2010 Third International Conference on Information and Computing

Nonlinear Finite Element Computation on Semi-rigid Connection and Steel Frame

Zhou Nannan
Department of Building Engineering Tongji University Shanghai, China znn0922@Gmail.com
AbstractIn this paper, nonlinear finite element analysis about the semi-rigid connected steel frame and top and seat angle with double web angles semi-rigid connection are carried out with ANSYS finite element software. The analysis is a complicated nonlinear problem, which includes plastic development of metal material, geometrical nonlinear caused by large deformation of the structure and contact. Results obtained by software and test are compared and some references will be provided to the following finite element study. Keywords Nonlinear finite element computation, semi-rigid connection, steel frame, Ansys

Wang Lai
College of civil engineering and architecture Shandong University of Science and Technology Qingdao, China

II.

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS MODEL

I.

INTRODUCTION

The beam-column connection which transforms moment and shear force is a vital component of the high rise steel structure. Connections properties have a significant impact on the ultimate bearing capacity, stiffness and stability of the whole structure. The beam-column connection is usually assumed to be rigid joint or hinged joint in the traditional calculation and analysis of steel structure. Though this hypothesis simplifies the analysis procedure, sometimes the analysis model couldnt represent the actual working situation of the structure, its unreasonable. Actually, the beam-column connection in the practical project is situated between the rigid joint and hinged joint, it is semi-rigid connection [6] [7]. The design code of steel structure in China just mentioned the concept of semi-rigid connection. Specific provisions about the calculation of this kind of connection are not given. In order to achieve better understanding of mechanical behavior of steel frame, the influence of semi-rigid connection should be fully considered [1]. In this paper, nonlinear finite element analysis about the semi-rigid connected steel frame and top and seat angle with double web angles semi-rigid connection are carried out with ANSYS finite element software. The analysis is a complicated nonlinear problem, which includes plastic development of metal material, geometrical nonlinear caused by large deformation of the structure and contact. Results obtained by software and test are compared and some references will be provided to the following finite element study.

There are two analysis models in this paper. One is the two-span and three-story semi-rigid connection steel frame and the other is the top-seat angle and double web-angles semi-rigid connection of this steel frame. The dimensions of steel frame and connection are shown in Fig.1 and Fig.2. Hot-rolled H section steel of Q235 is used for beam and column. The column and beam section are HW 300300 1015 and HW 200200812, respectively. Q235 steel is used for the connecting angle. M20 friction type highstrength bolted of grade 10.9 are adopted in connection. Welded seam is E4311 welding electrode and the grade is two [2].

Figure.1 Dimensional drawing of model semi-rigid connected steel frame

Figure.2 Dimensional drawing of top and seat angle with double web angles semi-rigid connection

978-0-7695-4047-4/10 $26.00 2010 IEEE DOI 10.1109/ICIC.2010.323

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III.

MODELING

B. semi-rigid connected steel frame modeling 1) Elements selection: Beam and column are simulated by 2-node beam element BEAM188. This element is based on timoshenko beam theory. Shear deformation effects are included. BEAM188 has six or seven degrees of freedom at each node. These include translations in the x, y, and z directions and rotations about the x, y, and z directions. The beam-column connection is simulated by zero-length nonlinear spring element COMBIN39. COMBIN39 is a unidirectional element with nonlinear generalized forcedeflection capability that can be used in any analysis. The element has longitudinal or torsional capability in 1-D, 2-D, or 3-D applications. The longitudinal option is a uniaxial tension-compression element with up to three degrees of freedom at each node: translations in the nodal x, y, and z directions. No bending or torsion is considered. The torsional option is a purely rotational element with three degrees of freedom at each node: rotations about the nodal x, y, and z axes. No bending or axial loads are considered[3][4]. 2) Implement method of the semi-rigid connection in the whole frame: Coupling the nodes respectively in column and beam first and then adding spring element COMBIN39 at the coupling point. There are two nodes at the joint of side column and three nodes at the joint of middle column. The M-r relationship of the spring element COMBIN39 is determined by the finite element analysis of the semi-rigid connection above. M-r Curve obtained by finite element analysis is only in first quadrant, the values in third quadrant are assumed to be symmetrical with the first quadrant[5].

