TO BASE PLATES OF HOLLOW SECTIONS COLUMNS

Kamila Horov, Jan Tom, Frantiek Wald

Department of Steel and Civil Structures, Czech Technical University in Prague
kamila.horova@fsv.cvut.cz; jan.tomsu@fsv.cvut.cz; wald@fsv.cvut.cz


ABSTRACT

This work describes the analytical prediction model of CHS and RHS column
bases consisting of a base plate and anchor bolts under axial force and bending
moment. An analytical model, which is based on the component method applied in
EN 1993-1-8:2005, allows determining axial force and bending moment resistance
and the rotational stiffness. The analytical model consists of two components, base
plate in bending and anchor bolts in tension, which is suitable for evaluation of hollow
section base plates. The effective length of T-stub in tension was derived analytical-
ly using the yield line theory and checked by finite element simulation. The model is
compared to the published experimental results in order to verify the resistance and
the stiffness predictions. The comparison shows a good accuracy of the prediction
of the moment-rotation curve.


1. INTRODUCTION
Column bases are one of the least studied structural elements in the frame of
European research. Contrarily to beam to column connections, the number of avail-
able tests is limited to about 200 with various complexity of data description. Classi-
cal approaches to design of base plates, see (Melchers, 1992), use an elastic analy-
sis, based on the assumption that the section, consisting of anchor bolts and a base
plate, remains plane in compression. By solving equilibrium equations, the maxi-
mum stress in the concrete can be determined, assuming a triangular stress distribu-
tion along the dimension of the stress block and tension in the holding down assem-
blies. Although this procedure proved to be satisfactory in service over many years,
such approach ignores flexibility of the base plate in bending and behaviour of the
holding down assemblies and of the concrete. The traditional elastic models for col-
umn base design give a safe, conservative solution with relatively thick base plates
and expensive anchoring systems.
The column base stiffness has an important effect on the calculated frame
behaviour, particularly on frame sway. Traditionally, column bases are modelled as
either pinned or as fixed, whilst the reality lies somewhere between these two ex-
tremes. In the European codes of practice (EN 1993-1-8, 2005) the elastic design
models were replaced by inelastic, and the model of foundation for crushing of the
concrete under the flexible base plate was refined, see (Wald et al, 2008). The
guidance for modelling the base by component method including stiffness prediction
is available. In portal frames, the base stiffness has a major influence on the collapse
mode in extreme situations caused by exceptional loading, such as fire, see (Song et
al, 2009). The design of base plates is also crucial for seismic design, where the de-
formation capacity, see (Hsu and Liu, 2006) and detailing play important role and the
base plate connections are tested during each earthquake loading, see (Di Sarno,
2007). Traditional design of base plates for hollow section columns is described in
(Wardenier et al, 1995). The elastic design was exchanged for an inelastic proposal,
see (Liu, 2006), which focused on base plate uplift (Wikinson et al, 2009) and design
or sign and lightening structures (Ansley et al, 2000). The anchor bolts, an important
part of the column base, are evaluated as products according to ETAG (2002) or by
developed prediction models, see (Eligehausen, 2006).
Further research in the area of base plates is focused on innovative connec-
tions and on hollow sections. Between years 2007 and 2011, the development of
design models of steel to concrete joints for the European standards and design
rules were the objective of a project RFSR-CT-2007-00051 InFaSo, led by Prof. Ul-
rike Kuhlman from the Institute of Structural Design at the University of Stuttgart, see
(Kuhlmann, et al 2011). Within this project, a joint of steel beam to concrete wall and
a base plate with steel plate using long header studs were developed. A design
method for both connections and for the increase if resistance by stirrups were pub-
lished, see (Henriques et al, 2011).


Figure1. Force equilibrium for RHS column base with simplified effective area, both
parts in compression.


