens tested at elevated temperatures
The test carried out by Saedi [19] and Saedi and Yahyai [20]
was chosen to study the behavior of bolted angle connections
under temperature loading. The specimens were congured in a
symmetrical cruciform arrangement that consists of a single
80-cm-high column of IPE300 section connected to two 250-cm-
long cantilever beams of IPE 220 section. The load was applied on
a point 2 m from the end of the beam. Details of the specimen
arrangement and the test conducting method are shown in Fig. 2.
All of the bolts in the specimens were tightened to 150 N m by
a torque wrench to ensure consistency. The experimental tests
were conducted on two different connection details:
Connection group 1: Specimen without web angle (SOW)
Connection group 2: Specimen with web angle (SWW)
Connection group 1 (SOW) consisted of two angles, one
connected to the top ange of the beam and the other connected
to the bottom ange. The total system was bolted to the ange of

Bea,
restrained
Load horizontally Load

40 200

Fig. 2. Arrangement of the test carried out by Saedi et al.

Fig. 3. Details of the test conducted by Saedi et al. (a) Connection group1 (SOW); (b) Connection group2 (SWW).
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the column. Each angle was bolted to the ange of the beam by six connection is theoretically calculated and then the applied
M16 bolts and to the ange of column by two M16 bolts. A detail moment is selected as a coefcient of connection rotation
of this group of connections is shown in Fig. 3(a). capacity and is applied to the specimens during the test.
The connection group 2 (SWW) had two additional angles
compared with connection group 1. These angles were bolted to the
web of the beam on one side and to the ange of the column on the 3. Finite element model
other side. Web angles were connected to the web of the beam by
two M16 bolts and to the ange of the column by two M16 bolts. The ANSYS multi-purpose nite element modeling code was
Details of this group of connections are shown in Fig. 3(b). Details of used to perform numerical modeling of the connections. FE
connections for each specimen are provided in Table 2. models were created using ANSYS Parametric Design Language
(APDL). The geometrical and mechanical properties of the
connection models were used as the parameters, thus the time
2.2.1. Specimen loading required to create new models was considerably reduced.
The values of applied moment to each specimen in the tests are Numerical modeling of the connections was performed with the
presented in Table 3. As it can be seen, rst the rotation capacity of following considerations: All components of connections such as
beam, column, angles and bolt heads and bolt shanks were
Table 2 modeled using eight-node rst-order SOLID64 elements that can
Details of specimens tested by Saedi et al.
consider the thermal gradient used to apply the effect of re.
Specimen no. Group no. Angle size (mm) Grade of bolt Pretensioned elements were used to model pretensioning forces
in the bolts. Bolt holes were 1.6 mm larger than the bolt diameter.
3 1 10010010 8.8 Only half of the connection was modeled because of the symmetry
5 2 15010015 8.8 that exists about the web plane. The model contains only anges
9 1 15010015 8.8
13 2 10010010 8.8
and stiffeners of the column, because of the high rigidity of the
column resulting from its stiffeners. The nite element model of
the connection is shown in Fig. 4. ANSYS can model contact
problems using contact pair elements that pair together in a way
Table 3 such that no penetration occurs during the loading process.
The value of applied moment for each specimen in the tests carried out by Saedi et The interaction between adjacent surfaces, including anglebeam
al.
ange, bolt headnut, bolt holebolt shank and the effect of
Specimen no. Group no. Moment (M) level Applied M (kNm) friction were modeled using these contact elements. Selected
contact surfaces are shown in Fig. 5. The value of Coulomb friction
3 1 Mcc 8.5 coefcient is one of the signicant parameters in studying the
5 2 0.4 Mcc 8.5 bolted connections that is used to consider the friction forces.
9 1 0.6 Mcc 8.5
13 2 0.8 Mcc 8.5
AISC provision [16] proposes the value of 0.33 for A class surfaces.
However, Refs. [21,22] have considered the value of 0.1 for this
coefcient. In the present study, in contrast to the studies carried

Fig. 4. Finite element model of the connection

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980 A. Saedi Daryan, M. Yahyai / Fire Safety Journal 44 (2009) 976988

Bolt
Contact Surfaces Clearance

Contact Surfaces

Fig. 5. Selected contact surfaces considered in the nite element model.

900

800
S-1
700 S-2
Temperature (c)

S-3
600 S-4
S-5
500
S-6
400 S-7
S-8
300 S-9
S-10
200
S-11

100 S-12

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Time (min)

Fig. 6. Average temperatures of each specimen.

