ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Resistance prediction of laminates, fillet-welded

and full penetration-welded bolted T-stub
connections
Giovani Jesus Berrospi Aquino, Gustavo Alberto Neira Alatrista, Walter Guillermo Loaiza Miranda, Carlos
Alberto Juárez Aparcana, Jorge Hernán Alencastre Miranda, Juan José Jiménez de Cisneros Fonfría

Correspondence Abstract

Dr. Juan José Jiménez de Cisneros Fonfría
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Av. Universitaria 1801
Lima Perú
Email: juanjose.cisneros@pucp.pe
Bolted end plate connections are usually considered an optimal alternative in rigid-frame steel
design because they have competitive costs and good structural behaviour. The characterization
of this type of connection is defined by the moment-curvature relationship in terms of strength,
stiffness and ductility, and the method of components is the analytical procedure proposed by the
Eurocode standard to predict the rotational behaviour. The T-stub is the component that idealizes
the transfer of tensile forces in components of the column flange and the endplate in bending com-
ponents and is composed by one T-shape element made of a web in tension joined to a flange in
bending. The connection between the web and the flange can be set continuously (in rolled pro-
files) or welded, and the type of welding procedure considered, fillet or by full penetration, de-
pends on the type of loads that the connection is submitted. e.g., in the case of dynamically loaded
structures, in machinery supports or structures emplaced on seismic zones, is recommended the
use of full penetration to avoid a premature failure by fatigue.

This paper exposes the study results of the influence of the three types of connections between
the web and the flange in T-stub connections. Monotonic loading tests, applied by a universal test
machine and analysed by the Digital Image Correlation technique, have been performed at labor-
atories of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Results, represented by Force-displace-
ment characteristics curves and strains and stresses fields, are compared with the evaluation of
analytical formulae, and the results of a FEM model developed to analyse the component. The con-
clusions are that the type of connections between the web and the flange greatly influences the T-
stub behaviour. Currently, the bibliography defines specific values for the variable m (defined as
the equivalent distance from the centre of a fastener to the plastic hinge form near to the web
face) for cases of laminated or fillet welded T-stub connections. However, there is no prescription
to analyse the structural behaviour of T-stub welded by full penetration. We recommend a deeper
study for this typology of connections to propose additional values in future versions of the Euro-
codes.

Keywords

Method of components, bolted connection, T-stub component

1 Introduction mechanical response of a joint. Each of these components in the con-

Bolted-end-plate connections are widely used in steel construction.
This typology of connection, which is the most commonly used mo-
ment-resisting connection, has many advantages over other types
of configurations. It highlights the good resistance/cost relationship,
and only shop welding is required, among other characteristics.
According to the method established in the Eurocode standard [1], a
steel connection can be assumed to be formed as a set of individual
basic components, see Figure 1 a), with the objective to evaluate the
nection is characterised in terms of three mechanical properties:
strength, stiffness and ductility. The behaviour of the connection is
computed by setting up a mechanical model of springs, where the
characteristics of each spring, see Error! Reference source not
found. b), are obtained from the properties of each component. For
instance, a moment-rotation or force-displacement characteristic
curve could be defined.
As shown in Figure 1 b), one of the components of the connection is
the T-stub which is located in the tension zone of the bolted end

© 2021 Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin · ce/papers 4 (2021), Nos. 2 - 4
https://doi.org/10.1002/cepa.1387 wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cepa 981
982 |
plate connection, where the main source of the formability is found.
The T-stub component is formed for two T-shaped elements con-
nected through the flanges employing bolts, see Figure 1 c). Further-
more, the flanges of the T-stub represent the end-plate and the
flange of the column.
has two specimens which had the same geometry. These experi-
mental tests were developed at the CITE materials laboratory at the
Pontifical University of Peru (PUCP). The T-stub specimens were
tested under monotonic loading to understand their behaviour, and
then the Force displacement curves were obtained and used for the
calibration and verification of the finite element models.