A. Semi-rigid connection modeling 1) Elements selection: Beam, column, angle, stiffening rib, screw and cap are simulated by 8-node solid element SOLID45. The contact in joint region is very complicated. Contact element CONTA173 and target element TARGE170 are adopted to simulate the contact in joint region. The contact between top -seat angle and the flange of column or the flange of beam, the contact between web angle and the flange of column or web of beam and the contact between Screw and bolt hole are considered in semi-rigid connection model. Prestressed element PRETS179 are used to apply prestressing force [3] [4]. 2) Constitutional relationship of material: There are two material models in semi-rigid connection model. One is used for steel material of beam, column and connecting angle, and the other one is used for bolt material. Strength indexes of steel are determined by experiment results. Yield strength is 285 MPa, elastic modulus is 1.97x105MPa, and limit strength is 390 MPa. In order to simulate the nonlinearity of material more accurately, multistage kinematic hardening model are adopted for steel. Bilinear kinematic hardening model are used for bolt material. Yield strength is 940 MPa, and elastic modulus is 1.97x105 MPa. The material nonlinearity is not relying on time. The yield of material follows the Von-Mises yield criterion. 3) Boundary condition and loading protcol : Considering the symmetry properties of the connection, only half of structure is modeled. In order to facilitate the mesh, screw head and nut cap are simplified to round section whose area is determined by original eight-square. Screw is modeled by circular cylinder without regard to the screw thread. Washer isnt considered alone, but its thickness is included in the nut. Boundary condition is applied according to the actual situation in the experiment. The displacement perpendicular to symmetrical plane and the rotation in the other two directions are restrained. The fixed hinge is applied on the column ends. The load is applied based on the actual situation in the experiment. The axial force of 1000kN is applied on the column top. Horizontal loading controlled by displacement is applied at beam end which is 510mm away from centre line of column [2].
1
ELEMENTS U F MAY 15 2007 09:46:14

Figure.4 Modeling of semi-rigid connections

60 50

Moment kN.m

40 30 20 10 0 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07

Rotation(rad)

Figure.5 M-r curves model of nonlinear spring element

Figure.3 Finite element model of semi-rigid connection

3) Constitutional relationship of material: There is only one material model in steel frame model which is the same with the steel type in Part A 2). Strength indexes of steel are

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the same. Multistage kinematic hardening model are adopted for steel. The yield of material follows the Von-Misses yield criterion. 4) Boundary condition and loading protocol:Vertical and horizontal loading are included in loading protocol. Horizontal loading is applied along the centre line of top beam. The displacement 7.8mm under the loading of 140kN in experiment is taken as the control displacement. The following loading is increasing by multiples of control displacement. Loading protocol based on the actual situation in the experiment for the better comparison with the test results is displacement controlled and involves one cycle at increasing displacement levels. Vertical load about 1000 kN is applied on the top of the columns. Column base is assumed to be rigid connection[2].

device; the simplification of the model. According to the stiffness degenerated curve, the stiffness of the connection is remain constant at a low level.

Figure.8 M-r Curves of the semi-rigid connection

2500

S tiffness kN.m/rad)

2000

1500

1000

500

Figure.6 Loading protocol for ANSYS analysis

0
1
ELEMENTS U ROT CP

K0 K0 K0

MAY 15 2007 11:13:26

20

40

60

80

100

120

Moment KN. m)

K0 K0 K0

Figure.9 The curve of rigidity degeneration

K0 K0 K0

Y Z X

Figure.7 Finite element model of semi-rigid connected steel

IV.

ANLYSIS RESULTS

The large deformation geometrical nonlinear is used during the solution so that the secondary effect is included. In the ANSYS software using the command NLGEOM,ON to active the large deformation option. Nonlinear finite element equilibriums are solved by Newton-Raphson method. The unbalance joint force is used as the convergent criteria and the convergent allowable value is 0.001. A. Results of semi-rigid connection M-r curves of semi-rigid connection obtained by finite element analysis and the experiment are shown in Fig8 . Form the M-r curves, it is clear to see top and seat angle with double web angles semi-rigid connection has significant nonlinear. The analysis curve fits well with the experimental cure. The slight difference may be caused by the following reasons: the deficiency generated during the fabrication and installation of test specimen; the discrepancy of testing

