Improved Configuration of Weak-Axis Connections in Seismic Steel Moment Frames

Abstract eng:
Steel moment frame buildings have a number of beam-to-column weak axis connections (WACs). Seismic design of moment frame buildings expects these WACs also to accommodate 4-6% drift levels that the building sustains during strong earthquake shaking. Very few studies are reported in literature on seismic behavior of WACs; it is not clear if the current WACs can accommodate these drifts. The configuration of WACs currently in use has major deficiencies, like constrained flow of forces between beam and column. This paper presents an improved beam-to-column WAC configuration, which overcomes many deficiencies present in current WAC configuration. Displacement-based finite element analyses are performed to estimate the drift capacities of current and proposed WACs; the proposed connection is seen to perform much better. .

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