2. COMPONENT METHOD
Joints as well as the base plates are modelled using component method. This
method is based on evaluation of resistance and stiffness, which are derived from
the resistance and stiffness of each part of the joint. The first step of the component
method is identification of individual connection parts - components. The base plate
connection is disintegrated into two parts: base plate in bending plus concrete in
compression, and base plate in bending plus anchor bolts in tension. There are also
components of column web and flange in shear and compression, and bolts in shear,
which should be checked during the design.
The calculation of the column base bending resistance, based on the force
equilibrium on the base plate, is given in (Wald et al, 2008). The connection is load-
ed by axial force N
Ed
and bending moment M
Ed
, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The
position of the neutral axis is calculated according to resistance of the tension part
F
T,Rd
. The bending resistance M
Rd
is determined assuming plastic distribution of in-
ternal forces as it is shown in Figure 2. The effective area A
eff
under the base plate
represents the equivalent rigid plate and is calculated from an equivalent T-stub, with
an effective width c. The compression force is assumed to act at the centre of the
compressed part and the tensile force is located at the anchor bolts or in the middle
when there are more rows or bolts.
The calculation of stiffness of the base plate is compatible with beam to col-
umn stiffness calculation. The difference between these two procedures lies in the
fact, that by the base plate connection the normal force has to be introduced.
The detailed design procedure for based plates under columns of rectangular
hollow section was described in (Wald et al, 2005) and of circular hollow section in
(Horov et al, 2011). The failure mode derived by the yield line theory was evaluat-
ed by FEM simulation.


Figure 2. The stiffness model of the base plate connection of RHS column.


3. EVALUATION ON EXPERIMENTS
3.1 Nakashima experiments
Study performed by Shigetoshi Nakashima in Japan (Nakashima 1992) exam-
ined the mechanical characteristics of a column base, subjected to bending and
shear forces, such as initial rigidity, hysteresis characteristics, ultimate strength and
strain of main components. A life size steel column with a square base and a con-
crete block, as it is shown in Figure 3, was used as a specimen. Diameter and ar-
rangement of the anchor bolts, thickness of the base plate, and cross-sectional di-
mensions of the column and concrete footing were the tested variables.
The diameter of bolt hole in the base plate was 55 mm. As it is shown in Ta-
ble 1, at anchoring of the base plate, the clearance at the bottom surface of the plate
was 30 mm. Non-shrinking mortar was injected into the space under the base plate
and into the clearance between anchor bolts and holes in the base plate. There was
no initial tightening force in anchor bolts. Table 1 shows for tested specimens the
characteristics of the column, the base plate, anchor bolts and the concrete founda-
tion. In this paper, test results of fourteen specimens are described. For evaluation,
only five set ups without stiffeners are chosen.
Table 2 presents mechanical characteristics of the steel. The strength of the
concrete used for manufacturing of specimens was 28,5 N/mm
2
and of grout
45,2 N/mm
2
. The concrete block was reinforced with steel bars.







Figure 3. The test set up of base plates with four bolts and six bolts.

Table 1. Selected specimens geometry.

Specimens Steel column Base plates Anchor bolts Foundation
Symbols A x B x t (mm) D (mm) b (mm) t (mm) Quantity Thread Shank b x D (mm)
I-20-09 200x200x9 415 73 32 4 M36 D38 535x535
I-20-12 200x200x12 420 65 32 4 M36 D38 550x550
II-25-09 250x250x9 460 60 32 6 M33 D35 580x580
II-25-12 250x250x12 480 65 36 6 M36 D38 600x600
II-25-16 250x250x16 480 65 40 6 M36 D38 600x600

Table 2. Mechanical properties of steel.
Steel
y
(N/mm
2
)
t
(N/mm
2
) El (%)
Steel columns
200x200x9 400 480 19
200x200x12 390 470 22
250x250x9 430 510 19
250x250x12 380 450 20
250x250x16 390 460 18
Base plates
t = 32 mm 370 640 45
t = 36 mm 380 570 37
t = 40 mm 340 520 37
t = 50 mm 370 580 40
Anchor bolts
D35 390 660 28
D38 400 620 37

Behaviour of the column base from Nakashimas test is represented by mo-
ment-rotation curve. This curve describes the stiffness as well as bending resistance
of the joint. In Figure 4, there is a comparison of the two curves, the first obtained
from the experiment and the second from the calculations worked out in (Horova,
2010).

