Seismic Evaluation of Steel Beam-Column End-Plate Connection, using Corrugated-Web I Sections and Nanotechnology in Materials

Among the weaknesses of moment connections in large earthquakes were the damage of the connection’s elements and main components of the structure, such as the column, prior to the failure of other members, which causes the total collapse of the structure. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce a moment connection system which dampens the earthquake induction energy well, without damaging the main elements of connection and main structural members. Also, another reason for the low resistance of structures against large earthquakes is the inappropriate function of materials under stress. Therefore, in this study, the seismic performance of steel beam-column end-plate connection using corrugated sheets in I-section and nanotechnology in materials is investigated. The variables studied consist of three types of sheets in the web section (plan, corrugated), three types of sheet’s thicknesses and two types of material properties (St 37 and nanoparticles). Thus, 18 numerical models with similar dimensions, properties and lengths are simulated with the finite element method using Abaqus software. In most of the cases studied, increasing the thickness of the web’s sheet leading to an increase in the energy absorption of the investigated samples. Also, by increasing the thickness, the values of stresses in most samples decreased, However, in the samples with trapezoidal geometries by increasing the thickness from 10 mm to 20 mm, the stress values were increased. According to the results of this study, increasing the thickness of structural elements does not always lead to a decrease in the stress values applied to the structure and the geometrical shape of the element is very effective in the stress values.