EUROSTEEL 2014, September 10-12, 2014, Naples, Italy

2D FEM MODEL FOR PREDICTING THE ULTIMATE

BEHAVIOUR OF BOLTED T-STUB
Antonella Bianca Francavillaa, Massimo Latoura, Vincenzo Pilusoa, Gianvittorio Rizzanoa
a

University of Salerno, Department of Civil Engineering, Italy

afrancavilla@unisa.it, mlatour@unisa.it, v.piluso@unina.it, g.rizzano@unisa.it

INTRODUCTION
In order to predict the T-stub behaviour, simplified theoretical models are provided by Eurocode 3
which allow to evaluate the T-stub stiffness and resistance. Conversely, there are no codified rules
to predict the plastic deformation capacity. Therefore, methods for predicting the T-stub ductility in
have been proposed in previous works [1-4]. Other mechanical model for modelling of stiffness of
bolted T-stub connection components have been illustrated [6]. In addition also the modelling of the
T-stub cyclic behaviour has been investigated [5].
In this paper, a simple 2D FEM model representing the T-Stub behaviour has been developed using
SAP2000 computer program and the accuracy of this approach has been verified by means of a
comparison with available experimental results. In addition, the comparison between the proposed
FEM model and the theoretical models previously proposed has been performed.
1

2D FEM MODEL

1.1 General description of the finite element model

As alternative to theoretical models for predicting the force-displacement curve, a simple 2D FEM
model representing the T-Stub behaviour has been developed using SAP2000 computer program.
Taking into account the symmetry of the structural scheme, one fourth of the structural model
(Fig.1) has been analysed with two external double pendulums corresponding to the symmetry axes.

a)

b)

Fig. 1. a) T-stub model ; b) SAP 2000 model

The flange and the bolt are modelled by means of frame elements with distributed plasticity
adopting fibre plastic hinges.
In order to determine an upper bound and a lower bound behavioural curve, the analyses have been
performed considering the 5% fractile, the average value and the 95% fractile of the bolt ultimate
stress. To this scope, a coefficient of variation equal to 0.07 and 0.02 has been considered for bolt
class 8.8 and 10.9, respectively.
The analyses have been performed under displacement control up to a displacement level equal to
the maximum value attained during experimental tests. In order to evaluate the T-stub ductility, the
maximum strain versus displacement curve has been computed both with reference to the bolt to the
flange, so that the theoretical ultimate displacement has been assumed as the displacement value
leading to the attainment of the ultimate strain, i.e. fracture, either in the bolt or in the flange.

2D FEM MODEL

The 2D FEM model has been validated by means of a comparison with twelve experimental tests
carried out at Material and Structure Laboratory of the Department of Civil Engineering of Salerno
University [1, 3].
On the basis of the measured geometrical and mechanical properties, the force-displacement curves
of tested specimens have been simulated by means of the theoretical models presented in [1-3] and
compared with the corresponding experimental curve.

Fig. 2. Force-displacement curves

In addition, Fig. 3 provides also the results obtained by applying the proposed 2D FEM model.
Regarding the prediction of the ultimate displacement of the T-stub, in Fig. 2 the maximum strains
of the bolt and of the flange versus the T-stub displacement are depicted together with the F-
curve.

Fig. 3. Force-displacement curve and strain-displacement curve

REFERENCES
[1] Faella C., Piluso V., Rizzano G., Structural Semi-Rigid connections Theory, Design and Software.
CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (USA), 2000.
[2] Piluso V., Faella C., Rizzano G., Ultimate behaviour of bolted T-Stubs. I: Theoretical model. Journal of
Structural Engineering ASCE, 127 (6):686-693, 2001.
[3] Piluso V., Faella C., Rizzano G., Ultimate behaviour of bolted T-Stubs. II: Model validation. Journal of
Structural Engineering ASCE, 127 (6):694-704, 2001.
[4] Piluso V., Rizzano G., Sabatino R., Prediction of ultimate behaviour of bolted T-Stubs: influence of
bolt preloading. EUROSTEEL, 2008.
[5] Piluso V. and Rizzano G., Experimental Analysis and Modelling of bolted Tstubs under Cyclic loads,
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, ELSEVIER, Vol. 64, pp.655-69, 2009.
[6] Leon R. and Swanson J.A., Stiffness Modeling of Bolted T-stub Connection Components. Journal of
Structural Engineering,ASCE, 127 (5): 488-505, 2001.

