• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.393-411
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• 2013

In the analysis and design of reinforced concrete frames beam-column joints are sometimes assumed as rigid. This simplifying assumption can be unsafe because it is likely to affect the distributions of internal forces and moments, reduce drift and increase the overall load-carrying capacity of the frame. This study is concerned with the relevance of shear deformation of beam-column joints, in particular of exterior ones, on the quasi-static behavior of regular reinforced concrete sway frames. The included parametric studies of a simple sub-frame model reveal that the quasi-static monotonic behavior of unbraced regular reinforced concrete frames is prone to be significantly affected by the deformation of beam-column joints.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.10 no.sup3
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• pp.87-96
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• 2016

This numerical study investigated the effects of different reinforcing details in beam-column joints on the blast resistance of the joints. Due to increasing manmade and/or natural high rate accidents such as impacts and blasts, the resistance of critical civil and military infrastructure or buildings should be sufficiently obtained under those high rate catastrophic loads. The beam-column joint in buildings is one of critical parts influencing on the resistance of those buildings under extreme events such as earthquakes, impacts and blasts. Thus, the details of reinforcements in the joints should be well designed for enhancing the resistance of the joints under the events. Parameters numerically investigated in this study include diagonal, flexural, and shear reinforcing steel bars. The failure mechanism of the joints could be controlled by the level of tensile stress of reinforcing steel bars. Among various reinforcing details in the joints, diagonal reinforcement in the joints was found to be most effective for enhancing the resistance under blast loads. In addition, shear reinforcements also produced favourable effects on the blast resistance of beam-column joints.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.579-597
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• 2006

The behaviour of reinforced concrete moment resisting frame structures in recent earthquakes all over the world has highlighted the consequences of poor performance of beam column joints. Large amount of research carried out to understand the complex mechanisms and safe behaviour of beam column joints has gone into code recommendations. This paper presents critical review of recommendations of well established codes regarding design and detailing aspects of beam column joints. The codes of practice considered are ACI 318M-02, NZS 3101: Part 1:1995 and the Eurocode 8 of EN 1998-1:2003. All three codes aim to satisfy the bond and shear requirements within the joint. It is observed that ACI 318M-02 requires smaller column depth as compared to the other two codes based on the anchorage conditions. NZS 3101:1995 and EN 1998-1:2003 consider the shear stress level to obtain the required stirrup reinforcement whereas ACI 318M-02 provides stirrup reinforcement to retain the axial load capacity of column by confinement. Significant factors influencing the design of beam-column joints are identified and the effect of their variations on design parameters is compared. The variation in the requirements of shear reinforcement is substantial among the three codes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.867-883
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• 2011

Six reinforced concrete beam-column joint specimens were constructed and tested under reverse cyclic loading to failure. The six specimens were divided into three groups, each group representing a different joint design. The main objectives of this study are to investigate the response of joints with three different design, reinforcement detailing and beam strengths, and to evaluate and compare the responses of beam-column joints reinforced with traditional steel rebar and a recently proposed steel reinforcement called prefabricated cage system (PCS). Each of the three test specimen designs included equivalent amount of steel reinforcement and had virtually identical details. The results of the research show that the PCS reinforced joints had a slightly higher strength and significantly larger deformation capacity than the equivalent rebar reinforced joints.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.1017-1038
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• 2015

This paper presents a strengthening method that involves the use of ferrocement jackets and chamfers to relocate plastic hinge for non-seismically designed reinforced concrete exterior beam-column joints. An experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the proposed strengthening method. Four half-scale beam-column joints, including one control specimen and three strengthened specimens, were prepared and tested under quasi-static cyclic loading. Strengthening schemes include ferrocement jackets with or without skeleton reinforcements and one or two chamfers. Experimental results have indicated that the proposed strengthening method is effective to move plastic hinge from the joint to the beam and enhance seismic performance of beam-column joints. Shear stress and distortion within the joint region are also reduced significantly in strengthened specimens. Skeleton reinforcements in ferrocement provide limited improvement, except on crack control. Specimen strengthened by ferrocement jackets with one chamfer exhibits slight decrease in peak strength and energy dissipation but with increase in ductility as compared with that of two chamfers. Finally, a method for estimating moment capacity at beam-column interface for strengthened specimen is developed. The proposed method gives reasonable prediction and can ensure formation of plastic hinge at predetermined location in the beam.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-74
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• 2018

