2.

PLASTIC DEFORMATION CAPACITY OF BOLTED T-STUBS:

THEORETICAL ANALYSIS AND TESTING

Ciro Faella, Vincenzo Piluso, Gianvittorio Rizzano

INTRODUCTION

Modern codes have opened the door to advanced methods of structural analysis which account
for geometrical and mechanical non-linearities (Chen and Toma, 1994). In particular, in the case
of steel frames, mechanical non-linearity arises from the yielding of the member ends and/or of
the beam-to-column joints. Therefore, advanced analysis methods require an accurate modelling
of members and connections up to failure. This means that, in order to evaluate the ultimate load
carrying capacity of steel frames, it is necessary to know the plastic deformation capacity of
members and connections, i.e to model the moment-rotation curve of the system composed by
the beam end and the beam-to-column joint up to the occurrence of the ultimate rotation.
Many methods for predicting the plastic rotation capacity of beams and beam-columns are
available in the technical literature (Mazzolani and Piluso, 1996), but, unfortunately, regarding
the evaluation of the plastic rotation supply of beam-to-column joints the gap of knowledge is
still significant.
Many reviews of the available experimental data have been performed aiming at the
identification of the parameters affecting the plastic rotation capacity of connections, but there
has not been any attempt to face the problem from a theoretical point of view. However, these
reviews have underlined the fundamental role played by the beam depth (Roeder and Foutch,
1996). In fact, there is an experimental evidence that, for any given structural detail of the
beam-to-column connection, the plastic rotation supply decreases as the beam depth increases.
This means that the plastic rotation supply of connections can be more efficiently investigated
from the component point of view, because it is basically the ratio between the plastic
deformation of the joint components at the beam flange level and the lever arm.
The weakest joint component, governing the joint flexural resistance, is generally also the
main source of plastic deformation capacity. The other joint components can constitute
additional sources of plastic deformation capacity whose contribution is as more significant as
their strength is more close to the one of the weakest component. Therefore, a procedure to
account for the contribution of the different components is necessary, provided that the plastic
deformation capacity of each joint component can be properly predicted (Faella et al., 1999).
Regarding the evaluation of the plastic rotation supply of bolted beam-to-column joints, the
prediction of the plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs is of primary importance. In fact,
there are many components of bolted connections, such as the column flange in bending, the end
plate in bending and the angles in bending, which can be modelled by means of equivalent
T-stubs (Aribert, 1992; Yee and Melchers, 1986; Faella et al., 1995, 1996a, 1996b, 1999; Jaspart
 C. Faella, V. Piluso, G. Rizzano

Fu.1 F2.u Fu.3

Q Q Q

Fu.1 Bu Bu Bu Bu
+Q
2

Mu Mu
Mu

n m m n n m m n m m

MECHANISM TYPE 1 MECHANISM TYPE 2 MECHANISM TYPE 3

Fig. 1 Collapse mechanism typologies

et al., 1995; Shi et al., 1996). As, in the case of bolted connections, the weakest joint component
is very often one of those modelled by means of an equivalent T-stub, it is evident that the
prediction of the force-displacement curve of bolted T-stubs up to failure would allow both the
prediction of the ultimate plastic displacement of the weakest joint component (i.e. the main
source of plastic rotation capacity) and the prediction of the contribution of some of the
remaining joint components to the plastic deformation of the beam-to-column joint.
The first studies dealing with the theoretical prediction of the plastic deformation capacity of
bolted T-stubs are those of Faella et al. (1997; 1999). The refinement of the original model
(Faella et al., 1997) is herein presented. In addition, the results of an experimental program
devoted to the validation of the theoretical model are presented and discussed (Faella et al.,
1999).

