Component-based model of the behaviour of flexible end-plate connections at elevated temperatures

This paper describes a component-based model developed to predict the behaviour of flexible end-plate composite connections at elevated temperature. In the model the connection elements are treated as springs with predefined characteristics such as stiffness and strength. By assembling the characteristics of individual elements, the connection response can be predicted with increasing temperatures. Only those parameters representing the stiffness and strength are degraded with increasing temperatures. Comparison of the results from the model with existing test data generated good results especially in the elastic zone. Also, the predicted degradation of the connection stiffness and capacity compares well with the experimental results.