KEY WORDS
T-stub, 2D FEM model, steel joints.

EUROSTEEL 2014, September 10-12, 2014, Naples, Italy

2D FEM MODEL FOR PREDICTING THE ULTIMATE

BEHAVIOUR OF BOLTED T-STUB
Antonella Bianca Francavillaa, Massimo Latoura, Vincenzo Pilusoa, Gianvittorio Rizzanoa
a
University of Salerno, Department of Civil Engineering, Italy
afrancavilla@unisa.it, mlatour@unisa.it, v.piluso@unina.it, g.rizzano@unisa.it

INTRODUCTION
The prediction of the behaviour of beam-to-column connections can be obtained by means of the
so- called component method, largely used in research studies and currently codified in Eurocode
3.The main feature of this approach is its ability to account for any kind of connection, provided
that the basic components of deformability and strength are properly identified and modelled.
The most important components of beam-to-column joints can be modelled by means of equivalent
T-stubs, i.e. two equivalent T-shaped elements connected through the flanges by means of one or
more bolt rows.
In order to predict the T-stub behaviour, simplified theoretical models are provided by Eurocode 3
which allow to evaluate the T-stub stiffness and resistance. Conversely, there are no codified rules
to predict the plastic deformation capacity. Therefore, methods for predicting the T-stub ductility in
have been proposed in previous works [1-4]. Other mechanical model for modelling of stiffness of
bolted T-stub connection components have been illustrated [7].
In addition also the modelling of the T-stub cyclic behaviour has been investigated [5]. It can be
observed that, even though theoretical models are very important in order to recognize the
parameters which govern the stiffness, resistance and ductility of bolted T-stubs, they are not easy
to be applied for predicting the overall monotonic and cyclic behaviour. For this reason, in this
paper, a simple 2D FEM model representing the T-Stub behaviour has been developed using
SAP2000 computer program and the accuracy of this approach has been verified by means of a
comparison with available experimental results. In addition, the comparison between the proposed
FEM model and the theoretical models previously proposed has been performed.
1

THEORETICAL MODELS

1.1 Piluso et al. model

The approach for evaluating the plastic deformation capacity of bolted T-stubs proposed in [1] is
based on the observation that, depending on the ratio between the flexural resistance of the flanges
and the axial resistance of the bolts, there are three possible failure modes for which the ultimate
resistance can be derived from simple equilibrium equations. For each failure mode, with reference
to the ultimate condition, the bending moment diagram along the T-stub flange can be derived
(Fig.1). Therefore, the ultimate plastic displacement can be computed starting from the
corresponding curvature diagram. In fact, the ultimate plastic rotation of the hinges involved in the
collapse mechanism of the T-stub can be computed by integrating the curvature diagram and,
successively, the plastic displacement is computed accounting for the developed kinematic
mechanism [1]. However, for sake of simplicity, in order to gain closed form solutions, the
following approximations are introduced:
3D effects are not accounted for, because the approach is based on a 2D model;
Geometrical nonlinearity is disregarded;
Compatibility between bolt and flange displacements is not considered;
The influence of the shear action on the plastic behaviour of the material is disregarded;
Prying forces are taken into account by assuming that they are located at the edges of the Tstub flanges;

 Bending of the bolts is neglected;

Cracking of the material is approximately modelled by assuming as cracking condition the
occurrence of the ultimate strain in the extreme fibres of T-stub flanges.

Fig. 1. Kinematics of collapse mechanisms

Under the above assumptions, a multi-linear modelling of the force-displacement curve of the
single T-element can be performed by identifying four characteristic points [1]. 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 sections where plastic hinges are expected. The third point (Fm; m) corresponds to
the achievement of the stress fu. Finally, the fourth point (Fu; u) corresponds to the ultimate
conditions, i.e. to the attainment of the ultimate true strain u leading to the fracture of the material.
1.2 Influence of bolt preloading on type 2 collapse mechanism
In order to account for the influence of bolt preloading, a refinement the above model has been
proposed in [4]. To this scope, it is observed that in the original model, as the bolt preloading is
neglected, the detachment between the flanges is assumed during the whole loading process and the
point of zero moment is assumed to be unchanged. The ultimate moment Mu is attained only at the
flange-to-web connection, while the moment at the bolt axis can be expressed as a proportion of Mu
(Fig.2), by means of the following relation, derived by equilibrium equations:
2 u
M bolt M u where
(1)
u 1
with n / m and u 2 M u /( Bu m) . The parameter depends on the geometrical and mechanical
properties of the T-stub only.