B. Results of semi-rigid connected steel frame Loading-displacement hysteretic curve and the skeleton curve of the steel frame are shown in Figure.10 and Figure.11. Comparing with the experimental hysteretic curve, the analysis curve is much plumper which may be caused by idealization of the material model and element selection. The deficiency of the material ,the slide between flange of beam and connected angle, the slide of screw in bolt hole and the slide between steel frame and ground. All these factors which couldnt be easily included in modeling made the experimental hysteretic curve present significant rheostriction.
800 600 400 200
Loading(kN)

0 -80 -60 -40 -20 -200 -400 -600 -800 Displacement(mm) 0 20 40 60 80

Figure.10 Steel frames experimental hysteresis curve

210

800 600 400

800 600 400 200

Loading(kN)

200 0 -80 -60 -40 -20 -200 -400 -600 -800 Displacement(mm) 0 20 40 60 80

Loading(kN)

0 -50 -200 -400 -600 -800 Displacement(mm) 0 50 Test Result Ansys 100

-100

Figure.11 Steel frames ANSYS hysteresis curve

Figure.12 Comparison of the skeleton curve of the steel frame Table 1 Comparison between ANSYS values and experimental results

( Test

= 7.5mm )
Loading (kN) Loading (kN)

173.76 186.31 77.18 154.64 176.87 72.56

2 213.22 245.78 181.48 2 203.45 224.65 177.34

3 291.79 336.95 261.35 3 274.65 301.52 253.24

4 350.50 399.66 339.85 4 336.67 388.56 327.91

5 465.63 513.58 375.67 5 431.27 494.03 356.46

6 564.05 604.73 381.87 6 523.64 585.07 362.86

7 600.52 648.37 389.27 7 587.56 618.72 370.36

8 632.14 660.67 396.71 8 613.93 628.59 377.53

ANSYS

Column base Stress (N/mm2) (

= 7.5mm )
Loading (kN) Loading (kN)

Test ANSYS

column base Stress (N/mm2)

Table 1 shows the comparisons between ANSYS values and experimental results. The result of the simulation fits perfectly with experimental results. So using zero-length nonlinear spring element COMBIN39 to simulate the semi-rigid connection is reasonable. V.
CONCLUSION

simulation fits perfectly with experimental results. So using zero-length nonlinear spring element COMBIN39 to simulate the semi-rigid connection is reasonable. REFERENCES
[1] [2] Ye xuelin, Stability calculating of steel frames with semi-rigid connections, Fuzhou University, Fujian,2004. Zhou Nannan, Nonlinear finite element analysis of seismic performance of semi-Rigid connected steel Frame,,Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong ,2007. Zhang Bo, Sheng Hetai, Ansys finite element numerical analysis theory and project application, Tsinghua University Press, Beijing, 2005. Tan Jianguo, Finite element analysis using ANSYS6.O, Peking University Press, Beijing,2002. Wang Xinwu, Su li, Research of behaviour of semi-rigid connections in steel Frame, Journal of Wuhan University of Technology, vol.11, 2002, PP.33-35. W.F.Chen, E.M. Lui, Stability design of steel frames, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Syrancuse University, Syrancuse, NY, 1991. Seung-Eock Kim, Wai-Fah Chen , Practical advanced analysis for semi-rigid frame design, Engineering Journal, vol.4, PP.129-141.

Form the M-r curves of top and seat angle with double web angles semi-rigid connection, it was clear to see top and seat angle with double web angles semi-rigid connection has significant nonlinear. The analysis curve fits well with the experimental cure. The slight difference may be caused by the following reasons: the deficiency generated during the fabrication and installation of test specimen; the discrepancy of testing device; the simplification of the model. According to the stiffness degenerated curve, the stiffness of the connection is remain constant at a low level. Comparing with the experimental hysteretic curve of steel frame, the analysis curve is much plumper which may be caused by idealization of the material model and element selection. The deficiency of the material, the slide between flange of beam and connected angle, the slide of screw in bolt hole the slide between steel frame and ground, all these factors which couldnt be easily included in modeling made the experimental hysteretic curve present significant rheostriction. The result of the

[3]

[4] [5]

[6]

[7]

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