Tension 2.1 Material properties

The test specimens for the material characterisation were obtained

from the flanges of the shapes used to build the T-stub specimens.
Also, the bolts were tested. These tensile test specimens were fabri-
cated following ASTM-370-19 standard [3]. The results are shown
in Table 1.
Compression
Table 1 Steel properties.

a) b) Element Fy (MPa) Fu (MPa) eu (%)

Rolled Shape 365.72 509.33 26

Bolt 963 1068 6

It must be mention that the influence of the web is very small in the
resistance of the test specimen tested [4].

2.2 Geometry of test specimens

c)
Figure 1 a) T-equivalent components located in beam-column joint b) T-equivalent As mentioned before, the T-Stub Specimens for the tests were built
component [2]. using hot-rolled plates, and three different typologies were fabri-
cated (T-W, T-FW, T-FP), see Figure 3.
In the case of machinery support structures emplaced in mining in-
dustries, connections are dynamically loaded and prone to a prema-
ture collapse of the structure because of the fatigue effect. Thus, it
is a typical recommendation to consider but welding instead of fillet
welding details.

This paper aims to analyse the influence of the type of connection

between the web and the flange (see Figure 2) on T-stub compo-
nents, hot-rolled profiles (T-W), fillet welded (T-FW) and full pene-
trated welded, in terms of the main properties: strength, stiffness,
and ductility. This study is done based on experimental results, ana-
lytical models, and the finite element method.

a) b)

a)

b) c)
Figure 2 Connection configurations between web and flange in T-stub compo-
nents. c)
Figure 3 a) T-W geometry, b) T-FW geometry, c) T-FP geometry.
2 Experimental study
2.3 T-stub tests description
In this research work, three different T-stub types were study, Lam-
inated, fillet and full penetration-welded T-stub. Each type of T-stub Tests were carried out on the ZWICK ROELL SP600 universal
material testing machine, see Figure 4 a). This machine has a
 | 983

maximum loading capacity of 600 kN. The rigid base was installed in
the lower jaw, and then the T-stub test specimen was presented and
secured with the M12 8.8 bolts, see Figure 4 b). Before applying the
test load, bolts were adjusted with 40% of the nominal torque
according to the standard. The material testing machine recorded
the applied force, and the force was such that it was adjusted so that
the displacement of the upper jaw was 1mm per minute. The tests
were performed until the failure of the specimen or the bolts were
achieved. The following figure shows the rigid base and T-stub,
installed in the test machine. [5]

a) b)
Figure 4 (a) Layout DIC and test machine, (b) Rigid base and T-stub specimen on the test machine.

The axial displacements of the tests were recorded by the material

testing machine and the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) equipment,
which allows measuring displacements and deformations without
contact and in full field. These displacements recorded by the DIC
were determined through correlation of digital images, using
equipment manufactured by GOM® and the ARAMIS® software.
The distance measured from the centre of the specimen and the
vertical plane containing the camera lenses was 630 millimetres.
The angle between the cameras was 26º. The cameras and the
ARAMIS® software were calibrated using calibration standards,
varying distances, camera angles, lighting levels. After that, the test
of the specimens was conducted. The acquisition frequency of the
cameras was set at one frame per second. The points near the flange
and web intersection were considered in the data acquisition, as a)
shown in Figure 5.

b)

Figure 5 DIC system and Aramis® software.

2.4 Experimental results

The load-displacement curves were obtained from each of the six specimens
tested, see Figure 6Figure 6 a) Force-Displacement curve of T-W, b)Force-
Displacement curve of T-FW, c) Force-Displacement curve of T-FP .

. The load supplied to the specimens was that recorded by the

ZWICK ROELL material testing machine. The displacements were
measured in two ways. The first is recorded by the same material
testing machine, and the second way was from reading through the c)
digital image correlation equipment. In Figure 7 is presented the test Figure 6 a) Force-Displacement curve of T-W, b)Force-Displacement curve of T-
FW, c) Force-Displacement curve of T-FP .
specimens after the tensile test.
984 |

a) b) c)
Figure 7 a) specimen Tested of T-W, b) specimen tested of T-FW, c) specimen tested of T-FP.

Table 2 Specimens characteristics.