Fig. 2. Bending moment diagram

On the contrary, due to the bolt preloading, in the first part of loading process, such detachment
cannot occur so that, from a kinematic point of view, the T-stub is forced to behave like a type-1
mechanism up to the achievement of bolt action B equal to the bolt preloading Ns, while it begins to
behave like type-2 mechanism as soon as the value of Ns is exceeded [4].

a)

b)

Fig. 3. Bending moment diagrams a) end of first step; b) collapse

In the ultimate condition, only the plastic hinge located at the flange-to-web connection reaches the
ultimate moment Mu. The increment of the bending moment in this plastic hinge, Mhinge, with
respect to the end of the first phase is:
M hinge M u M s
(2)
where M s N u

m.
2 1

As a consequence, the increment of the bending moment at the T-stub section corresponding to the
bolt axis, Mbolt, can be expressed by means of the coefficient as a proportion of the increment of
the bending moment at flange-to-web connection:
M bolt M hinge
(3)
Hence, the moment at the bolt axis at collapse is given by:
M M s M bolt M s M hinge
(4)
From Eq. (4), a new equivalent value eq of the parameter initially given by Eq. (1), now accounting
also for bolt preloading and for the two different phases of the loading process previously
described, can be obtained:
M s M hinge
M

eq
(5)
Mu
Mu
which can be rewritten in the following form:
eq s 1 s

(6)

Ms
due to bolt preloading has been introduced.
Mu
By means of the introduction of the above parameter, the formulations for type-2 mechanism given
in [1-3] can still be applied provided that the coefficient is substituted by eq.

where the value s

2D FEM MODEL

2.1 General description of the finite element model

As alternative to theoretical models for predicting the force-displacement curve, a simple 2D FEM
model representing the T-Stub behaviour has been developed using SAP2000 computer program.
Taking into account the symmetry of the structural scheme, one fourth of the structural model
(Fig.4) has been analysed with two external double pendulums corresponding to the symmetry axes.

Fig. 4. T-stub model

The flange and the bolt are modelled by means of frame elements with distributed plasticity
adopting fibre plastic hinges. It should be emphasized that the number of fibres to model the yielded
zones have been selected so that a further increase of such number does not affect the results of the
analysis. In particular, a minimum number of six fibres has been adopted.
Regarding the material properties, the T-stub flanges have been modelled by means of the truestress versus true-strain constitutive law depicted in (Fig.5a) whose parameters have been derived
from experimental tests and are reported in [2] with reference to the analysed specimens.
Conversely, concerning the bolts, the stress-strain curve depicted in (Fig.5b) has been assumed
because experimental tests on specimens bolts are not available. However, the ultimate strain has
been assumed equal to the ultimate true strain whose value has been assumed equal to the one
provided by the manufacturer as a minimum guaranteed value [6]. In addition, in order to determine
an upper bound and a lower bound behavioural curve, the analyses have been performed
considering the 5% fractile, the average value and the 95% fractile of the bolt ultimate stress. To
this scope, a coefficient of variation equal to 0.07 and 0.02 has been considered for bolt class 8.8
and 10.9, respectively.

a)

b)

Fig. 5. a) true-stress versus true-strain curve for T-stub flanges; b) stress-strain curve for bolts

The head of the bolt has been modelled by means of an elastic beam element with rectangular
section whose depth is equal to the bolt head thickness and whose width has been selected to
approximate the bolt head area with an equivalent square area. Regarding the modelling of the
contact between the hole of the T-stub flanges and the bolt shank (Fig. 6), it has been carried out by
means of 2-nodes gap elements connecting the bolt shank to two rigid beam elements accounting
for the thickness of the T-stub flange. Such gap elements behave as rigid under compression and
allow free relative horizontal displacements in tension. The contact between the flanges of the two
tee elements constituting the specimen has been modelled with 1-node gap elements, distributed
along the contact zone. Also these elements behave as rigid under compression and allow vertical
displacements in tension.