600 Table 4
Material properties of specimens tested by Saedi et al.
500
Material Yield stress Ultimate stress Modulus of elasticity
strain=0.0485
(N/mm2) (N/mm2) (N/mm2)
400 stress= 510
stress (MPa)

Beamcolumnangle 235 420 2.06  105

300 Bolts 8.8 740 866 2.06  105
strain=0.0013
200 stress=276.9
is found to be the best value for this type of connections.
100 Consequently, the value of Coulomb coefcient is assumed to be
A36 steel
0.25 in the present study. [2325].
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
strain
4. Boundary conditions and applied loads
Fig. 7. Stressstrain curve for A36 steel [30].

Since the geometry of the connection is symmetric, just one-

out in Refs. [21,22], nuts and bolt heads are modeled as fourth of the connection was modeled and the displacements
hexahedral which are similar to the real shape. According to the perpendicular to the symmetric plane were closed. It is noted
sensitivity studies carried out by the rst author, the value of 0.25 that since the beams of the connections were compact sections,
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45 8S1 55 8S2

36 44

moment (kNm)

moment (kNm)
27 33

18 22
TEST TEST
9 FE 11 FE
Citipitioglu et al Citipitioglu et al

0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
rotation (mrad) rotation (mrad)

50 8S3 30 8S4
40
24
moment (kNm)

moment (kNm)
30
18

20 12
TEST TEST
10 FE 6 FE
Citipitioglu et al Citipitioglu et al
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0 8 16 24 32 40
rotation (mrad) rotation (mrad)

50 8S5 40 8S6

40 32
moment (kNm)

moment (kNm)

30 24

20 16
TEST TEST
10 FE 8 FE
Citipitioglu et al Citipitioglu et al
0 0
0 8 16 24 32 40 0 8 16 24 32 40
rotation (mrad) rotation (mrad)

45 8S7 8S8
50

36 40
moment (kNm)

moment (kNm)

27 30

18 20
TEST TEST
9 FE 10 FE
Citipitioglu et al
0 0
0 8 16 24 32 40 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
rotation (mrad) rotation (mrad)

65 8S9 85 8S10

52 68
moment (kNm)

moment (kNm)

39 51

26 34
TEST TEST
13 FE 17 FE
Citipitioglu et al Citipitioglu et al
0 0
0 8 16 24 32 40 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
rotation (mrad) rotation (mrad)

Fig. 8. Comparison between the results of nite element and experimental test.
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982 A. Saedi Daryan, M. Yahyai / Fire Safety Journal 44 (2009) 976988

the local buckling instabilities occur in the inelastic range or high experimental tests. In the tests conducted on these series of
stress levels. The Von Mises stress distribution in FE models connections at elevated temperatures, the temperature of furnace
claries that the beam remains nearly elastic and so the local is increased according to the curves provided by ASTME119 and
buckling failure mode can be ignored in the FE models. For the ISO834 [26,27]. As a result of increase in the temperature of
specimens tested at ambient temperature, 50 mm vertical dis- furnace, the temperature of specimens is also increased and is
placement was applied monotonically on the nodes located at recorded by thermocouples connected to each specimen. The
the end of beam to apply the moment on the connections. This average values of recorded thermocouple temperatures for each
displacement at the end of the beam causes an approximately specimen are presented in Refs. [19,20]. In the present study,
0.03 rad rotation. The amount of bending moment and relative these values are used as input temperatures for the software.
rotation of connection can be computed by Eqs. (1) and (2): Fig. 6 shows the average temperature of each specimen.
The rotational degrees of freedom were not active for solid
M PL 1
elements in ANSYS; therefore, the vertical deection was
determined at a certain point along the beam from which the
e1  e2
R 2 connection rotation, j, can be estimated using the following
h
equation [28]:
where M is the applied connection moment, P is the summation of
the reaction forces of the applied displacement on beam end j tan1 u=L 3
nodes, L corresponds to beam length, R is relative rotation of
connection, h is beam depth, e1 and e2 are the top and bottom
ange horizontal displacements, respectively.
In the tests carried out at elevated temperatures, the specied
concentrated force was rst applied at a distance 200 cm from the
column ange, in order to create the necessary moment in
the connection. A uniform temperature in the neighborhood of the
connections was then gradually increased to the desired level to
study the effect of temperature on the structural behavior of the
beamcolumn conguration. The column is assumed to be xed
at the bottom, since no displacements were expected to take place
at nodes far away from the connections, and was free to move at
the top, in order to reect the experimental test set-up.
The beam was allowed to deect downward only, while
horizontal movement was restrained to prevent any possibility
of premature failure of the beam by lateral torsional buckling. The
beam was also allowed to expand freely along the longitudinal
axis, thus ensuring no thermal stresses were generated. Only the
area around the connection was subjected to the full tempe-
rature regime whereas sections away from the connection were
subjected to ambient temperature in order to simulate the

