Keywords: steel, cold-formed, columns, base connections, bolted moment connections, portal frames, ANSYS.

Angle base connections are one of the most widely used base connections of cold formed columns because of their simplified fabrication, good overall performance and cost effectiveness compared with other connection types. This connection is fabricated from cold formed channels and bolted angle cleats. This paper presents a study of the behaviour of base connections with different cold formed column sections and different base details. To achieve the desired analysis, the well-established ANSYS software is used as a calculation tool to develop three dimensional finite element models for the studied cases. The stiffer angle cleats are used to prevent premature failure of the investigated base connections. Different frame sections are analyzed such as; single channel and double channels connected back-to-back or as box section with bolted moment connections. A total of twenty-one study cases of frames with different details of bolted moment connection were analyzed under the effect of lateral loading. A parametric study for the problem of the base connection of cold formed portal frames is accomplished. Among the different parameters considered in the analysis are the shape of column sections; thickness of angles, bolt diameters as well as the number of rows of bolts connected to the column with the angle cleats. The study shows that, the stiffness and performance of the column base connections has a significant effect on the structural behaviour of the frames using the load-deflection and moment resistance ratio-rotation curves of the connections.

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