Typology Test Pu (kN) K,TEST,INI Du (mm)
(kN/mm)

T-W DIC 1 197.7 45.2 24.0

DIC 2 201.2 47.2 24.4

T-FW DIC 1 121.2 28.7 9.4

DIC 2 118.4 49.8 6.5

T-FP DIC 1 114.8 58.9 9.4

DIC 2 113.5 56.1 9.7

It should be mention that the stiffness of the T-FW DIC 1 differs sig-
nificantly to the DIC 2, see Figure 6 and Table 2 This could have hap-
pened because the specimens slid from the jaws of the machine.

3 Numerical analysis Figure 8 Constitutive law of the materials (nominal and true)

The numerical analyses were done in the software Ansys
Mechanical. All the components in contact with the T-stub were
properly model to obtain accurate results. For instance, the flange
thickness, the bolts and the rigid base. Moreover, the nonlinearities
due to contact conditions, the geometry changes, and the
constitutive law of the material were included in the Finite Element
(FE) model.
3.1 Material behaviour of the model
The Von Mises criterion was adopted for all the steel materials (duc-
tile materials). Because tests had reached the fracture point, an elas-
toplastic model was considered in the software. Where the defor-
mation is calculated according to equation 1. Moreover, the
isotropic yield point and the bilinear strain-stress curve (Figure 8)
were selected in Ansys Mechanical.
𝑑𝜀 = 𝑑𝜀 e + 𝑑𝜀 p
Where: 𝑑𝜀, is the total deformation and 𝑑𝜀 e 𝑑𝜀 p , are the compo-
nents elastic and plastic, respectively.
In the software, the bilinear curve needs Young's modulus and the
yielding stress (Fy) for the elastic zone and the Tangent modulus (𝐸T ),
see equation 2, for the plastic zone as inputs.
𝐸T = (𝜎U − 𝜎y )/(𝜀u − 𝜀y ) (2)
Where 𝜎U , 𝜎y , 𝜀u and 𝜀y are the ultimate stress, the yield stress, the
ultimate strain and the yield strain of the True law, respectively.
Which are calculated by the equation 3 and equation 4.
𝜎 = 𝐹 ∙ (1 + 𝑒) (3)
𝜀 = 𝑙𝑛(1 + 𝑒) (4)
3.2 Finite element type and mesh
Just 1/4 of the T-stub was simulated because of the symmetry of the
(1) connection, see Figure 9 a). For most parts of the T-stub connection,
such as the flange, the eight-node (brick) element Solid 185 from the
Ansys library was used. The Solid 185 is a first-order element used
to model 3D structures and is used to analyse the elastoplastic be-
haviour of materials, and has three degrees of freedom per node [6].
Similar 8 nodes brick element has been used by different authors
such as Girão [7], Bursi and Jaspar [8], De Matteis et al. [9], Etc., and
their simulations reached successful results. The refinement of the
mesh must be sufficiently refined to produce accurate results, and
the number of elements and nodes should be as small as possible if
the time processing is required to be shorter. Therefore, the number
of elements in the flange thickness is three, and also this prevents
the shear locking. However, the rigid base has more elements due to
its great thickness.
 | 985

Surface 2
Symmetric
condition

Surface 1
Symmetric
condition
a) b)
Surface 3

c) d) e)
Figure 9 a) T-W mesh, b) T-FW mesh, c)T-FP mesh

3.3 Boundary and load conditions shows that the simulations have got good agreements with their re-
spective experimental tests. Moreover, in Table 4 the stiffness of the
As shown in Figure 9 a), The nodes in the symmetry planes XY (Sur- experimental tests was compared with the numerical analyses FEM.
face 1) and YZ (Surface 2) were fixed with symmetric geometrical
boundary conditions. In other words, the displacement in the axis z On the other hand, the resistance capacity of the T-stub was ana-
and x were fixed in the planes XY and YZ, respectively. Moreover, lysed according to the Eurocode-3, see Table 5. According to this
the rigid base was fixed in all the lateral faces. The load was assigned standard, the resistance capacity can be determined by taking into
as a small increment (step) of displacement of 0.1mm in the Y posi- account three failure modes.
tive direction on surface 3.
Table 3 Comparison between tests and FEM resistance
3.4 Contact surface Typology Test Pu,test Pu,ave,test Pu,FEM Pu,test/Pu,FEM
(kN) (kN) (kN)
Four contact surface were identified as the most important: be-
tween the flange and the rigid base, the bolt shank and the hole, the T-W DIC 1 197.7
nut and the rigid base, and the washer and the flange. Only the latter 199.5 203.4 0.98
was assigned with a friction coefficient of 0.2. The other ones have a DIC 2 201.2
0 friction coefficient. Moreover, the contact conditions follow the
small sliding approach. T-FW DIC 1 121.2
119.8 124.8 0.96
DIC 2 118.4
4 Finite element calibration and results

