Application of Timoshenko Beam-Column Theory in Data Correction for Steel Beam-Column Testing

Abstract

A recent cyclic test program evaluated the performance of steel wide-flange columns under axial loads and lateral drifts; the specimens had either fixed-fixed or fixed-rotating boundary conditions. For both cases, the flexibility of fully restrained moment connections at specimen ends, which varied in degrees based on several factors such as configurations of the bolted connection, end-plate thickness, and magnitude of the applied axial load, was observed to have significant impacts on elastic flexural stiffnesses of the measured responses. Therefore, the measured responses needed to be corrected, accounting for the effects of connection flexibility, before test parameters of interest can be investigated. A data-correction procedure that eliminates the effect of connection flexibility from the measured beam-column responses is developed. The procedure is built upon theoretical knowledge of elastic Timoshenko beam-column behavior. Once the effect of connection flexibility is removed, the corrected test responses become equivalent to the responses of beam-columns with ideal rigid end connections.