Gravity Load-Designed Concealed Wide Beam-Narrow Column Connections: Experimental Assessment of Seismic Response

Abstract eng:
Reinforced concrete (RC) wide concealed beam-narrow column connections represent the predominant structural system of building structures in Lebanon and the region. For a long time, engineers have paid little attention to the seismic design of these connections, despite their critical role in transferring internal forces when subjected to lateral earthquake load. A two-part experimental study is carried out for evaluating the seismic behaviour of these connections. The first part concentrates on the seismic performance of the connections when designed and detailed for gravity loads (as built) in accordance with local design and construction practices, while the second part focus on the seismic behaviour of the same connections when the reinforcement is detailed more properly against earthquake loads. This paper presents the results of two as built full-scale concealed beam-narrow column connections tested in the first part of the investigation. The connections experienced shear failure within the joint core at relatively small drift ratios varying between 1.5% and 2.0%, and before yielding of the beam or column reinforcement. At drift ratios of about 4.0%, corresponding to drift demands of building structures in regions of high seismic hazard, the connections experienced excessive and un-reparable damage within the joint core. The findings of this first part of the investigation guided the second part for introducing more adequate reinforcement detailing for improving the seismic performance of such type of connections.

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