Applicability of finite element method to collapse analysis of steel connection under compression

Zhou, Z.; Nishida, Akemi  ; Kuwamura, Hitoshi*

It is often necessary to study the collapse behavior of steel connections. In this study, the limit load of the steel pyramid-to-tube socket connection subjected to uniform compression was investigated by means of FEM and experiment. The steel connection was modeled using 4-node shell element. Three kinds of analysis were done:linear buckling analysis, nonlinear buckling analysis and Riks method analysis. For linear buckling analysis uniform pressure was loaded directly. For nonlinear buckling analysis uniform pressure was loaded gradually and nonlinear material properties and large displacement were considered. For Riks method analysis uniform pressure was loaded by using the modified Riks method, and nonlinear material properties and large displacement were considered. The results of FEM analysis were compared with the experimental results. It can be concluded that arc length analysis is most suitable for collapse analysis of steel connection under compression.