Performance of an Innovative Beam-to-Column Connection under Monotonic and Cyclic Flexural Loading

Abstract eng:
In order to respond to the great demand arising in structural connections during earthquakes, a new beam-to-column connection with high rotational capacity was devised. Due to its ability to contain damage during an overload, it leaves the connected elements intact. This, together with its replaceability can reduce the cost of post-event repair substantially. Its bending as well as shear performance under “monotonic” loading had already been assessed experimentally and proved well superior to that of conventional joints. In order to study its performance under “cyclic” flexural loading experimentally, new bending tests were conducted on mild steel specimens of the connection. These tests clearly showed the ability of the devised joint to withstand adequate number of cycles in bending and dissipate energy through well-shaped hysteresis loops. This would result in large amount of energy being dissipated in each cycle. Such very ductile response of this connection in bending is expected to be exploited in various structures located in earthquake prone areas to give rise to a ductile overall behavior of the structure.

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