PREDICTION OF THE FORCE-DISPLACEMENT CURVE

Generality
It is well known that bolted T-stubs can fail according to three different collapse mechanisms:
flange yielding (type-1 mechanism), flange yielding with bolt fracture (type-2 mechanism) and
bolt fracture (type-3 mechanism) (Fig.1).
For each failure mode, the bending moment diagram along the T-stub flanges in the collapse
condition can be immediately determined. Therefore, combining this diagram with the
moment-curvature relationship of the T-stub flange section, the curvature diagram corresponding
to the ultimate conditions can be obtained. By properly integrating the curvature diagram, the
plastic rotations of the yielded zones can be computed. These plastic rotations can develop at the
section corresponding at the flange-to-web connection and, eventually, at the bolt axis location.
The ultimate value of the plastic rotation of the hinges involved in the collapse mechanism is
computed by assuming that failure occurs when the strain in the most extreme fibre attains the
value corresponding to fracture. The constitutive law of the material is, to this scope, expressed
in terms of true stress versus true strain behaviour which is modelled by means of a quadrilinear
 2.2: Plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs

maximum load point fracture

fu atn E u
TRUE STRESS
atn E h
fy

atn E
y h m u
NATURAL STRAIN

Fig. 2 True stress versus true strain curve

relationship as depicted in Fig.2. The Type-1 collapse mechanism
strain corresponding to the fracture of
the material is evaluated according to F F
the RILEM Recommendations (1990):
p
Ao (2.2.1) p
u = ln p
Af
B B
where A o is the initial area of the Q Q n m p p m
m
specimen and A f is the area of the
specimen in the necking zone after Type-2 collapse mechanism
fracture.
In the following, only the final F F
formulations will be presented.
As soon as the ultimate value of the p1
p
plastic rotation of the hinges involved in p2
the mechanism has been computed, the B B p1 p2
plastic displacement of the single Q Q
T-element constituting the bolted T-stub n m n m
can be easily evaluated from the p p1 m+ (p1 p2)n
kinematics of the mechanism (Fig.3): Type-3 collapse mechanism
type-1 and for type-3 mechanisms:
F F
p = p m (2.2.2)
p
type-2 mechanism: p

p = p1 m + ( p1 p2 ) n (2.2.3) F/2 F/2 F/2 F/2

for p1 > p2 and p2 0, m m p p m
otherwise p = p1 m . Fig.3 Kinematics of collapse mechanisms
The mathematical procedure, leading
to closed form relationships, for computing the plastic rotations of the hinges involved in the
collapse mechanism is detaily described elsewhere (Faella et al., 1999).
 C. Faella, V. Piluso, G. Rizzano

F
Fu
Fm

Fh
Fy

K K K K
y h m u

eh em eu
Fig.4 Modelling of T-stub axial response
Even though the primary aim of the formulations proposed by Faella et al. (1999) is the
prediction of the plastic deformation supply of bolted T-stubs, they can also be used for a
refined modelling of the force-displacement curve of bolted T-stubs by assuming that the point
of zero moment along the T-stub flange remains unchanged during the loading process and equal
to that occurring in the ultimate conditions (Faella et al., 1999). A quadrilinear modelling of the
force-displacement curve of the single T-element can be performed by identifying four
characteristic points as depicted in Fig. 4. The first point (Fy , y) corresponds to the attainment
of the first yielding condition. The second point (Fh , h) corresponds to the beginning of strain
hardening, i.e. to the attainment of the strain level h in the extreme fibres of the sections where
the formation of plastic hinges is expected. The third point (Fm , m) corresponds to the
achievement of the stress f u. Finally, the fourth point (Fu , u) corresponds to the ultimate
conditions, i.e. to the attainment of the strain u leading to the fracture of the material.
Regarding the collapse mechanism typology, it can be identified by means of the parameter
u, given by:
4 Mu (2.2.4)
u =
2 Bu m
where M u is the bending moment corresponding to the attainment of the ultimate strain u in the
most extreme fibre of the T-stub flange and B u is the ultimate axial resistance of the bolts.
It can be demonstrated that:
type-1 mechanism occurs for
u 2 (1 + 2 );
type-2 mechanism occurs for
2 (1 + 2 ) < u 2;
type-3 mechanism occurs for u > 2
where the nondimensional parameter = n m , defining the location of the prying forces, has
been introduced.
 2.2: Plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs

