Behavior of Extended End Plate Beam-to-Column Steel Connections under Blast Loads

Integrity and stability of important structures is threatened by terrorist attacks all-over the world. Hence, analysis and design of such structures against blast and impact loads attracts more attention by researchers nowadays. Beam‑to‑column connections play important role in load‑carrying chain in the structure, so that well‑designed ones can retain stability of the structure after failure of some structural elements and, hence, prevent overall collapse of the structure. Present research focuses on against‑blast behavior of extended end plate beam‑to‑column steel connections. In this way, various configurations of these connections is analysed by nonlinear dynamic analysis in the finite element software, ABAQUS/Explicit taking into account strain‑rate effects. The result of this research indicates that against‑blast performance of steel structures with extended end plates is directly influenced by web thickness of beams and columns in the joint zone, and locating stiffeners has important role in this issue. Strengthening the column in the joint with continuity plates and web doubler plates is an appropriate choice for improving the performance of the joint under blast loads.