Fig. 9. Deformation of the connection S5 from the experimental tests. Fig. 10. Predicted deformation of the connection S5.
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
A. Saedi Daryan, M. Yahyai / Fire Safety Journal 44 (2009) 976988
where u is the vertical deection of the point along the beam, and
L is the distance from the connection centerline to the point where
the deection was taken.
5. Material properties
Different material properties were used for the two series of
tests performed at ambient and elevated temperatures.
5.1. Material properties of specimens conducted by Azizinamini
(ambient temperature)
The stressstrain relation for all connection components,
except for bolts, was represented using a three linear constitutive
model. An isotropic hardening rule with a Von Mises yielding
criterion was used to simulate plastic deformations of connection
components, and fracture of material was not considered.
Fig. 11. Detail of deformation of the connection S5 components.
983
Since the steel properties of connection components is not
clearly mentioned in Ref. [18], the properties that were assumed
for Azizinamini tests by the Citipitioglu et al. [29] is used here that
provide good results. The yield stress and ultimate strength of
bolts were assumed based on nominal properties of A325 bolts.
Bolt materials were modeled as bilinear with 634.3 MPa yield
stress and an ultimate stress of 930 MPa at 8% strain. Modulus of
elasticity and Poissons ratio were considered as 210 GPa and 0.3,
respectively. Fig. 7 shows the stressstrain relation of A36 steel
used for beam and angle materials in Citipitioglu et al.s study.
5.2. Material properties of specimens tested by Saedi et al. (elevated
temperatures)
At elevated temperatures, the connection undergoes large plastic
deformation; therefore, an elasticplastic material model was
adopted. Analytical models are considered as simplied models;
however, it is sufcient to incorporate the main parameters (i.e.,
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984 A. Saedi Daryan, M. Yahyai / Fire Safety Journal 44 (2009) 976988

stiffness and strength) representing the degradation of material
properties with temperature. For this purpose, the stressstrain
characteristics of structural steel at elevated temperatures are
dened in the design codes BS5950, Part 8 [31] and EC3: Part 1.2.
The equations for degradation of bolts steel were dened from these
codes. The steel properties and bolt properties of the specimens are
obtained from Ref. [20]. It should be noted that the results of Coupon
test for each specimen is presented in Ref. [19] and just the results of
Mill test is presented in Table 4.
6. Model verication
In this section, the results of nite element models were
compared to those of the experimental test conducted by
Azizinamini at ambient temperatures. The models were then
loaded according to the test carried out by Saedi et al., and the
ability of the models to simulate the experimental behavior of
connections at elevated temperatures was veried.
6.1. Verication of the models using the tests conducted by
Azizinamini (ambient temperature)
To evaluate the accuracy of the numerical models, 10 nite
element models were developed according to the specimens
tested by Azizinamini and the results were compared. In Fig. 8,
momentrotation curves obtained by analysis of nite element
models were compared to those from the experimental tests
conducted by Azizinamini and those obtained by Citipitiuglu
using numerical methods. Fig. 8 shows that the results of
the nite element models were in close agreement with the
experimental test results.
Differences between the numerical simulations and the
experimental results may be due to several causes, such as
numerical modeling simplication, test specimen defects, residual
stress and contact surface interactions, frictional forces, and bolt
pretensioning forces. Bolt pretension and the friction coefcient
were two major factors that affect the behavior of the connections,
especially in the nonlinear regime. These factors are difcult to

700
800
600
700

600 500
Temperature (c)
Temperature (c)

500 400

400
300
300
200
200
S5-EXP
100 S13-EXP
100 S5-FE
S13-FE

0 0
0 50 100 150 200 250 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Rotation (Millirads) Rotation (Millirads)

700 800

700
600

600
500
Temperature (c)
Temperature (c)

500
400
400
300
300

200
200
S3-EXP
100 S3-FE 100 S9-EXP
S9-FE
0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 0 50 100 150 200 250
Rotation (Millirads) Rotation (Millirads)

Fig. 12. Comparison of FE and experimental results for four different tests.
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A. Saedi Daryan, M. Yahyai / Fire Safety Journal 44 (2009) 976988 985

S5 S9
60 45

40
50
35
20 c
40 30
Moment (kNm)

