Component-based model of fin plate connections exposed to fire-part II: Establishing of the component-based model

Abstract To establish a component-based model for a fin plate connection exposed to fire, to be used for the fire resistance analysis of an entire structure, the plate in bearing component was investigated omitting friction in the study reported in the previous companion paper. In this study, the bolt in shear component and fiction component are investigated and a component-based model of fin plate connection is established and verified. Firstly, the threaded bolt in shear component omitting friction is examined; a three-dimensional solid finite element analysis of the parameters affecting the properties of the component is performed - including bolt diameter, plate thickness and temperature. Then a prediction model for the resistance and initial stiffness of the bolt in shear component is proposed and the force-deflection function for the component is established. A finite element analysis of the friction in the lap joint was performed for determining the relationship between the friction component and the plate in bearing component and establishing the component-based model for the fin plate connection. Finally, the component-based model for the fin plate behaviour was employed for simulating the performance of the connection exposed to fire and subjected to complex forces. The simulation result exhibited a satisfactory fit with the results of the 3-D solid finite element simulation, which verified the accuracy of the component-based model. The simulation time also decreased from several days to several seconds.