Frantisek Wald – Benchmark cases for advanced design of structural steel connections

The CBFEM (component-based finite element model) is a new method to analyze and design connections of steel structures. The design focused CM (component model) is compared to FEM (finite elements models).

The publication introduces Benchmark Cases for Validation and Verification procedures of structural steel joints. The hierarchy of the System response quantity is prepared for welded and bolted connections as well as for column bases.

Each Benchmark Case starts with the task description and includes results of prediction by the analytical model according to EN 1993-1-5, references to experiments, validated model and numerical experiments, results of prediction by design Finite Element Analyses described in terms of global behavior and verification of resistance.

At the end of the publication, the reader may check his calculation on Benchmark cases prepared for the particular joint. Finite Element Analyses is a current step in design of steel connections, which allows to predict the generally loaded joints with a complex geometry with the same efficiency and accuracy as the traditionally designed connections based on the best engineering practice. Implementation of the FEA models for the structural steel detailing creates the qualitative step as we may see in other areas of engineering.

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