Experimental and numerical investigations on the T‐stub component made of S690 & S960 steel grades

Abstract
In the framework of a RFCS European project entitled Connect4C aiming at developing demountable and adaptable joint solutions to enhance the reuse of steel structural members, several experimental campaigns assessing the behaviour of joint components made of High‐Strength Steel were conducted. In particular, within this project, T‐stub components made of S690 and S960 steel grades have been analytically, numerically and experimentally studied with the objectives of (i) investigating the accuracy of the existing design rules as proposed in EN1993‐1‐8 and, if required, (ii) to adapt to latter to allow for the characterisation of T‐stubs made of such high strength steel grades.
The paper presents the so‐conducted investigations. After a review of the current design codes and latest research models predicting the resistance of T‐stub components, a detailed description of the performed experimental tests and of the associated results is proposed. Then, the laboratory tests are reproduced in Abaqus and validated against the experiment evidence. Afterwards, an extensive parametrical study is conducted to investigate the influence of key parameters on the T‐stub behaviour. Finally, the so‐obtained results are compared to analytical predictions obtained using the EN1993‐1‐8 recommendations.