Prediction of the degradation of connection characteristics at elevated temperature

This paper describes a simple procedure developed to predict the moment-rotation response of connections at elevated temperatures. It is based on the actual degradation of connection rotational stiffness and strength based on results obtained from the experimental tests. These tests were conducted on a range of connection sizes and types. The rate of degradation of connection characteristics is compared with the strength reduction factors of structural steel according to the EC3: Part 1.2 recommendations. This procedure predicts with reasonable accuracy the degradation of stiffness and the strength of bare-steel connections, but it overestimates to some extent the rate of degradation of strength of composite connections.