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The paper attempts to evaluate analytically the stiffness and strength characteristics of steel flush endplate connections using inelastic finite element modeling. Theoretical results are compared with experimental observations reported in the literature. ANSYS, ver 4.4 on Pc. a large-scale general-purpose finite-element code is selected for three dimensional (3D) analysis. All major elements influencing the overall response of such connections including column,
beam. bolt components. material plasticity. strain hardening and interaction of endplate and column flange through their contact regions are considered in this framework. The connections are loaded under pure bending moment. The overall moment-rotation behavior, both for hand tight and prestressed initial conditions. is discussed and compared against experimental data.