Type-1 mechanism
In the case of type-1 mechanism, the load levels corresponding to the above mentioned
characteristic points of the force-displacement curve can be easily computed by means of the
following relationship:
( 32 n 2 dw ) M (2.2.5)
F =
8 m n ( m + n ) dw
where dw is the washer diameter, the nut diameter or the bolt head diameter, as appropriate. It
provides:
F = Fy for M = M y = (beff t2f 6) f y, where beff is the effective width for stiffness calculation
(Faella et al., 1998; 1999);
F = Fh for M = M h, where M h is the bending moment corresponding to the beginning of
strain-hardening, i.e. to the attainment of the strain h in the most extreme fibre of the T-stub
flanges. It is given by:
2

1 y
Mh = 3 My (2.2.6)
2 h
where y = 2 y tf and h = 2 h tf.;
F = Fm for M = M m, where M m is the bending moment corresponding to the occurrence of the
stress f u in the most extreme fibre of the T-stub flanges, given by:
2
1 y 1 Eh m h h h
Mm = 3 + 2 E 1 2 + M y (2.2.7)
2
m y m m


where m = 2 m tf;
F = Fu for M = M u, where M u is the ultimate value of the T-stub flange bending moment,
provided by:
2
h
1 y E u h
+ 1 h
h

Mu = 3 + +
2 u
1 2
2 E y u
u

1 Eh Eu u m m m (2.2.8)
2 E y 1 u 2 + u M y

where u = f tf.
It is useful to underline that the ratios M h M y, M m M y and M u M y are dependent on the
material properties only.
Regarding the evaluation of the displacements corresponding to the four characteristic points
of the force-displacement curve of the single T-element, they can be computed by exploiting the
formulations presented by Faella et al. (1999) which are herein summarized.
With reference to a single T-element, the displacement corresponding to the occurrence of
first yielding can be computed as the ratio Fy K, where the stiffness K is given by:
beff t3f (2.2.9)
K = 0.5 E
m3
where beff is the effective width for stiffness calculation.
 C. Faella, V. Piluso, G. Rizzano

Therefore, with reference to a bolted T-stub constituted by two equal T-elements, the first
yielding displacement can be computed as:
Fy (2.2.10)
y = 2 + b.y
K
where b.y is the corresponding bolt elongation given by:
Fy My
+
B 2 n (2.2.11)
b.y = =
E A b Lb E A b Lb
where A b is the bolt section area and L b is the conventional bolt length given by the sum of
the thicknesses of the connected plates plus half time the sum of the bolt head thickness and of
the bolt nut thickness.
The initial stiffness of the bolted T-stub can be computed according to the following
relationship:
Fy (2.2.12)
Ki =
y
The displacement of a bolted T-stub, constituted by two equal T-elements, corresponding to
the load level Fh, i.e. to the beginning of strain hardening, is given by:
h = eh + 2 ph (2.2.13)
where eh = Fh K i is the elastic part of the displacement and ph is the plastic displacement of
the single T-element corresponding to the beginning of strain hardening, i.e. to the attainment
of the curvature h.
The plastic displacement of the single T-element is given by (Faella et al., 1999):
m2 (2.2.14)
ph = ph m = D(2)
2 tf
where D(2) is the value of the function:
1 M y y
D() = y 2 3 + 3 1 (2.2.15)
y Mu y
for = h and = 2 = M h M u, where is the curvature value corresponding to the
bending moment M u, with 1. It is useful to note that D(2) is a constant depending only
on the material properties.
The displacement of the bolted T-stub corresponding to the load level Fm, i.e. to the
attainment of the stress f u, is given by:
m = em + 2 pm (2.2.16)
where em = Fm K i is the elastic part of the displacement and pm is the plastic displacement
of the single T-element corresponding to the attainment of f u in the extreme fibres of the
sections where plastic hinges develop, i.e. to the attainment of the curvature m.
The plastic displacement of the single T-element is given by (Faella et al., 1999):
m2
pm = pm m = F(3) (2.2.17)
2 tf
where F(3) is the value of the function F():
 2.2: Plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs

M y 1 y Eh ( h)
3
F() = y 2 3 + 3 + E 2 1
(2.2.18)
y M u y y

for = m and = 3 = M m M u. It is useful to note that also F(3) is a constant depending
only on the material properties.
Finally, the ultimate displacement of the bolted T-stub corresponding to the attainment of the
ultimate natural strain u is given by:
u = eu + 2 pu (2.2.19)
where eu = Fu Ki is the elastic part of the displacement and pu is the ultimate plastic
displacement of the single T-element to be computed according to the following equation (Faella
et al., 1997; 1999):
m2 (2.2.20)
pu = pu m = C
2 tf
where C is a constant depending only on the mechanical properties of the material:
_ 1 _ _1 Eh Eu 1
C = 2 u 3 u + 3 + Ch + Cu y (2.2.21)
2 ( M u M y) u E E 2
with:
_ _
_m3 _ _ _ _ _ _ _h3
Ch = 2 2
+ 3 m u 3 m + 3 h 3 h u (2.2.22)
u u
_
_ _ _ _ 3
2 2 _m (2.2.23)
Cu = u 3 m u + 3 m
u
where:
_ h _ m _ u
h = m = u = (2.2.24)
y y y

Type-2 mechanism
Regarding type-2 mechanism, it is preliminarly necessary to observe that the ultimate resistance
of a bolted T-stub failing according to this mechanism typology can be expressed as:
2 Mu (2.2.25)
Fu.2 = (1 + )
m
where M u is the bending moment occurring at the bolt axis location when the bending moment
at the flange-to-web connection reachs its ultimate value M u. The parameter is given by:
( 2 u ) (2.2.26)
=
u ( 1 + )
Equation (2.2.25) can be immediately derived taking into account that Fu.2 is the double of the
shear force in the T-stub flange between the bolt axis and the flange-to-web connection.
By assuming that the point of zero moment remains unchanged during the loading process,
the load levels corresponding to the four characteristic points of the force-displacement curve
can be computed by means of the following relationship:
2M (2.2.27)
F = (1 + )
m
which provides:
 C. Faella, V. Piluso, G. Rizzano

F = Fy for M = My;
F = Fh for M = Mh;
F = Fm for M = Mm;
F = Fu for M = Mu.
Regarding the T-stub displacement corresponding to first yielding, it can be still computed by
means of equation (2.2.10) where, in this case, the bolt contribution is given by:
Fy My (2.2.28)
+
2 n
b.y =
E A b Lb
When the bending moment at the flange-to-web connection reachs the M h value, the
corresponding bending moment at the bolt axis is equal to M h and can be expressed by means
of the following nondimensional parameter:
MhMh (2.2.29)
2 =
1
=
Mu My Mu My
With reference to the plastic hinge located at the flange-to-web connection, at the beginning
of strain hardening, the plastic rotation p1h can be computed according to the following
relationship (Faella et al., 1999):
m (2.2.30)
p1h = D (2)
tf (1 + )
With reference to the plastic hinge located at the bolt axis, it can be demonstrated that
p2h = 0 if 2 1 while, for 2 > 1 (1 = M y M u) the following relationship holds (Faella
et al., 1999):
m (2.2.31)
p2h = + D(2)
tf 1 +
where D(2) is the value of the function D(), Eq. (2.2.13), for = 2 so that is the curvature
value corresponding to the bending moment 2 M u.
As a result, the displacement corresponding to the beginning of strain hardening can be
computed according to Eq. (2.2.3) where p1 = p1h and p2 = p2h.
Regarding the displacement corresponding to the attainment of the stress f u in the extreme
fibre of the plastic hinge located at the flange-to-web connection, it can evaluated taking into
account that the plastic rotation of the hinge located at the flange-to-web connection
corresponding to the development of the bending moment M m is given by (Faella et al., 1999):
m (2.2.32)
p1m = F(3)
tf (1 + )
where F(3) is given by Eq. (2.2.18) for = 3 = M m M u, so that is the curvature value
corresponding to the bending moment M m, i.e. = m.
When the bending moment at the flange-to-web connection reachs the value M m, the
corresponding bending moment at the bolt axis is M m which can be expressed through the
following nondimensional parameter:
Mm Mm (2.2.33)
3 =
1
=
Mu My Mu My
Depending on the value assumed by the above parameter, the plastic rotation of the hinge
located at the bolt axis can be computed as (Faella et al., 1999):
 2.2: Plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs

