Experimental study on bolted-cover plate corner connections for column-supported modular steel buildings

Abstract

The fast and reliable connection between modules plays an essential role in modular steel buildings to ensure the structure's integrity. Using complete bolt assembly can better improve the efficiency of on-site construction. To study the seismic ductility reduction of connections and obtain the measures suitable for protecting the beam-column weld in connections, full-scale experiments on the connections were carried out under monotonic and cyclic loading. The failure modes, the static and hysteretic performance of the connections were manifested. The experimental results indicated the satisfactory flexural performance and the excellent energy dissipation capacity of the bolted-cover plate connections. Earthquake action would significantly reduce the ductility of connections. Both diagonal braces and flange reinforcement could dramatically improve the connection's stiffness and bearing capacity, while the flange reinforcement has better hysteretic performance than the diagonal braces reinforcement. The yield energy dissipation of the beam flange contributes most to that of the connection. These experimental studies can provide a reference in the practical design of bolted connections for modular steel buildings.