Experimental Investigation on RC Exterior Wide Beam-Column Connections Subjected to Cyclic Loading

Abstract eng:
In countries of the Mediterranean area, such as Spain or Italy, it has been a very common practice to use reinforced concrete moment-resisting frames (RCMRF) with wide beam-column connections as the main structural system for resisting lateral seismic loads. Past research has unveiled the vulnerability of this type of system to earthquakes. Especially problematic are the exterior wide beam-column connections. This paper presents preliminary experimental results of a bigger research project aimed at evaluating the vulnerability of the RCMRF with wide beam-column connections built in Spain during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and to develop innovative seismic upgrading strategies based on the use of hysteretic energy dissipators. To this end, two 3/5 scale test models representative of exterior subassemblages in a prototype six-story building were subjected to gravity-load levels typical of those acting during an earthquake, and quasi-static cyclic lateral loads until failure. The specimens exhibited a “strong column-weak beam” type of flexural yielding mechanism. The average drift ratios at first yielding of the wide beam longitudinal reinforcement and at failure were 2.2% and 4.5%, respectively.

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