• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.353-370
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• 2020

This paper describes a new type of replaceable fuse for moment resisting frames. Column-tree connections with beam splice connections are frequently preferred in the moment resisting frames since they eliminate field welding and provide good quality. In the column-tree connections, a part of the beam is welded to the column in the shop and the rest of the beam is bolted with the splice connection in the field. In this study, a replaceable reduced beam section (R-RBS) connection is proposed in order to eliminate welding process and facilitate assembly at the site. In the proposed R-RBS connection, one end is connected by a beam splice connection to the beam and the other end is connected by a bolted end-plate connection to the column. More importantly is that the proposed R-RBS connection allows the replacement of the damaged R-RBS easily right after an earthquake. Pursuant to this goal, experimental and numerical studies have been undertaken to investigate the performance of the R-RBS connection. An experimental study on the RBS connection was used to substantiate the numerical model using ABAQUS, a commercially available finite element software. Additionally, five different finite element models were developed to conduct a parametric study. The results of the analysis were compared in terms of the moment and energy absorption capacities, PEEQ, rupture and tri-axiality indexes. The design process as well as the optimum dimensions of the R-RBS connections are presented. It was also demonstrated that the proposed R-RBS connection satisfies AISC criteria based on the nonlinear finite element analysis results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.785-808
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• 2016

An innovative Reduced Beam Section (RBS) connection, called Tubular Web RBS connection (TW-RBS), has been recently introduced and its performance has been numerically investigated in some earlier studies. The TW-RBS connection is a kind of accordion-web RBS connection in which part of the flat web of the beam is replaced by a steel tube at the expected region of the plastic hinge. This paper presents experimental results of three TW-RBS connections under cyclic loading. Obtained results indicated that TW-RBS reduces contribution of the beam web to the whole moment strength and creates a ductile fuse far from components of the beam-to-column connection. Besides, TW-RBS connection can increase story drift capacity up to 9% in the case of shallow beams which is much more than those stipulated by the current seismic codes. Based on the experimental results, the tubular web in the plastic hinge region improves lateral-torsional buckling stability of the beam such that only local buckling of the beam flange at the center of the reduced section was observed during the tests. In order to achieve a better understanding, behavior of all TW-RBS specimens are also numerically investigated and compared with those of experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.421-433
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• 2017

Experimental and numerical studies of a newly developed Reduced Beam Section (RBS) connection, called Tubular Web RBS connection (TW-RBS) have been recently conducted. This paper presents experimental and numerical results of extending the plastic hinge length on the beam flange to increase energy dissipation of a proposed version of the TW-RBS connection with two pipes, (TW-RBS(II)), made by replacing a part of flat web with two steel tubular web at the desirable location of the beam plastic hinge. Two deep-beam specimens with two pipes are prepared and tested under cyclic loads. Obtained results reveal that the TW-RBS(II) like its type I, increases story drift capacity up to 6% in deep beam much more than that stipulated by the current seismic codes. Based on test results, the proposed TW-RBS(II) helps to dissipate imposed energy up to 30% more than that of the TW-RBS(I) specimens at the same story drift and also reduces demands at the beam-to-column connection up to 30% by increasing plastic hinge length on the beam flange. The TW-RBS(II) specimens are finally simulated using finite element method showing good agreement with experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.571-583
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• 2017

A kind of accordion-web RBS connection, "Tubular Web RBS (TW-RBS)" connection is proposed in this research. TW-RBS is made by replacing a part of web with a tube at the desirable location of the beam plastic hinge. This paper presents first a numerical study under cyclic load using ABAQUS finite element software. A test specimen is used for calibration and comparison of numerical results. Obtained results indicated that TW-RBS would reduce contribution of the beam web to the whole moment strength and creates a ductile fuse far from components of the beam-to-column connection. Besides, TW-RBS connection can increase story drift capacity up to 9% in the case of shallow beams which is much more than those stipulated by the current seismic codes. Furthermore, the tubular web like corrugated sheet can improve both the out-of-plane stiffness of the beam longitudinal axis and the flange stability condition due to the smaller width to thickness ratio of the beam flange in the plastic hinge region. Thus, the tubular web in the plastic hinge region improves lateral-torsional buckling stability of the beam as just local buckling of the beam flange at the center of the reduced section was observed during the tests. Also change of direction of strain in arc shape of the tubular web section is smaller than the accordion webs with sharp corners therefore the tubular web provides a better condition in terms of low-cycle fatigue than other accordion web with sharp corners.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.503-510
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• 2004

One of the methods improving the seismic behavior of a structure is the frame with reduced beam section (RBS) which cuts a segment of flanges of the beam near the beam-to-column connection so that the section with reduced flanges has smaller flexural strength than the beam end. It is difficult to analyze the RBS frame because RBS portion has circular-cut type flange. And inelastic response of the steel frame with the RBS is very sensitive to the RBS model. In this paper, the analytical models of RBS portion are investigated and the results of the inelastic analysis for RBS analytical models are compared and then the analytical model for RBS is determined based on the results of inelastic analysis. Inelastic behavior of the RBS frame and its dynamic characteristics are investigated for selected analytical model of RBS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.6 s.73
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• pp.833-846
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• 2004

