Behaviour of semi-rigid steelwork connections of I-section beams to tubular columns

This paper reviews the use of semi-rigid site connections between I-section beams and tubular columns and also presents new analyses and test data on the behaviour of a particular type of semi-rigid connection, the double angle bolted connection. The connections reviewed are those made on site and can be characterised as plastic, semi-continuous and partial strength. They have important applications in practice because of their economy and because of the many cases where tubular columns are required to develop frame action, for example because cross-bracing has to be excluded. Although much of this data already exists for open section columns, such as H-section columns, very little data exists on the behaviour of tubular columns. Similar types of semi-rigid connections, using H-section columns, have been used in traditional American and British practice to develop frame action against wind forces. In the present paper, the use of frames with tubular columns is presented not only as a means of resisting wind forces but also of absorbing seismic forces in zones of moderate activity