p2m = 0 for 3 < 1 (2.2.34)

m
p2m = 1 + + D(3) for 1 < 3 2 (2.2.35)
tf
m
p2m = 1 + + F(3) for 2 < 3 3 (2.2.36)
tf
Therefore, D(3) is the value of the function (2.2.15) where = 3 and is the curvature
corresponding to the bending moment 3 M u, while F (3) is the value of the function (2.2.18)
for = 3, being, in this case, the curvature value corresponding to the bending moment

3 M u.
As a result, the displacement corresponding to the attainment of the bending moment M m at
the flange-to-web connection can be still computed according to equation (2.2.16) where, in
this case, the plastic part has to be computed according to Eq. (2.2.3) with p1 = p1m and
p2 = p2m.
Finally, regarding the ultimate displacement corresponding to the occurrence of the
ultimate natural strain u in the most extreme fibre of the plastic hinge at the flange-to-web
connection, it can be still computed by means of equation (2.2.19) where the ultimate plastic
displacement of the single T-element has to be computed according to Eq. (2.2.3) by assuming
p1 = p1u and p2 = p2u.
The ultimate plastic rotation of the hinge located at the flange-to-web connection is, in this
case, given by (Faella et al., 1999):
m (2.2.37)
p1u = C
tf ( 1 + )
while, the plastic rotation of the hinge located at the bolt axis is given by:
p2u = 0 for 1 (2.2.38)

m
p2u = + D() for 1 < 2 (2.2.39)
tf 1 +
m
p2u = + F() for 2 < 3 (2.2.40)
tf 1 +
m
p2u = 1 + + G() for 3 < 1 (2.2.41)
tf
where G() is given by:
1 M y y Eh Eu (2.2.42)
G() = y 2 3 + 3+ Gh + G 1
y Mu y E E u
with:
m3 m m2 h2 h h3
Gh = +3 3 +3 3 (2.2.43)
y2 y2 y2 y2 y2 y2

2 m2 m m3
Gu = +3 3 (2.2.44)
y2 y2 y2 y2
 C. Faella, V. Piluso, G. Rizzano

Type-3 mechanism
Regarding type-3 mechanism, four cases can be identified depending on the ratio between the
bolt axial resistance and the T-stub flange flexural resistance which can be expressed through the
ratio given by:
Bu m 2 (2.2.45)
= =
Mu u
The first case occurs for 1. In this case, the T-stub flanges are not engaged in plastic
range so that p = 0. In this case, it can be assumed that the force-displacement curve of the
single T-element linearly develops up to the achievement of the bending moment B u m at the
flange-to-web connection zone.
In the second case, occurring for 1 < 2, the force-displacement curve of the single
T-element can be assumed bilinear. The force leading to first yielding of the T-stub flanges is:
2 My (2.2.46)
Fy =
m
The corresponding displacement can be easily computed taking into account that in this case
prying forces do not develop:
Fy (2.2.47)
y =
K
where K is given by equation (2.2.9).
The ultimate plastic displacement can be easily computed by means of equation (2.2.2) where
the plastic rotation of the hinge located at the flange-to-web connection zone is given by:
m (2.2.48)
pu = D ( )
tf
As a consequence, the ultimate displacement of the single T-element corresponding to the
force Fu = 2 B u is given by:
Fu m2 (2.2.49)
u = + D ()
K tf
The third case develops for 2 < 3. In this case the force-displacement curve of the
single T-element can be assumed trilinear. The point corresponding to first yielding (Fy, y) is
provided by equations (2.2.47) and (2.2.46). The point corresponding to the beginning of strain
hardening (Fh, h) is given by:
2 Mh (2.2.50)
Fh =
m

