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. Three kinds of analysis were conducted: linear buckling, nonlinear buckling and modified Riks method analysis. The results of FEM analyses were compared with the experimental results. It shows that nonlinear buckling and modified Riks method analyses are more accurate than linear buckling analysis because they employ nonlinear, large-deflection analysis to estimate buckling loads. Moreover, the calculated limit loads from nonlinear buckling and modified Riks method analysis are close. It can be concluded that modified Riks method analysis is most effective for collapse analysis of steel connection under compression. At last, modified Riks method analysis is used to do the parametric studies of the thickness of the pyramid.