20 c

Moment (kNm)
400 c
25 400 c
500 c
30 500 c
600 c 20
600 c
650 c
20 15 650 c

10
10
5

0 0
0 50 100 150 200 250 0 50 100 150 200 250
Rotation (Millirads) Rotation (Millirads)

S3 S13
25

35
20
30
Moment (kNm)

25
15
Moment (kNm)

20 c 20 c
20
400 c 400 c
10 500 c 15 500 c
550 c 550 c
600 c 10 600 c
5
5

0 0
0 50 100 150 0 50 100 150
Rotation (Millirads) Rotation (Millirads)

Fig. 13. Momentrotationtemperature curves.

estimate. Another major inuence on connection behavior arises
from the nonlinear constitutive laws for materials, especially for
situations where only uniaxial values of the stressstrain curves
are available. This is the cause for the increased difference
between the curves in the nonlinear portion of the curve. As can
be seen from Fig. 8, in specimens 8S3 and 8S4, the difference
between the nite element modeling results and the test data was
higher than for other specimens, while the two nite element
results (the present study and that by Citipitioglu) were in close
agreement. This difference is most likely due to test specimen
defects such as geometrical measuring or bolt pretensions.
6.2. Verifying the models using the tests conducted by Saedi et al.
(elevated temperatures)
The FE results were compared with the experimental data
generated by Saedi et al. in terms of temperaturerotation character-
istics and failure modes of the connections. Figs. 9 and 10 show
comparison between predicted deformations and real deformations
for connection S5. Fig. 11 shows the deformation modes of the same
connection components in comparison with the real connection
components deformations after the test. Fig. 9 shows a local
deformation at the top and bottom angles, particularly around the
top bolt, where it is subjected to the highest tensile stresses. Because
of the high strength of columns used in the test, the columns were not
deformed compared to the angles. The bolts used at the vertical leg of
the top angle were subjected to the highest tensile stresses and failed.
Distortion did not occur in the other bolts. This behavior was closely
predicted by the FE model, as shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 11 shows the
deformed shapes of each component of the connection assembly in
comparison with the same component after the test, where damage
in terms of permanent deformation takes place in the top and bottom
angles. The critical stress at the end of bolt is clearly visible and the
same thing can be seen in the real components of the connection. The
column and beam have no signicant deformation.
In order to validate the results from the FE analysis, four
elevated temperature tests were modeled. A comparison of the
temperaturerotation response of the connections at different
moments is shown in Fig. 12. The temperaturerotation response
curves of the connections agree well with tests at the elastic and
plastic stages. Differences between the numerical simulations and
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986 A. Saedi Daryan, M. Yahyai / Fire Safety Journal 44 (2009) 976988

the test results may be due to several causes, such as numerical

modeling simplication, test specimen defects, residual stress,
contact surface interactions, frictional forces and bolt pretensions
or nonlinear constitutive models of materials at elevated
temperatures.
As it can be clearly seen in Fig. 12, specimens 3 and 13 whose
angle thickness is 10 mm failed signicantly before the failure of
specimens 9 and 5 whose angle thickness is 15 mm. As it can be
seen in Table 3, the applied moment for all specimens is 8.5 kN m.
This amount of moment is equal to 0.4 Mcc for specimen 5
whereas, it is 0.8 Mcc for specimen 13 that is similar to specimen 5
and the only difference is the thickness of angle that is 10 mm in
specimen 13. As it can be concluded, although the moment
applied to the specimens is the same, but the specimens are under
different moment from the rotation capacity point of view. Now, it
can be said that during the tests, the specimens are affected by
two subjects, i.e. the moment applied by the jacks and the
deterioration of steel stiffness and strength due to the increase of
temperature and a combination of these two parameters leads to
the failure of specimens. It can be seen that rst, the specimens
whose angle thickness is 10 mm are under greater moment from
the rotation capacity point of view and this is an important reason
for the premature failure of these specimens in comparison with
the specimens whose angle thickness is 15 mm. Secondly, the
stiffness and strength of specimens with smaller angle thickness
deteriorate more quickly. Considering these two subjects, it is
observed that the specimens with smaller angle thickness are in
worse condition and the combination of these two subjects leads
to the quicker failure of them in comparison to the time of failure
of connections with thicker angle. One of the most important and
applicable curves in connection design is the momentrotation
curve; this curve is shown in Fig. 13 for four types of connections
at different temperatures using the nite element models. For all
the tests, deterioration of connection characteristics due to
temperature increase was predicted well by the models.
Fig. 13 shows that the moment resistance of the connection
was severely decreased. In general, these types of angle connec-
tions who have been made by usual constructional steel and bolts
have no moment resistance at temperatures more than 800 1C.

