FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF

BOLTED COLUMN BASE

CONNECTION WITHOUT AND
WITH STIFFENERS*
*Authors: Ali Karbakhsh Ravari, Ismali Bin Othman and Zainah Binti Ibrahim

Presented By:

Dianne Berame, Kristane Grace Chua, Johnson Sambrano

CE255P-D05

2nd term, 2019-2020

ABSTRACT
Column base plates are analyzed and designed on the assumption that the plate is rigid and its thickness is
determined from the cantilever action of the plate. The plate thickness for column base plate with stiffeners is determined by
considering the bending action and parameters that define the boundaries. The adequacy of the present provision on the
design procedures of base plates with stiffeners and the degree of rigidity of the connection with foundation are investigated
in the research. Laboratory tests for axial load with moment were performed and compared it with the results in the finite
element analysis which created a good agreement between the two method.

KEY WORDS: Finite Element Analysis, steel connection, column base plate, rotational stiffness, rigidity, axial load,
moment, cantilever action

I. INTRODUCTION
The design procedure of column base plate is based on the assumption that the base plate is rigid and
the pressure distribution under the plate due to applied loads is linear. The effects of stiffeners in the base plate
behavior are investigated in this research.
First, is the extent of the flexural stresses in base plate is reduced. Second, is the column base plate
deformation and the influence of its connection ithe global frame system. The rotational behavior is usually
classified under as pinned connection or fully rigid. In this research, the base plate thickness and rigidity is taken
under consideration and the stiffness of its connection is important to come up with a relatively accurate results
for structural deflection.

According to the previous researchers (Di Sarno et al., 2007; Targowski et al., 1993), the pressure
distribution is higher in the region where the column directly sits down on the plate. This could result in a lower
plate deflections and moments.

There are cases in which the column bases classified as hinges often possess significant rotational
stiffness and cases in the column bases classified as rigid may exhibit considerable deformation. For the present
design provisions, it is not yet clear to what extent the thickness can be decreased satisfying the allowable
stresses and how the thickness will affect the connection behavior

Structural model of the experimental unstiffened base plate is constructed and analytical investigation
is carried out using finite element method. It is shown that adding stiffeners to column base plates contributes to
a more rigid connection. The thickness of the plate, the stiffeners, the bolts size and length will tell its
significant later on in counteracting the forces providing a more stable and rigid structural member.

II. METHODOLOGY

1. By using a finite element computer program, the three-dimensional modeled for the analysis of the
column base plate consisted of the column stub, base plate, with stiffeners, without stiffeners, and
anchor bolts. The concrete foundation for the steel plate transmitts compression stresses to foundation.
Considering this, material non-linearity is taken under consideration and providing us the stiffness
element formula of

K = (EcAc)/h [Eq 1]

Where:

Ec is the young modulus of the concrete

Ac is the mean area of concrete parallel to the plate

h is the height of concrete foundation

2. (Attached photo of figure 2) See figure. Designed based on the Iranian structural steel specifications
and then, finite element analysis. Flexural stresses computed from the finite analysis were much
smaller than the code design stresses
3. A non standard column 2IPE180 normal length with column base plate with dimensions
450x450x31mm based on the design provision has been selected. The three dimensional analysis of the
column base plate connection considering the stiffness of elements under the plate based on the Eq. 1
has resulted in flexural stresses with a magnitude of 51 Mpa
4. (Attached photo of figure 1) Plate is divided into four regions for analysis. The assumption was rigid.
5. Numerical analysis shown that the anchor bolt hole in this region does not have any effect on the
overall-plate behavior and thickness. Also, adding stiffeners around four sides of the column base plate
will increase its rigidity and the plate thickness can be reduced considerably when axial forces are
present.