PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF COVER-PLATE REINFORCED DOG-BONE CONNECTION IN STEEL FRAME

Based on deepening the concept of strong connection and weak member,an improved beam-column connection is designed by locally widening the weld of flange at the end of beam,and weakening flange at a certain distance away from the beam end(which called cover-plate reinforced dog-bone connection hereunder).This improved connection can make the plastic hinge be far from the beam-column connection with stronger bearing capacity and better ductility.A nonlinear finite element analysis of the four forms of connections such as cover-plate reinforced dog-bone connection,dog-bone connection,cover-plate reinforced connection and ordinary moment connection conducted by ANSYS.The results demonstrate that the energy dissipative and ductile capacity of the cover-plate reinforced dog-bone connection is strengthened effectively because of the plastic hinge formed far from the beam-column connection;as well as its bearing capacity and initial stiffness are significantly higher than dog-bone connection;for comparing with cover-plate reinforced connection,although the flanges at the beam end of cover-plate reinforced dog-bone connection are widened,yet the reinforced amplitude is smaller than cover-plate reinforced connection,so it is needless to increase the column section;thus bring out the purpose of saving steel.