Strength Evaluation of Pipe‐Rack Connection Using Extended End Plate

Pipe‐rack structure is generally designed as a steel structure, but size of each column and beam is small because vertical loads on the structure is relatively low. In addition, due to the surrounding environment, the end plate joint is mainly used as on‐site bolting rather than welding. In this paper, seismic performance evaluation of pipe‐rack structures was conducted for three types of extended type end plate connection using the panel zone reinforcement and end plate thickness as variables. Connection of the pipe‐rack structure which is commonly used is the type of panel zone yielding occurred before other members, and its ductility and energy dissipation capacity was calculated 24.2% and 19.5% higher than the type of reinforcing panel zone by plates. As a result of the test, it is judged that yielding of the panel zone in a steel structure such as a pipe‐rack structure can be beneficial in the seismic loads.