Steel and Composite Structures

The component-based method is widely used to analyze the initial stiffness of joint in steel structures. In this study, an analytical component model for determining the column face stiffness of square or rectangular hollow section (SHS/RHS) subjected to tension was established, focusing on endplate connections. Equations for calculating the stiffness of the SHS/RHS column face in bending were derived through regression analysis using numerical results obtained from a finite element model database. Because the presence of bolt holes decreased the bending stiffness of the column face, this effect was calculated using a novel plate-spring-based model through numerical analysis. The developed component model was first applied to predict the bending stiffness of the SHS column face determined through tests. Furthermore, this model was incorporated into the component-based method with other effective components, e.g., bolts under tension, to determine the tensile stiffness of the T-stub connections, which connects the SHS column, and the initial rotational stiffness of the joints. A comparison between the model predictions, test data, and numerical results confirms that the proposed model shows satisfactory accuracy in evaluating the bending stiffness of SHS column faces.