Figure 4. The comparison of presented model to test II-25-09.

Comparing the initial stiffness, the experimental and analytical results are
close to each other with difference of about 4 % (0,24 kNmrad
-1
from the test and
0,23 kNmrad
-1
from the analytical model). The difference between resistances re-
flects the design model, which is focused on yielding of steel; there is also a good
agreement between experimental and analytical results. The border of plasticizing of
the first component as well as the maximum resistance of the column base is lower
when using analytical component model. This is due to the use of nominal values of
material properties in the analytical model, whereas the experiment results reflect the
real behaviour of material.
Summing up, it can be stated that the calculated values and measured values
of the initial stiffness correlate well. The analytical component model can be used for
design and prediction of the base plate resistance and stiffness.


3.2 Takamatsu and Tamai experiments
After the earthquake in Hyogoken-nanbu, Japan, in 1995, during which many
steel column bases were damaged, Takao Takmatsu and Hiroyuki Tamai from Hiro-
shima Institute of Technology performed their experimental study on RHS exposed-
type column base, see (Takamatsu and Tamai, 2005). This study described force
characteristics of an exposed-type column base with anchor bolts and thick base
plate as well as a of a new exposed-type column base, improved by driving a wedge
into the gap between the nut of the anchor bolt and the base plate, causing plastic
elongation of the anchor bolt.
Experiment was carried out on fixed column base using rolled threaded an-
chor bolts. The tested specimen is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The mechanical
properties of the steel material and the dimensions of its parts are summarized in
Table 4. A cold-formed square hollow section was used for the column and anchor
bolts standardized by the Japanese Society of Steel Construction were used. In Fig-
ure 7 there is a comparison of the analytical component model to the experimental
result.

Figure 5. Measuring and loading system of tested specimen.

Table 3. Geometry and material properties of tested specimen.

Column (mm) Base plate (mm)
Anchor bolt
(mm) A (mm
2
) l
eff
(mm)
200x200x12 400x400x50 27,52 595 560
Material E (N/mm
2
)
y
(N/mm
2
)
u
(N/mm
2
)
y
/
u
(%)
u
(%)
Anchor bolt 205000 289 428 68 43
Base plate 205000 261 414 63 37
Column 205000 374 439 85 35


Figure 6. Base plate and anchor bolt of tested specimen.

Figure 7. Comparison of moment-rotation curves of prediction to tests results for ze-
ro axial force.

Regarding the initial stiffness, the difference between the experimental and
analytical value is about 12%, which is more than in case of comparison of the ana-
lytical model and Nakashimas experiment. However, discrepancy is limited and thus
results obtained from analytical component model can be considered satisfactory. In
the experimental study, the resistance was based on yielding of anchor bolts. The
border of plasticizing of the first component in experimental moment-rotation diagram
is represented by plasticizing of anchor bolt (125,40 kNm). On the other hand,
based on the analytical component calculation, the base plate resistance
(104,24 kNm) was proved as the lowest, thus failure of the column base is supposed
to govern collapse. Nevertheless, values of the yield strength of anchor bolts in ten-
sion and of the base plate in bending are close to each other, so both the base plate
and the anchor bolts can be the critical components. The fact that in performed cal-
culation the base plate is the critical component is caused by calculation of the effec-
tive length of T-stub, which slightly differt in the analytical model from the real one.
Despite these slight differences, the values calculated accordingly to the ana-
lytical component model and measured values obtained from this experimental study
- especially the initial stiffness - correlate well. Also according to this comparison, it
can be stated, that the analytical model, introduced in (Horova, 2010) can be used
for design and prediction of the base plate resistance and stiffness.


