Experimental Nonlinear FE Modelling & Eurocode 3 Analyses of Steel Flush Endplate Joints

Structural steel joints form an integral part of all structural steel frames and regardless of the joint type employed the behaviour and response of the joints is of primary importance in determining the manner in which the frame resists both vertical and horizontal loading. An understanding of joint stiffness, strength and ductility is required. Eurocode 3 provides guidance for predicting the ultimate strength, rotational capacity and rotational stiffness of steel flush endplate joints. This paper examines in detail the correlation be-tween Eurocode 3 predictions and actual behaviour recorded in full scale tests and validated numerical mod-els. The detailed three dimensional finite element analysis methods used enable the significant differences to be explained by reference to the initial assumptions made in the Eurocode 3 calculations.