The models were calibrated with the results of each T-stub's experimental tests
T-FP DIC 1 114.8
(Force-displacement curve). Therefore, contact conditions between the bodies 114.15 115.9 0.98
were calibrated using penalty factors known in Ansys as normal stiffness; a value DIC 2 113.5
of 0.01 was used due to the flange was in bending. Table 3 shows the comparison
between the experimental tests and the numerical analyses (FEM) and it can be
seen that the relation between the experimental force (Pu,ave,test) and the FEM
(Pu,FEM) has reached a good agreement. For instance, the minimum and maximum Mode 1: yielding of the flange, see equation 5, Mode 2: Yielding of
value of Pu,ave,test/Pu,FEM are 0.96 and 0.98, respectively. Besides Table 3, Figure the flange and failure of the bolt, see equation 6, Mode 3: failure of
10Figure 10 comparisson between Force vs displacement of experimental and the bolt, see equation 7. After considering these three failure modes,
FEM: a) T-W, b) T-FW and c) T-FP
the mode that governs the failure is the minimum value of the three
modes.
986 |
𝐹Rd,1 = 4 ∙ 𝑀pl,1,Rd /𝑚 (5) centre to the plastic hinge that is located near to the web (see
equation 9 to equation 11 [10]), tf is the thickness of the flange, Fy is
𝐹Rd,2 = (2 ∙ 𝑀𝑝𝑙 ,2,𝑅𝑑 + 𝑛 ∙ ∑ 𝐵𝑅𝑑 )/(𝑚 + 𝑛) (6) the yielding strength of the rolled shape material and 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑓1 ó 2 are
the effective width.
𝐹𝑅𝑑 ,1 = ∑ 𝐵𝑅𝑑 (7)
𝑚T−W = 72.5 − 𝑛 − 3.5 − 0.8 ∙ 11 (9)
𝑀pl,1 ó 2 = 0.25 ∙ 𝑡f 2 ∙ 𝐹y ∙ 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑓1 ó 2 (8)
𝑚T−FW = 72.5 − 𝑛 − 3.5 − 0.8 ∙ 3 (10)
Where ∑ 𝐵𝑅𝑑 is the sum of the resistance of each bolt, n is the
distance of the bolt centre to the border, m is the distance of the bolt 𝑚T−FP = 72.5 − 𝑛 − 3.5 − 6.35 (11)

140

120

100

Force (kN)
80

60
DIC 1
40 DIC 2
20 FEM

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Displacement (mm)

a) b) c)
Figure 10 comparisson between Force vs displacement of experimental and FEM: a) T-W, b) T-FW and c) T-FP

Table 4 Comparisson between tests and FEM stiffness

Typology Test KTEST,INI KFEM,INI TEST/FEM KTEST,POST KFEM,POST TEST/FEM
(kN/mm) (kN/mm) (kN/mm) (kN/mm)

T-W DIC 1 45.2 0.76 4.05 0.96

58.9 4.22
DIC 2 47.2 0.80 4.16 0.99

T-FW DIC 1 28.7 0.62 4.20 0.72

46.2 5.85
DIC 2 49.8 1.10 6.10 1.04

T-FP DIC 1 58.9 1.14 5.85 1.13

51.3 5.18
DIC 2 56.1 1.09 4.11 0.79

Table 5 comparisson of the resistance between tests and Ec-3

Typology Pu,ave,test Pu,EC-3 Pu,ave,test /Pu,EC-3 Failure
(kN) (kN) mode

T-W 199.5 78.7 2.53 1

T-FW 119.8 65 1.84 1

T-FP Not
114.15 - 1
define

As shown in Table 5, the failure mode of the 3 typologies of T-stubs

is the Mode 1. This means that the flange had developed the plastic
deformation before the bolt could fail (fracture of the section). Fur-
thermore, a qualitative comparison was made in Figure 11, Figure Figure 11 Qualitative way of comparing failure mode T-W between test and FEM.
12 and Figure 13.

