• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.681-697
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• 2019

This paper numerically assesses the initial stiffness and moment capacity of stainless steel composite bolted joints with concrete-filled circular tubular (CFCT) columns. By comparing with existing design codes including EN 1993-1-8 and AS/NZS 2327, a modified component method was proposed to better predict the flexural performance of joints involving circular columns and curved endplates. The modification was verified with independent experimental results. A wide range of finite element models were then developed to investigate the elastic deformations of column face in bending which contribute to the corresponding stiffness coefficient. A new design formula defining the stiffness coefficient of circular column face in bending was proposed through regression analysis. Results suggest that a factor for the stiffness coefficient of endplate in bending should be reduced to 0.68, and more contribution of prying forces needs to be considered. The modified component method and proposed formula are able to estimate the structural behaviour with reasonable accuracy. They are expected to be incorporated into the current design provisions as supplementary for beam-to-CFCT column joints.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.443-455
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• 2009

The use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement in concrete structures has been on the rise due to its advantages over conventional steel reinforcement such as corrosion. Reinforcing steel corrosion has been the primary cause of deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, resulting in tremendous annual repair costs. One application of FRP reinforcement to be further explored is its use in RC frames. Nonetheless, due to FRP's inherently elastic behavior, FRP-reinforced (FRP-RC) members exhibit low ductility and energy dissipation as well as different damage mechanisms. Furthermore, current design standards for FRP-RC structures do not address seismic design in which the beam-column joint is a key issue. During an earthquake, the safety of beam-column joints is essential to the whole structure integrity. Thus, research is needed to gain better understanding of the behavior of FRP-RC structures and their damage mechanisms under seismic loading. In this study, two full-scale beam-column joint specimens reinforced with steel and GFRP configurations were tested under quasi-static loading. The control steel-reinforced specimen was detailed according to current design code provisions. The GFRP-RC specimen was detailed in a similar scheme. The damage in the two specimens is characterized to compare their performance under simulated seismic loading.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.635-645
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• 2018

Beam-column joints play a significant role in static and dynamic performances of reinforced concrete frame structures. This study contributes a numerical approach of topologically optimal design of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) to retrofit existing beam-column connections with crack patterns. In recent, CFRP is used commonly in the rehabilitation and strengthening of concrete members due to the remarkable properties, such as lightweight, anti-corrosion and simplicity to execute construction. With the target to provide an optimal CFRP configuration to effectively retrofit the beam-column connection under semi-failure situation such as given cracks, extended finite element method (X-FEM) is used by combining with multi-material topology optimization (MTO) as a mechanical description approach for strong discontinuity state to mechanically model cracked structures. The well founded mathematical formulation of topology optimization problem for cracked structures by using multiple materials is described in detail in this study. In addition, moved and regularized Heaviside functions (MRHF), that have the role of a filter in multiple materials case, is also considered. The numerical example results illustrated in two cases of beam-column joints with stationary cracks verify the validity, benefit and supremacy of the proposed method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.823-837
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• 2023

This paper presents the seismic performance of seven beam-column joints with an eccentricity between beam depths under cyclic loadings. The failure modes of the panel zone were divided into two types. One was the shear force failure that appeared in the entire panel zone (SFEPZ), the other was the shear force failure that appeared in the partial panel zone (SFPPZ). Seven finite element models were established using multi-scale methods. Compared with the experimental specimens, the hysteretic loops exhibited a similar trend. The multi-scale models could accurately simulate the experimental results. Furthermore, the calculation formulas of yield and plastic shear capacity of unequal-depth joints with outer annular stiffener were proposed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.119-133
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• 2017

