LAUSR

Abstract No research has been performed yet that deals with the characterization of the minor axis of steel joints under out-of-plane bending. As a consequence, a complete description of all the components that become part of a 3D steel joint is not yet available either in scientific journals or current codes. Moreover, it is necessary to identify the behavior of each isolated component that is subjected to in and out of plane effects before studying the interaction among components and the interaction with the loads that act in both the major and minor axis of the joint. The aim of the research described in this paper is to define the behavior of the T-Stub under out of plane bending attached to the column minor axis. In the proposed kind of joint the minor beam is not attached to the column web but to additional plates welded to the column flanges. With the purpose of characterizing this component, two experimental tests have been performed that allow validating the finite element models. Then, a parametric study is performed by varying different characteristics of the joint to check their influence. Through the tests and models the additional plate in bending has appeared to be the most influential component, which is not characterized in the Eurocode 3. Finally, analytical expressions for the initial stiffness and strength of the additional plate of the T-Stub in minor axis under out of plane bending are presented.