Semi-rigid composite connection with a partial depth end-plate

The structural behaviour of semi-rigid composite connections with a partial depth end-plate and precast hollowcore slab was investigated by studying moment–rotation diagrams, rotation and bending moment capacities, and induced stresses. The variables considered were the size of the steel beam, the thickness of the lower flange of the beam, the size of column, the number of longitudinal rebars of the concrete slab, and the thickness of the partial depth end-plate. A parametric study was undertaken using the non-linear, three-dimensional, finite-element method, with monotonic loading applied to connections. The results obtained indicate that the thickness of the partial depth end-plate has a great effect on the bending moment capacity of the connection. When the beam size was varied, three failure modes were observed. The variation of beam depth had the greatest effect on the bending moment and rotation capacities. Reduction of the beam lower flange thickness considerably affected the rotation capacity and changed the failure mode in the connection. When the number of longitudinal rebars was increased, the bending moment capacity increased but the rotation capacity showed a slight decrease. For the column, the variation in web thickness had the largest effect. It was shown that it is possible to use a simplified method to predict the bending moment capacity of a semi-rigid composite connection.