This study presents a non-prismatic beam element for modeling the elastic behavior of steel beams, which have the post-Northridge connections in steel moment frames. The elastic stiffness matrix, including the shear effects for non-prismatic members with reduced beam section (RBS) connection, is in closed form. A simplified approach is also suggested, which uses a prismatic beam element to model beams with the RBS connection. This method can estimate quiteexactly the maximum story drift ratios of frames with the RBS connection. The effects of reduced beam section connection on the elastic stiffness of steel moment frames were investigated. The selection of a proper model to account for deformations at the joint might have a more important role in estimating the maximum story drift ratios of frames with better accuracy than the RBS cutouts.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.863-875
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• 2020

After medium or strong earthquakes, damage in the reduced portion of RBS connections occurs due to plastic deformations. The purpose of this paper is to numerically and experimentally investigate the reduced depth section connection as a replaceable fuse. In this regard, three commonly used rigid connections with RBS, a replaceable fuse with RBS, and a replaceable fuse with Reduced Depth Section (RDS-F) were evaluated. All specimens were subjected to quasi-static cyclic load until failure. Although the final strength of the RDS-F is lower than that of the other two, laboratory results showed that it had the maximum ductility among the three samples. The numerical models of all three laboratory samples were constructed in ABAQUS, and the results were verified with great accuracy. The results of more than 28 numerical analyses showed that the RDS-F sample is more ductile than the other specimens. Moreover, the thickness of the web and the plastic section modulus increasing, the final strength would be equal to the other specimens. Therefore, the modified RDS-F with replaceability after an earthquake can be a better alternative for RBS connections.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.507-528
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• 2016

Reduced beam section (RBS) moment resisting connections are among the most economical and practical rigid steel connections developed in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge and the 1995 Kobe earthquakes. Although the performance of RBS connection has been widely studied, this connection has not been subject to in the skewed conditions. In this study, the seismic performance of dogbone connection was investigated at different angles. The Commercial ABAQUS software was used to simulate the samples. The numerical results are first compared with experimental results to verify the accuracy. Nonlinear static analysis with von Mises yield criterion materials and the finite elements method were used to analyze the behavior of the samples The selected Hardening Strain of materials at cyclic loading and monotonic loading were kinematics and isotropic respectively The results show that in addition to reverse twisting of columns, change in beam angle relative to the central axis of the column has little impact on hysteresis response of samples. Any increase in the angle, leads to increased non-elastic resistance. As for Weak panel zone, with increase of the angle between the beam and the column, the initial submission will take place at a later time and at a larger rotation angle in the panel zone and this represents reduced amount of perpendicular force exerted on the column flange. In balanced and strong panel zones, with increase in the angle between the beam and the central axis of the column, the reduced beam section (RBS), reaches the failure limit faster and at a lower rotation angle. In connection of skewed beam, balanced panel zone, due to its good performance in disposition of plasticity process away from connection points and high energy absorption, is the best choice for panel zone. The ratio of maximum moment developed on the column was found to be within 0.84 to 1 plastic anchor point, which shows prevention of brittle fracture in connections.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1251-1264
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• 2016

After observing relatively poor performance of bolted web-welded flange beam-to-column connections during 1994 Northridge earthquake, various types of connections based on two concepts of: (i) strengthening the connection; and (ii) weakening the beam ends were proposed. Among these modified or newly proposed connections, bolted T-stub connection follows the concept of strengthening. One of the connections with the idea of weakening the beam ends is reduced beam section (RBS). In this paper, finite element simulation is used to study the cyclic behavior of a new proposed connection developed by using a combination of both mentioned concepts. Investigated connections are exterior beam-to-column connections designed to comply with AISC provisions. The results show that moment capacity and dissipated energy of the new proposed connection is almost the same as those computed for a T-stub connection and higher than corresponding values for an RBS connection.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.203-219
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• 2006

One of the most promising ways through which a steel moment frame may attain high energy dissipating capability is to trim off a portion of the beam flanges near the column face. This type of moment connection, known as Reduced Beam Section (RBS) connection, has notable superiority in comparison with other moment connection types. As the result of the advantages of RBS moment connection, it has widely being used in practice. In spite of the good hysteretic behaviour, an RBS beam suffers from an undesirable drawback, which is local and lateral instability of the beam. The instability in the RBS beam reduces beam load-carrying capacity. This paper aims to investigate key issues influencing cyclic behaviour of RBS beams. To this end, a numerical analysis was conducted on a series of steel subassemblies with various geometric properties. The obtained results together with the existing experimental data are used to study the instability of RBS beams. A new slenderness concept is presented to control an RBS beam for combined local and lateral instability. This concept is in good agreement with the numerical and experimental results. Finally, a model is developed for the prediction of the magnitude of moment degradation owing to the instability of an RBS beam.