Fh m2 (2.2.51)
h = + D (2 )
K tf
which is immediately derived from Eqs. (2.2.2) and (2.2.48) taking into account that 2 is the
value of corresponding to the occurrence of the bending moment M h.
In addition, it is easy to recognize that the ultimate displacement corresponding to the
occurrence of the force Fu = 2 B u can be computed in this case as (Faella et al., 1999):
Fu m2 (2.2.52)
u = + F()
K tf
 2.2: Plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs

Finally, the last case occurs for > 3. In this case the force-displacement curve of the single
T-element is quadrilinear. The point corresponding to first yielding can be still evaluated by
means of equations (2.2.47) and (2.2.46) while the point corresponding to the beginning of strain
hardening can be still computed through equations (2.2.51) and (2.2.50). The third characteristic
point (Fm, m) of the force-displacement curve of the single T-element corresponds to the
development of the stress f u in the most extreme fibres of the T-stub flange section at the
flange-to-web connection zone. It can be easily recognized that this point can be identified by
means of the following relationships:
2 Mm (2.2.53)
Fm =
m

Fm m2 (2.2.54)
m = + F (3 )
K tf
which is immediately obtained from Eq. (2.2.52) considering that 3 is the value of
corresponding to the occurrence of the bending moment M m.
Finally, the ultimate displacement corresponding to the occurrence of the force Fu = 2 B u
can be computed, in this case, as (Faella et al., 1999):
Fu m2 (2.2.55)
u = + G()
K tf
In all cases, for any load level, the displacement of a bolted T-stub constituted by two equal
T-elements bolted through the flanges is obtained by adding the bolt elongation to the sum of the
axial displacements of the T-elements.

Numerical simulation
The procedure previously described for the three collapse mechanism typologies can be easily
used to predict also the plastic displacement corresponding to any loading stage. To this scope it
is still assumed that the point of zero moment along the T-stub flange is known and remains
unchanged during the loading process (Faella et al., 1997; 1999).
As an example, with reference to type-1 mechanism, it can be assumed that the point of zero
moment remains, during the loading process, located at the middle section between the bolt axis
and the flange-to-web connection. Therefore, it can be assumed that the bending moment at the
bolt axis section is equal to that at the flange-to-web connection. By denoting this bending
moment with M u, it means that collapse occurs for = 1, so that the whole loading process can
be simulated by varying the coefficient from 0 to 1. For any given step of the loading process,
i.e. for any given value of , the value of the external axial force F is given by:
( 32 n 2 dw ) M u (2.2.56)
F=
8 m n ( m + n ) dw
The corresponding value of the plastic displacement of the single T-element can be computed
by means of the following relationship:
p = p m (2.2.57)
where the plastic rotation p can be computed with formulations similar to those described in the
previous sections.
Obviously, the overall displacement has to be computed adding to the plastic displacement
the elastic one due to the T-elements and to the bolts.
The elastic part of the displacement of a single T-element can be computed as the ratio F K
where K is the stiffness of the single T-element to be evaluated according to Eq. (2.2.9). In order
 C. Faella, V. Piluso, G. Rizzano

to compute the bolt contribution, for any given loading stage, the prying force can be computed
as:
Mu (2.2.58)
Q=
n
Therefore, the axial force in the bolts (B = Q + F 2) and the corresponding lenghtening b can
be computed. Finally, the overall axial displacement of the bolted T-stub is evaluated
considering that it is composed by two T-elements and the bolts, so that:
F
= 2 + p + b (2.2.59)
K
A similar procedure can be applied for type-2 and type-3 mechanisms.

