Modeling of Cyclic Moment‐Rotation Response of Double‐Angle Connections

Abstract

The paper presents a mechanical model to simulate the behavior of double‐angle connections subjected to large inelastic cyclic bending. The model is purely mechanical and as input needs only the stress‐strain law of the material and the geometric properties of the connection. The connection is simulated by a series of rigid and deformable elements where the constitutive relationship of the deformable elements is derived from the response of beam elements subjected to bending. Boundary nonlinearities arising from reversed contacts are taken into account by means of a gap element. By using the kinematic hardening rule the model is extended into the cyclic range. The comparison of numerical predictions and the experimental results proved the capability of the model to simulate the inelastic cyclic response of steel double‐angle connections subjected to reversed bending.