5. CONCLUSIONS

This paper is focused on comparison of predictions obtained using the analyti-
cal model of base plates of hollow sections columns with the real test results. Both
in case of Nakashimas and Takamatsus experiments, the values predicted by the
analytical model show a good agreement with the test results, especially regarding
the initial stiffness. In conclusion, the analytical model based on the component
method allows a satisfactorily accurate prediction of resistance and stiffness for en-
gineering purposes and thus can be used for design.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The work was supported by the research center of Ministry of education,
youth and sports CIDEAS No. 1M0579.


REFERENCES
Ansley M.H., Cooc R.A. and Tia M., Use of grout pads for sign and lightening structures,
Structural research report No. BB-512, University of Florida, 2000.
Di Sarno L., Pecce M.R. and Fabbrocino G., Inelastic response of composite steel and
concrete base column connections, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 63,
2007, pp. 819832.
Malle R. and Silva J. F., Anchorage in Concrete Construction, Ernst and Sohn Verlag,
Darmstadt, 2006, ISBN 978-433-01143-0.
EN 1993-1-8, European Committee for Standardization CEN. Eurocode 3: Design of
steel structures. Part 1.8: Design of joints, Brussels 2005.
ETAG 001, Guideline for European technical approval of metal anchors for use in con-
crete, Parts1 to 5, Brussels, 2002.
Henriques J., Obolt A., Kuhlmann U. et al, Behaviour of Steel-To-Concrete Joints -
Moment Resisting Joint of a Composite Beam to Reinforced Concrete Wall, Steel
Construction, 2011, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 161-165. ISSN 1867-0520.
Horova K., Base plates of hollow sections, Diploma thesis, Czech Technical University
in Prague, 73 p., Prague, 2010.
Horov K., Wald F. and Sokol Z., Design of Circular Hollow Section Base Plates, Euro-
steel 2011, 6th European Conference on Steel and Composite Structures, Buda-
pest, 2011, vol. 1, pp. 249-254. ISBN 978-92-9147-103-4.
Hsu H. L. and Lin H. W., Improving seismic performance of concrete-filled tube to base
connections, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 62, 2006, pp. 13331340.
Kuhlmann et al, INFASO, Final report, RFSR-CT-2007-00051, 2011.
Liu D., Design of circular base plates, ASCE, Practice Periodical on Structural Design
and Construction, 11, 2006, pp. 1-13.
Melchers R. E., Column-base response under applied moment, J. Construct. Steel Re-
search, 23, 1992, pp. 127-143.
Nakashima S., Experimental Behavior of Encased Steel Square Tubular Column-Base
Connections, in Proceedings of the First Word Conference on Constructional
Steel Design, Elsevier Applied Science, 1992, pp. 240-249.
Song Y., Huang, Z. Burgess, I. W, Plank, R. J., The behaviour of single-storey industrial
steel frames in fire, Advanced Steel Construction, 5 (3), 2009, pp. 289-302.
Takamatsu T., Tamai H., Non-slip-type restoring force characteristics of an exposed-
type column base, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 61, 2005, pp. 942
961.
Wald F., Bouguin V., Sokol Z. Muzeau J. P: Component Method for Base Plate of RHS,
Proceedings of the Conference Connections in Steel Structures IV: Steel Con-
nections in the New Millenium, October 22-25, Roanoke 2000, pp. IV/8- IV/816.
Wald F., Sokol Z., Steenhouis M. and Jaspart, J.P., Component Method for Steel Col-
umn Bases, Heron, 2008, vol. 53, no. 1/2, pp. 3-20, ISSN 0046-7316.
Wardenier J., Dutta D., Yeomans N., Packer J.A. and Bucak O., Design guide for struc-
tural hollow section in mechanical applications, CIDECT, Construction with hollow
section steel sections, Verlag TUV Rheinland Gmbh, Kln, 1995.
Wilkinson T., Ranzi G., Williams P. and Edwards M., Bolt prying in hollow section base
plate connections, Sixth International Conference on Advances in Steel Struc-
tures and Progress in Structural Stability and Dynamics, Hong Kong 2009, ISBN
978-988-99140-5-9.