Generally, beam-column joints are taken into account as rigid in assessment of seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Experimental and numerical studies have proved that ignoring nonlinearities in the joint core might crucially affect seismic performance of RC structures. On the other hand, to improve seismic behaviour of such structures, several strengthening techniques of beam-column joints have been studied and adopted in practical applications. Among these strengthening techniques, the application of FRP materials has extensively increased, especially in case of exterior RC beam-column joints. In current paper, to simulate the inelastic response in the core of RC beam-column joints strengthened by FRP sheets, a practical joint model has been proposed so that the effect of FRP sheets on characteristics of an RC joint were considered in principal tensile stress-joint rotation relations. To determine these relations, a combination of experimental results and a mechanically-based model has been developed. To verify the proposed model, it was applied to experimental specimens available in the literature. Results revealed that the model could predict inelastic response of as-built and FRP strengthened joints with reasonable precision. The simple analytic procedure and the use of experimentally computed parameters would make the model sufficiently suitable for practical applications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.655-661
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• 2007

A new steel connection method using wedges known as Self-Locking Connector has been developed. In this study, experimental investigation was conducted to verify the seismic performance of steel beam-to-column joints with Self-Locking Connectors. Cyclic-loading tests were performed on two beam-to-column joints with Self-Locking Connectors. The two beam-to-column joint specimens were of the cantilever-type and had the same details. Test results showed that beam-to-column joints with Self-Locking Connectors were able to developa total rotation capacity of 0.06 radian, which is greater than the 0.04 radian required for Special Moment Frames. Moreover, their energy absorption capacity was much greater than that of conventional joints.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2020

The top-and-seat angles with double web angles are commonly used in the design of beam-to-column joints in Asian and North American countries. The seismic behavior analysis of these joints with large cross-section size of beam and column (often connected by four or more bolts) is a challenge due to the effects from the relatively larger size of stiffened angles and the composite action from the adjacent concrete slab. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the seismic performance of exterior composite beam-to-column joints with stiffened angles under cyclic loading. Four full-scale composite joints with different configuration (only one specimen contain top angle in concrete slab) were designed and tested. The joint specimens were designed by considering the effects of top angles, longitudinal reinforcement bars and arrangement of bolts. The behavior of the joints was carefully investigated, in terms of the failure modes, slippage, backbone curves, strength degradation, and energy dissipation abilities. It was found that the slippage between top-and-seat angles and beam flange, web angle and beam web led to a notable pinching effect, in addition, the ability of the energy dissipation was significantly reduced. The effect of anchored beams on the behavior of the joints was limited due to premature failure in concrete, the concrete slab that closes to the column flange and upper flange of beam plays an significant role when the joint subjected to the sagging moment. It is demonstrated that the ductility of the joints was significantly improved by the staggered bolts and welded longitudinal reinforcement bars.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.297-317
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• 2016

Current codes recommend large amounts of shear reinforcement for reinforced concrete beam-column joints that causes significant bar congestion. Increase in congestion of shear reinforcement in joint core (connection zone), leads to increase accomplishment problems. The congestion may also lead to diameter limitations on the beam bars relative to the joint dimensions. Using double headed studs instead of conventional closed hoops in reinforced concrete beam-column joints reduces congestion and ensures easier assembly of the reinforcing cage. The purpose of this research is evaluating the efficiency of the proposed reinforcement. In this way, 10 groups of exterior beam-column joints are modeled. Each group includes 7 specimens by different reinforcing details in their joint core. All specimens are modeled by using of ABAQUS and analyzed subjected to cyclic loading. After verification of analytical modeling with an experimental specimen, 3D nonlinear specimens are modeled and analyzed. Then, the effect of amount and arrangement of headed studs on ductility, performance, ultimate strength and energy absorption has been studied. Based on the results, all joints reinforced with double headed studs represent better performance compared with the joints without shear transverse reinforcement in joints core. The behavior of the former is close to joints reinforced with closed hoops and cross ties according to the seismic design codes. By adjusting the arrangement of double-headed studs, the decrease in ductility, performance, ultimate moment resistant and energy absorption reduce to 2.61%, 0.90%, 0.90% and 1.66% respectively compared with the joints reinforced by closed hoops on the average. Since the use of headed studs reduces accomplishment problems, these amounts are negligible. Therefore, use of double-headed studs has proved to be a viable option for reinforcing exterior beam-column joints.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2012

In recent years, many high-rise buildings have been constructed in irregular structural system with inclined columns, which may have effect on the structural behavior of beam-column joints. Since the external load leads to shear and flexural forces on the inclined columns in different way from those on the conventional vertical columns, failure mode, resistant strength, and ductility capacity of the inclined column-beam joints may be different than those of the perpendicular beam-column joints. In this study, six RC inclined beam-column joint specimens were tested. The main parameter of the specimens was the angle between axes of the column and beam (90, 67.5, and 45 degree). Test results indicated that the structural behavior of conventional perpendicular beam-column joint was different to that of the inclined beam-column joints, due to different loading conditions between inclined and perpendicular beam-column joints. Both upper and lower columns of perpendicular beam-column joints were subjected to compressive force, while the upper and lower columns of the inclined beam-column joints were subjected to tensile and compressive forces, respectively.