7. Study of the connection failure mechanism using nite

element model

In this part, the veried nite element model presented above

is used to study the failure mechanism of the 4 specimens and
interpret the obtained results. The analysis results are presented
as Von Mises stresses. The results showed that in specimens S3
and S13 whose angle thickness is 10 mm, critical stress is formed
at the connection place of vertical and horizontal legs of top angle.
This shows that the failure mechanism of these connections is Fig. 14. Failure mechanism of connections.

the failure of top angle that is conrmed by the results of

experimental test (Fig. 14a). Whereas, in the case of specimens S5
and S9 whose angle thickness is 15 mm, critical stress is formed at
the bolts who connect the top angle to column and the failure
mode is in the form of failure in these bolts (Fig. 14b). This result
determines the weak points of connection that can be fortied
to improve the connection behavior. For example, the angle
thickness of connection S3 whose failure mode was the failure of
top angle is increased from 10 to 15 mm and the connection is
called S3 (1). The specimen is again analyzed and as it can be seen
in Fig. 15, the specimen S3 (1) tolerated higher temperature
and the failure mode is changed to failure of bolts. Besides, the
main difference between specimens S3 and S3 (1) is the rota-
tion capacity value, i.e., increasing the thickness of bolts and
preventing the premature angle failure lead to higher rotations of
the connection. In the next step, 10.9 bolts are used instead of 8.8
bolts to improve the behavior of connection (specimen S3 (2)). As
it can be seen in Fig. 15, the temperature strength and rotation
capacity are signicantly increased, but the failure mode is still
the failure of bolts. It should be noted that the results of numerical
models about the effects of increasing the angle thickness and
using 10.9 bolts instead of 8.8 bolts are conrmed by the results
of experimental test of Ref. [20] and this shows the ability of
numerical models to predict behavior of connection at elevated
temperatures and improving the connection behavior. It should be
noted that according to the results of Ref. [32], a problem which is
observed in the behavior of angle bolted connections at elevated
temperature is thread stripping in bolts and exiting of nut from
bolt without failure of bolt. [32]. Since the nite element model
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
A. Saedi Daryan, M. Yahyai / Fire Safety Journal 44 (2009) 976988
800
700
600
Temperature (c)
500
400
300
200
100
0
0 50
Fig. 15. Comparison between rotationtemperature curves of specimens S3, S3 (1) and S3 (2).
present in the paper is not able to consider such mechanism,
and the analysis of such mechanism is very time consuming, and
besides, this new model should be veried again, the effects of
thread stripping can be considered using safety factors in analysis
to consider the decrease in temperature strength.
8. Conclusions
Considering the high cost of experimental tests at elevated
temperatures and the limitation in the number of parameters in
tests for study the behavior of a specic connection at elevated
temperatures, availability of an accurate numerical model that is
able to accurately simulate the behavior of the connection at
elevated temperature is of great importance. Without such a
model, comprehensive investigation about the behavior of
connections at elevated temperature is practically impossible.
Besides, angle bolted connections are used widely in some
countries as semi-rigid connections and numerical simulation is
necessary to study the behavior of such connections at elevated
temperatures. Since no previous research has been carried out
before, the need for such study is felt twice. To do this, a 3-D nite
element analysis was conducted to study the behavior of bolted
top and bottom angle connections with and without web angles at
elevated temperatures using the general purpose nite element
software, ANSYS. The connection components were modeled
using three-dimensional brick elements, while contacts between
the components were modeled using contact elements based on
the Coulomb friction law. Material nonlinearity was considered
for both steel members and connection components. The whole
stressstraintemperature curves were incorporated in the model
to simulate the degradation of the connection characteristics at
elevated temperatures. Simulation results were compared with
experimental data. The results obtained showed a good agree-
ment between the predicted and measured responses in both the
elastic and plastic ranges. This demonstrates that the FE technique
is capable of predicting connection response at elevated tempera-
tures to an acceptable degree of accuracy. The purpose of the
present study is not just to investigate the feasibility of simulation
of angle bolted connections. In more advanced step, the numerical
model, whose accuracy has been veried by comparing to
experimental test results at ambient and elevated temperatures,
is used to study the connection failure mechanisms. According to
987
S-3
S3(1)
S3(2)
100 150 200 250
Rotation (Millirads)
the type of failure, proper method is used to increase the
temperature strength of the connections.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the Y.M.A Engineering
Company for their great support which is much appreciated.
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