Simplified design of moment end-plate connections

Moment end-plate connections are widely used in the metal building industry and portal frame construction. This is due to the advantages of the field-bolted construction and excellent performance of moment end-plate connections. These connections have been studied extensively. Yield-line analysis has been used to predict the strength of the end-plate, and a modified Kennedy method has been used to predict the strength of the bolts. These analysis procedures have proven quite accurate. The major drawback is that the calculations involved in the modified Kennedy method are long and complex.

In this study, an alternative and simplified method of design for five configurations of moment end-plate is presented. To determine the connection capacity based on bolt strength, the concept of the number of effective bolts is employed. The connection capacity based on the end-plate strength is calculated by making use of the tee stub analogy. Comparisons are made between the simplified method and the yieldline and modified Kennedy based methods. Also, comparisons are made between the simplified method and a method proposed by Borgsmiller and Murray (1995). Design recommendations are given, and design examples are presented.