Figure 12 Qualitative way of comparing failure mode T-FW between test and FEM.
Figure 13 Qualitative way of comparing failure mode T-FP between test and FEM.
About the simulation, the three FEM models show that they repro-
duced the behaviour of their experimental test. Furthermore, they
showed that the flange touches the bolt shank, which provokes the
bolt to work for tension, bending and shear forces. Therefore, in
Figure 14 the shear stress is shown.
a) b) c)
Figure 14 Shear stress in the shank bolt: a) T-W, b) T-FW and c) T-FP
Finally, the results of the Force-displacement curve of the three sim-
ulation are shown in the Figure 15, and the relation between
experimental resistance, stiffness and ductility to the m factor are
shown in Table 6, and there is observed that the the resistance of
the T-W is 67% and 75 % higher than the T-FW and T-FP resistance,
respectively. Besides, the stiffness of the T-FP typology is 18%
higher than the stiffness of the T-FW, and the stiffness of the T-W is
the lowest, 46.2 kN/mm (around 20% lower than the T-FP). About T-
| 987
W ductility is 27% higher than T-FP ductility, and T-FP ductility is
14% higher than T-FW ductility the ductility,
Figure 15 Coparison of the force displacement curves of the three simulation
Table 6 Relation between experimental resistance, stiffness and ducitlity (Du) to m
factor.
Typology Pu,ave,test (kN) K ave,TEST,INI Du (mm) m (mm)
(kN/mm)
T-W 199.5 46.2 24.2 30.2
T-FW 119.8 49.8* 7.95 36.6
T-FP 114.15 57.5 9.1 33.92
*Only the higher value is considered.
5 Conclusions
The experimental tests of three typologies of single T-stub installed
on a rigid base were performed to study their behaviour. Therefore,
the Force-displacement curves were obtained, and the most im-
portant parameters, such as resistance, stiffness and ductility, were
extracted. From those parameters, the following conclusions are
made.
The experimental testing showed that the resistance of the T-W is
higher than the resistance of the T-FW and the T-FP typology. Also,
an inverse correlation between the resistance and the m parameter,
which was calculated analytically, was observed, see Table 6, and
the radius between the web and flange (for T-W) avoids stress con-
centration. Additionally, the resistance of the welded typologies
could have been reduced for the welding process effect, which typi-
cally softens the mechanical properties by around 20%.
The typology of T-FP had the highest initial stiffness among the
three, and a direct correlation between the initial stiffness and the
m factor was observed, see Table 6. Furthermore, the welding pro-
cess could have affected the microstructure and thus increased the
stiffness of the welded configurations. On the other hand, it was ob-
served that the ductility increased while the m parameter de-
creased. Therefore, it seemed that the T-W typology, which has the
smaller value of the m parameter, developed the major ductility of
the three configurations. The T-FP configuration reached a higher
level of ductility between the welded configurations, see Table 6.
The finite element model was calibrated and reproduced with good
accuracy the T-stub behaviour. The three configurations failed ac-
cording to failure mode 1, and the FEM model showed that the
988 |
higher stresses were found near the interface of the web and flange.
Furthermore, It was observed that the analytical model of the EC3
underestimated the resistance of the T-stub. Finally, the FEM model
that is used in this study was developed for an ongoing investigation,
and in new FEM models, the effect of the HAZ must be considered.
[5] Girao, A, et al.; (2013) Experimental assessment of the behaviour
of bolted T-stub connections made up of welded plates. Journal of
structural engineering, 918-928
[6] ANSYS: Mechanical APDL Material Reference; (2020).

Acknowledgements [7] Girão Coelho, A. M. (2004). Characterization of the ductility of

This work has been developed thanks to the funding granted by the
Dirección General de Investigation (DGI) through the funds of the
Annual Project Contest (CAP 2019) of the Pontifical Catholic Uni-
versity of Peru. We also thank the Materials CITE Materials labora-
tory for the facility provided for the development of experimental
tests.
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