COMPARISON WITH EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE

In order to show the reliability of the theoretical formulations for predicting the
force-displacement curve of bolted T-stubs and, in particular, for evaluating the plastic
deformation capacity of the fundamental component of bolted connections, an experimental
program devoted to the ultimate behaviour of bolted T-stubs has been carried out at the Material
and Structure Laboratory of Salerno University. In order to cover the range of variability of the
most important geometrical parameters, 10 specimens have been prepared. The specimens are
constituted by the coupling of T-stub elements which have been obtained from rolled profiles of
HEA and HEB series, steel grade Fe430, by cutting along the web plane. These T-stubs are
connected through the flanges by means of two high strength bolts (class 8.8 or class 10.9). With
reference to the notation of Fig. 5, the measured values of the geometrical properties of tested
specimens are given in Table 1 where, in addition, dh is the bolt head diameter, th is the
thickness of the bolt head and tn is the thickness of the bolt nut. All the specimens have been
subjected, under displacement control, to a tensile axial force which is applied to the webs
tightened by the jaws of the testing machine (Schenck Hydropuls S56, maximum test load 630
kN, piston stroke 125 mm). The axial displacement has been progressively increased up to the

Plan Section X-X Lateral view

X

n
n m 0.8 r
r
B

tf

n
b
X B

Fig. 5 Tested specimens

 2.2: Plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs

Table 1 Geometrical properties of tested specimens

T-STUB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
db (mm) 20.00 20.00 20.00 24.00 24.00 24.00 27.00 24.00 27.00 20.00
dh (mm) 33.53 33.53 33.53 39.98 39.98 39.98 45.20 39.98 45.20 35.03
dw (mm) 37.00 37.00 37.00 44.00 44.00 44.00 56.00 35.38 56.00 37.00
th (mm) 12.72 12.72 12.72 14.78 14.78 14.78 17.35 14.78 17.35 13.00
tn (mm) 16.00 16.00 16.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 27.00 19.00 27.00 16.00
tf (mm) 14.40 14.60 13.00 12.30 13.80 16.35 13.90 13.30 12.50 10.85
m (mm) 39.30 39.30 42.30 48.95 49.75 45.65 52.45 45.20 54.05 32.60
n (mm) 40.8 40.80 22.20 58.10 74.90 45.20 71.70 19.30 53.00 58.50
r (mm) 18.00 18.00 15.00 24.00 27.00 18.00 27.00 15.00 24.00 18.00
b (mm) 126.50 119.00 124.00 118.80 115.00 120.00 122.80 112.50 125.10 125.00
beff (mm) 112.13 112.13 118.13 118.80 115.00 120.00 122.80 112.50 125.10 95.20

Table 2 Mechanical properties of tested specimens

T-STUB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
fy (N/mm2) 291.16 264.95 273.15 299.76 317.72 280.46 307.58 269.42 300.97 293.10
fu (N/mm2) 517.21 501.11 504.33 543.59 546.84 527.76 543.57 482.70 552.27 514.87
Eh (N/mm2) 3276 3171 3087 2877 3339 3360 3423 3276 3234 2163
Eu (N/mm2) 371.11 378.32 435.95 465.24 483.15 488.11 516.05 476.80 466.65 406.32
h (%) 1.358 1.135 1.171 1.285 1.362 1.202 1.318 1.055 1.290 0.600
u (%) 49.18 48.12 58.70 76.77 78.43 63.83 77.88 69.40 67.75 92.50
fub (N/mm2) 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 1000

