Experimental and numerical study of the loading rate influence on T-stub performance

The importance of beam-to-column joints in the mechanism of force transmission in steel and steel-concrete composite structures is nowadays well recognized. This central role is even more important when the design is performed under seismic and accidental actions. In this framework, a series of tests on end-plate and column flange T-stubs, modelling a flush end-plate beam-to-column bolted connection, were performed at different displacement rates. In addition, numerical FE models were developed and calibrated against the experimental results. This paper, after an overview of the experimental programme, highlights and discusses the main features and outcomes of the numerical analyses.