Strain distribution in steel base plates under eccentric loads

Abstract

Experiments have been conducted on steel column base plates subjected to eccentric loads and the strain distributions in the base plates at various stages of loading have been determined. The thickness of the base plate and the eccentricity of load have been treated as parameters. Test results for the maximum bending strains, which always occurred at the column-base plate junction on the side of the load, compare reasonably well with those from a finite element analysis. However, the present results for the bending strains in the cantilever portions of the base plates which failed by yielding are greater than those obtained from classical theory, which is, therefore, seen to be conservative for these cases. Longitudinal and lateral strain distributions, strain contour plans, maximum bending strain variation with load, and interaction diagrams are presented and the results discussed.