Mechanical characteristics of flange joints for corrugated steel plate: Experiment and simulation

This paper shows the results of full-scale tests conducted to investigate the mechanical behavior of flange joints for corrugated steel plate. The observed failure mode was local buckling of the flange plate. The moment-rotation response, deformation characteristic and strain distribution are presented and analyzed. A finite element model was established and verified with the test results, and used to perform a parametric study of key parameters. The influence of the bolt diameter, flange plate thickness and axial force on the initial stiffness, yield moment and failure mode are discussed. The failure mode can be classified into three types: flange plate buckling, bolt failure, and corrugated plate yielding. Additionally, an equation for the yield moment is proposed based on the yield line mechanism and numerical results. The proposed equation provides good accuracy, whereas the yield moment is conservatively estimated by Eurocode 3. •Full-scale tests of flange joints for corrugated steel plate were conducted.•The bending behavior and failure mode were investigated.•A finite element model was established and parametric study was performed.•An equation for yield moment is proposed using yield line mechanism.