Although the effect of semi-rigid steel beam-to-column connections on the behaviour of steel frames and their substantial economic benefits are recognized nowadays, many structural analyses still consider connections as either fixed or pinned. For that reasons, there is need to be able the generate moment-rotation responses of semi-rigid connections that can be used for analysis and design proposes. Characteristic of the joints can be found using FEM models. The objective of the analysis was to

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... find moment-rotation curves for beam-to-column joints with flange cleats and compare them to curves obtained from experimental studies. Numerical elastic-plastic 3D finite models was performed in order to establish a numerical analysis method for evaluating deformation of connections. For all joints there were obtained the FE results lightly underestimates results achieved from experiments. Some differences in the initial value of stiffness and resistances indicate the need for further work on improving FEM models. The inclusion of dimensional deviations of the IPE nad HEB sections, variability in the values of the prestressing forces of the bolts and the not centric positions of the bolts in the holes in the FEM model may contribute to increasing the degree of compliance of the results from experimental and numerical analyzes.