Component-Based Model for Single-Plate Shear Connections with Pretension and Pinched Hysteresis

Area of Science:

• Structural Engineering
• Computational Mechanics
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Component-based models offer a robust framework for analyzing complex structural connections.
• Existing models often lack the ability to fully capture interactions between connection components under extreme loads.
• Coupling in-plane flexural and axial behaviors is critical for simulating scenarios like column removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel component-based model for single-plate shear connections.
• To incorporate the effects of bolt pre-tension and accommodate standard/slotted holes.
• To ensure the model's results are hand-calculable through a rigid-body displacement approach.

Main Methods:

• Developed a new component-based model for single-plate shear connections.
• Integrated bolt pre-tension and modeling for standard and slotted holes.
• Utilized a rigid-body displacement model to calculate component-level deformations from connection demands.

Main Results:

• The component-based model accurately predicts the behavior of single-plate shear connections.
• The model demonstrates capability in simulating responses to both seismic and column removal loading conditions.
• Validation cases confirm the model's predictive accuracy for diverse loading scenarios.

Conclusions:

• The proposed component-based model effectively captures the complex behavior of single-plate shear connections.
• The model's inclusion of bolt pre-tension and hole types enhances its applicability.
• This approach provides a reliable and calculable method for analyzing connection performance under extreme loads.