Cellular beam end-posts with two connection types, end notches and infill plates

Abstract

A series of 6 shear and bending tests was carried out on end-posts to cellular beams using nominally simply supported end-plate and fin–plate connections in order to determine the shear resistance of the end-posts in comparison with design predictions to EN 1993-1-13. The tests also included end-posts without and with notches to the beam flanges and openings with half infill plates. The cellular beams were 560 mm deep with 400 mm diameter openings.

The test with a narrow end-post connected to a bolted fin-plate failed by in-plane bending of the end-post whereas the same test with an end-plate failed by Vierendeel bending at the first opening at 2% higher load. The tests with a narrow end-post and notches to the flanges failed at 86% and 90% of the equivalent test without notches. The test with a half infill plate failed by buckling of the plate at 22 to 26% higher load than the narrow end-post. In all cases, the failure loads were significantly higher than the design predictions using measured properties.