collapse of the specimens. Depending on the ratio between the bolt axial resistance and the
flange flexural resistance, two types of collapse mechanism developed which correspond to
type-1 and to type-2 mechanism. In the first case, the complete fracture of one of the T-stub
flanges occurred at the flange-to-web connection zone. In the second case, the premature failure
of one bolt prevented the complete development of the plastic reserves of the T-stub flanges.
Regarding the material properties, coupon tests have been developed for evaluating the true
stress versus true strain curve of the T-stub flanges. The stress-strain curve obtained from
experimental tests can be accurately represented by means of the quadrilinear model depicted in
Fig. 2. The parameters of the quadrilinear representation of the stress-strain curve have been
numerically obtained by imposing that the area below the quadrilinear model has to be
coincident with the one below the experimental true stress-true strain curve. As a result of this
energy equivalence, the material mechanical properties of the tested specimens are given in
Table 2.
On the basis of the measured geometrical properties and of the measured material mechanical
properties, the force-displacement curves of the tested specimens have been simulated according
to the formulations presented in the previous Sections. For all the specimens, both the
quadrilinear model of the F curve and its complete simulation are compared with the
experimental curve in Figs. 69. The comparison with the experimental evidence shows a very
good agreement in terms of stiffness, resistance and deformation capacity between the theoretical
model and the experimental results. In particular, regarding the prediction of the plastic
deformation capacity, which is the primary aim of the developed theoretical model, the obtained
degree of accuracy is very satisfactory. Taking into account that the prediction of the plastic
deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs is of primary importance to lay down the bases towards
the theoretical prediction of the plastic rotation supply of bolted connections, this result is very
 C. Faella, V. Piluso, G. Rizzano

TSTUB 1
400

300

LOAD ( kN ) 200

100

EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

TSTUB 2
400

300
LOAD ( kN )

200

100

EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

TSTUB 3
300

250

200
LOAD ( kN )

150

100

50
EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

Figure 6 Comparison between the predictions obtained by means of the theoretical model and
the experimental test results
 2.2: Plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs

TSTUB 4
400

300

LOAD ( kN ) 200

100

EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

TSTUB 5
500

400
LOAD ( kN )

300

200

100
EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 20 40 60 80
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

TSTUB 6
600

500

400
LOAD ( kN )

300

200

100
EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

Figure 7 Comparison between the predictions obtained by means of the theoretical model and
the experimental test results
 C. Faella, V. Piluso, G. Rizzano

TSTUB 7
600

500

400

LOAD ( kN ) 300

200

100
EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 20 40 60 80
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

TSTUB 8
500

400
LOAD ( kN )

300

200

100
EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

TSTUB 9
400

300
LOAD ( kN )

200

100

EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

Figure 8 Comparison between the predictions obtained by means of the theoretical model and
the experimental test results
 2.2: Plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs

TSTUB 10
350

300

250

LOAD ( kN )
200

150

100

50 EXPERIMENTAL MODEL SIMULATION

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
DISPLACEMENT ( mm )

Figure 9 Comparison between the predictions obtained by means of the theoretical model and
the experimental test results
encouraging about the possibility to solve a very complicated problem, such as the prediction of
the ductility of bolted connections, by means of a theoretical approach. The importance of such
result is more and more evident as soon as it is considered that, up-to-now, the plastic rotation
supply of the beam-joint system has been only investigated by means of expensive experimental
tests which, unavoidably, cannot cover the whole variability range of the geometrical and
mechanical properties. In addition, another advantage of the developed theoretical model is its
ability to underline the most important parameters governing the plastic deformation capacity of
bolted T-stubs and, as a consequence, the plastic rotation supply of bolted connections.

CONCLUSIONS

Taking into account that the prediction of the plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs is of
primary importance to lay down the bases towards the theoretical prediction of the plastic
rotation supply of bolted connections, the results presented in this paper are very encouraging
about the possibility to solve a very complicated problem, such as the prediction of the ductility
of bolted connections by means of a theoretical approach. The importance of such result is more
and more evident as soon as it is considered that, up-to-now, the plastic rotation supply of the
beam-joint system has been only investigated by means of expensive experimental tests which,
unavoidably, cannot cover the whole variability range of the geometrical and mechanical
properties of the structural details which can be adopted in designing beam-to-column
connections.

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