The analyses have been performed under displacement control up to a displacement level equal to
the maximum value attained during experimental tests. In order to evaluate the T-stub ductility, the
maximum strain versus displacement curve has been computed both with reference to the bolt to the
flange, so that the theoretical ultimate displacement has been assumed as the displacement value
leading to the attainment of the ultimate strain, i.e. fracture, either in the bolt or in the flange.

Fig. 6. SAP 2000 model

VALIDATION OF 2D FEM MODEL AND COMPARISONS

The 2D FEM model has been validated by means of a comparison with twelve experimental tests
carried out at Material and Structure Laboratory of the Department of Civil Engineering of Salerno
University [1, 3]. The experimental tests confirmed the location of the yield lines according to the
expected collapse mechanism. Regarding the flexural engagement of the bolts, experimental tests
evidenced that it increases as far as the applied axial load increases and the contraflexure point
moves along the T-stub flange during the loading process. In particular, it was observed that this
movement is more important in case of type-2 mechanism where, increasing the applied axial load,
the controflexure point moves from the middle section of the m segment toward the bolt axis.

Fig. 7. Force-displacement curves

On the basis of the measured geometrical and mechanical properties, the force-displacement curves
of tested specimens have been simulated by means of the theoretical models presented in [1-3] and
compared with the corresponding experimental curve. In all cases, it has been observed that

stiffness, strength and ductility predicted by means of the theoretical models are sufficiently
accurate when compared to the experimental ones. As an example, in Fig. 7 the comparison
between four experimental results and the corresponding predicted multi-linear F- curves is
shown. Similar results have been obtained for the other specimens.
In addition, Fig. 7 provides also the results obtained by applying the proposed 2D FEM model. It
can be observed that the experimental curve is in all cases practically enclosed between the curve
predicted adopting the 5% fractile of the bolt strength and the curve predicted adopting the 95%
fractile. Regarding the prediction of the ultimate displacement of the T-stub, in Fig. 8 the maximum
strains of the bolt and of the flange versus the T-stub displacement are depicted together with the F curve. It can be observed that, according to the mechanism typology, in case of mechanism type-1
the achievement of the ultimate strain of the flange plate anticipates the achievement of the ultimate
strain of the bolts while, the opposite situation occurs in case of collapse mechanism type-2.

Fig. 8. Force-displacement curve and strain-displacement curve

CONCLUSION

In this paper, a simple 2D FEM model representing the T-Stub behaviour has been described. In
particular, the model has been analysed by using SAP2000 computer program. By means of a
comparison between experimental results and the prediction of the T-stub behaviour obtained by
means of the approach proposed by the authors in previous works, it has been recognized that the
2D FEM model is even more accurate with respect to theoretical models provided. This is mainly
due to the fact that theoretical models, leading to closed form relationships, require the introduction
of simplifying assumptions.
REFERENCES
[1] Faella C., Piluso V., Rizzano G., Structural Semi-Rigid connections Theory, Design and Software.
CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (USA), 2000.
[2] Piluso V., Faella C., Rizzano G., Ultimate behaviour of bolted T-Stubs. I: Theoretical model. Journal of
Structural Engineering ASCE, 127 (6):686-693, 2001.
[3] Piluso V., Faella C., Rizzano G., Ultimate behaviour of bolted T-Stubs. II: Model validation. Journal of
Structural Engineering ASCE, 127 (6):694-704, 2001.
[4] Piluso V., Rizzano G., Sabatino R., Prediction of ultimate behaviour of bolted T-Stubs: influence of
bolt preloading. EUROSTEEL, 2008.
[5] Piluso V. and Rizzano G., Experimental Analysis and Modelling of bolted Tstubs under Cyclic loads,
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, ELSEVIER, Vol. 64, pp.655-69, 2009.
[6] Gruppo Fontana, Catalogo Tecnico: Prescrizioni Tecniche, 2004.
[7] Leon R. and Swanson J.A., Stiffness Modeling of Bolted T-stub Connection Components. Journal of
Structural Engineering,ASCE, 127 (5): 488-505, 2001.