Effect of Stiffeners on Mechanical Behavior of T-Stubs Based on Experiment and Numerical Simulations

T-stubs are important components in the application of the component method; hence it is crucial to clarify the T-stub mechanism for the analysis of the mechanical properties of steel joints. In this study, the mechanical behavior of T-stubs was assessed via 6 static tests and 18 finite element analysis models. The influences of flange thickness, bolt spacing, bolt diameter, and stiffener rib on initial stiffness, ultimate bearing capacity, and bolt force of T-stubs were analyzed. Furthermore, the development process and relations of the T-stub bolt force with and without stiffeners were analyzed. The results show that an effective stiffener arrangement can reduce the bending moment and prying force to a certain degree; however, offsetting the bending moment and prying force entirely is difficult. Furthermore, the influence of bending moment and prying force on the bearing capacity should be considered in the design.