Several theoretical and analytical formulations for the prediction of shear strength in reinforced concrete (RC) beam-to-column joints have been recently developed. Some of these predictive models are included in the most recent seismic codes and currently used in practical design. On the other hand, the influence of the stiffness and strength degradations in RC joints on the seismic performance of RC framed buildings has been only marginally studied, and it is generally neglected in practice-oriented seismic analysis. To investigate such influence, this paper proposes a numerical description for representing the cyclic response of RC exterior joints. This is then used in nonlinear numerical simulations of RC frames subjected to earthquake loading. According to the proposed strategy, RC joints are modelled using nonlinear rotational spring elements with strength and stiffness degradations and limited ductility under cyclic loading. The proposed joint model has been firstly calibrated against the results from experimental tests on 12 RC exterior joints. Subsequently, nonlinear static and dynamic analyses have been carried out on two-, three- and four-storey RC frames, which represent realistic existing structures designed according to old standards. The numerical results confirm that the global seismic response of the analysed RC frames is strongly affected by the hysteretic damage in the beam-to-column joints, which determines the failure mode of the frames. This highlights that neglecting the effects of joints damage may potentially lead to non-conservative seismic assessment of existing RC framed structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.649-665
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• 2009

This paper reports part of a comprehensive research study conducted at the University of Queensland on the ability of CFRP web-bonded systems in strengthening an exterior beam-column joint subjected to monotonic loads. One 1/2.2 scaled plain and four CFRP repaired/retrofitted joints subjected to monotonic loads were analysed using the nonlinear finite-element program ANSYS and the results were calibrated against experiments. The ANSYS model was employed in order to account for tension stiffening in concrete after cracking and a modified version of the Hognestad's model was used to model the concrete compressive strength. The stress-strain properties of main steel bars were modelled using multilinear isotropic hardening model and the FRPs were modelled as anisotropic materials. A perfect bond was assumed as nodes were shared between adjacent elements irrespective of their type. Good agreement between the numerical predictions and the experimental observation of the failure mechanisms for all specimens were observed. Closeness of these results proved that the numerical analysis can be used by design engineers for the analysis of web-bonded FRP strengthened beam-column joints with confidence.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-58
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• 2009

Composite joints, considering the composite action of steel and concrete, exhibit, in general, high strength and high ductility. As a consequence, the use of this type of joint has been increasing in many countries, especially in those that are located in earthquake-prone regions. In this paper, a hysteretic model with pinching is presented that is able to reproduce the cyclic response of steel and composite joints. Secondly, the computer implementation and adaptation of the model in a spring element within the computer code Seismosoft is described. The model is subsequently calibrated using a series of experimental test results for composite joints subjected to cyclic loading. Finally, typical parameters for the various joint configurations are proposed.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.501-504
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• 1999

Recently, composite structural systems have been developed actively due to its structural advantages of combining different materials. The objective of this paper is to investigate the structural behavior of moment connection in composite structures which consist of steel beams and reinforced concrete columns. In this study, three 1/2 scale joint specimens were tested under reversal loads. The results showed that beam-column joints maintain ductility, strength and exhibit excellent energy-dissipating capacity when subjected to inelastic deformations under reversal load.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.393-408
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• 2007

This paper presents the findings of an experimental study to evaluate retrofit methods which address particular weaknesses that are often found in reinforced concrete structures, especially older structures, namely the lack of the required flexural and shear reinforcement within the columns and the lack of the required shear reinforcement within the joints. Thus, the use of a high-strength fiber jacket for cases of post-earthquake and pre-earthquake retrofitting of columns and beam-column joints was investigated experimentally. In this paper, the effectiveness of the two jacket styles was also compared.

• KCI Concrete Journal
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 1999

An experimental study was performed on the Pull-out behavior of 90-deg standard hooks from the exterior beam-column connections. the effects of the number of hooked bars and fiber reinforcement of the joint area were investigated with the following conclusions : (1) Under the pull-out action of hooked bars. the damage and cracking of joint area the number of hooks pulling out from a joint increases; (2) Substitution of the transverse column (confining) reinforcement with steel fibers at the joint region effectively reduces the extent of cracking in exterior joints caused by the pull-out of hooked bars; (3) The pull-out strength and post-peak ductility of hooked bars are adversely influenced by the increase in number of hooks pulling out from an exterior joint. Current hooked bar anchorage design guidelines may be improved by considering the effect of the number of hooked bars on anchorage conditions at the exterior joints; and (4) The strength and ductility of hooked bars under pull-out forces are positively influenced by substituting the conventional confining reinforcement of exterior joints with steel fibers . The application of steel fibers to the exterior joints is an effective technique for improving the anchorage conditions of hooked bars, and also for reducing the congestion of reinforcement in the beam-column connections.