Keywords: Khorjini, semi-rigid, scissors connection, peripheral plate, saddle like connection, rigid connection, rigid joint.

A type of saddle-like connection, generally called "Khorjini Connections", is a typical connection widely used in Iran, for more than a decade. Since these connections have been imperfect, considerable research has been conducted towards their enhancement. In recent years some improved details of "Rigid Khorjini Connections" have been established. Finally two types of "Rigid Khorjini Connections" have been specified in the "Draft of the Design and Construction Code for Building with Khorjini Connections", in Iran [4]. Researchers have shown that typical Khorjini Connections do not have a desired behaviour under seismic loads, although the behaviour could be improved by modification measures. They have also recommended that, similar to the standard connection [1,2,3], the Khorjini Connections could be classified in three groups (Scissors Like, Semi-Rigid Scissors Like, and Rigid).

Finally two types of "Simple Khorjini Connections" and two types of "Rigid Khorjini Connections" have been specified in the "Draft of the Design and Construction Code for Building with Khorjini Connections", in Iran [4]. However, there are some difficulties in formation of the rigid types. In this manner, authors have presented two different types of "Rigid Khorjini Connections". Type 1 named the "Rigid Khorjini Connection with Peripheral Angles" was previously presented by the authors [5].

In this paper, an improved Rigid Khorjini Connection has been proposed along with its analysis. The proposed connection, the "Rigid Khorjini Connection with Stiffened Peripheral Plates", consists of a lower peripheral plate, stiffened by triangular plates, and a similar upper peripheral stiffened plates. The models have been studied using the finite element method. At first, an experimental sample, incorporated in the Code [4] has been modelled considering identical conditions to the original experiment. The outcome has been compared with the experimental results. Subsequently, the proposed connection has been modelled.

Based on these studies it is the authors' belief that this type of connection has certain advantages such as simplicity in construction, as well as maintaining the desired stiffness and ductility. Therefore it is proposed that this connection should be considered as a "Rigid Connection" in the "Iranian National Code" as well as in the "International Codes".

1

Foroughi, M., and Zahedi, M., "Study of Khorjini Connections and computer modeling", Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, 1992.

2

Foroughi, M., Zahedi, M., and Barkhordari, M., "Study of Khorjini Connections and present a method for designing", Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, 1993.

3

Foroughi, M., "Study of Khorjini Connections and present special rules for designing them for the cases of Scissors Like and Rigid behavior", The University of Yazd, Yazd, 1999.

4

Draft of Design and Construction Code for Building with Khorjini Connection, Bhrc, March 2004.

5

M.A. Barkhordari and M. Foroughi, "An Improved Saddle-Like Connection for Steel Structures", in Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Computational Structures Technology, B.H.V. Topping, G. Montero and R. Montenegro, (Editors), Civil-Comp Press, Stirlingshire, United Kingdom, paper 115, 2006. doi:10.4203/ccp.83.115

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