evaluating a rigid seismic connection to the minor axis of double i-shaped columns using side plates

Providing a gap between beam and column through parallel side plates on two sides of column and substituting fillet welds for groove welds can do significant savings on expenses and welding inspections. having removed groove welds, side plate connections largely prevent brittle and inflexible behavior in cyclic loads like earthquakes. although the stiffness, rigidity, ductility, and strength of this connection in case of its major axis have already been evaluated and qualified for using in special moment frames, there have been no published studies into the connection through its minor axis so far. in this paper, the behavior of a connection of beam to column’s minor axis with a built-up double i-shaped section, which is common in iran’s construction industry, was evaluated, and its stiffness, rigidity, strength, and ductility was calculated. having verified numerical models with experimental data, six numerical models with various thicknesses of side plates ranging from 12 mm to 20 mm and two beam sections namely ipe300, and 2ipe240 were analyzed via abaqus finite element software. results denoted the satisfactory behavior of these connections, meeting the requirements of aisc in all of the models.