• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.727-745
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• 2018

The design criteria and the corresponding performance levels characterize the response of extended stiffened end-plate beam-to-column joints. In order to guarantee a ductile behavior, hierarchy criteria should be adopted to enforce the plastic deformations in the ductile components of the joint. However, the effectiveness of thesecriteria can be impaired if the actual resistance of the end-plate material largely differs from the design value due to the potential activation of brittle failure modes of the bolt rows (e.g., occurrence of failure mode 3 in the place of mode 1 per bolt row). Also the number and the position of bolt rows directly affect the joint response. The presence of a bolt row in the center of the connection does not improve the strength of the joint under both gravity, wind and seismic loading, but it can modify the damage pattern of ductile connections, reducing the gap opening between the end-plate and the column face. On the other hand, the presence of a central bolt row can influence the capacity of the joint to resist the catenary actions developing under a column loss scenario, thus improving the joint robustness. Aiming at investigating the influence of these features on both the cyclic behavior and the response under column loss, a wide range of finite element analyses (FEAs) were performed and the main results are described and discussed in this paper.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2018

A through diaphragm is often used to ensure their stiffness for moment-resisting connections using rectangular steel-tube column and H-shaped beam. The through-diaphragm connections, however, have some difficulties for their applicabilities to the field due to the complexity of the fabrication and construction processes. This study thus proposes a new modular system of steel structures assembled only using bolts without welding, by bringing a connection module composed of rectangular steel-tube column, H-shaped beam and oneway bolt onto the site. An experimental study to evaluate the seismic performance of the proposed connection details based on the new modular system is then conducted. The length and type of the inner reinforcement plate are considered as the primary design parameters, and the strength, stiffness, ductility and energy dissipation capability of the new connections are experimentally analyzed by comparison to those of conventional through diaphragm connections.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.337-353
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• 2018

In previous weak-axis moment connection tests, brittle fracture always initiated near the edge of the beam flange groove weld due to force flow towards the stiffer column flanges, which is the opposite pattern as strong-axis moment connections. As part of the China NSFC (51278061) study, this paper tested two full-scale novel weak-axis reduced beam section moment connections, including one exterior frame connection specimen SJ-1 under beam end monotonic loading and one interior frame joint specimen SJ-2 under column top cyclic loading. Test results showed that these two specimens were able to satisfy the demands of FEMA-267 (1995) or ANSI/AISC 341-10 (2010) without experiencing brittle fracture. A parametric analysis using the finite element software ABAQUS was carried out to better understand the cyclic performance of the novel weak-axis reduced beam section moment connections, and the influence of the distance between skin plate and reduced beam section, a, the length of the reduced beam section, b, and the cutting depth of the reduced beam section, c, on the cyclic performance was analyzed. It was found that increasing three parametric values reasonably is beneficial to forming beam plastic hinges, and increasing the parameter a is conducive to reducing stress concentration of beam flange groove welds while increasing the parameters b and c can only reduce the peak stress of beam flange groove welds. The rules recommended by FEMA350 (2000) are suitable for designing the proposed weak-axis RBS moment connection, and a proven calculation formulation is given to determine the thickness of skin plate, the key components in the proposed weak-axis connections. Based on the experimental and numerical results, a design procedure for the proposed weak-axis RBS moment connections was developed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2010

The objective of this paper is to examine the structural performance of steel moment-resisting frames on the various connection details of Seismic Wide-flanged Beam-to-Rectangular Steel Tube Column connections. Although compared to an H-shaped steel tube, a rectangular steel tube has many advantages and is more efficient, its application is limited due to the lack of experience in using it and the connection details. Existing steel moment connections using the rectangular steel tube are mainly used through plate diaphragms. The processing of construction of the rectangular steel tube is so complicated that it is hard to apply it in the field. In this study, the structural performance and the earthquake capacity of the connection details that do not cut the rectangular steel tube column were investigated. A comparative analysis of the strength, rigidity, and energy absorption capacity of the welded connection details using an end-plate and a haunch was also performed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.14 no.5 s.60
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• pp.675-682
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• 2002

The beam of composite structure composed of the RC structure in the end part and steel structure in the central palt were investigated during cyclic loading, in order to evaluate strength, stiffness, and deformational capacity. The parameters used in this study include the amount of reinforced steel bar between the steel beam and RC structure and the existence of the sticking plate. Test results showed that all specimens had stabilized hysteresis loops. Likewise, the specimens with sticking plate had higher load-carrying capacity compared with the one without it. In addition, the stiffness of the composite structure was higher than the steel structure. All specimens also showed good rotational capacity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.1 s.68
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• pp.169-180
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• 2004

One of the most influential elements is the moment resisting beam-to-column connection vis-a-vis the behavior and cost of multistory steel building frames. Majority of these connections are column flange connections attached to beam frames. This is called strong-axis connection. Another type of moment resisting connection commonly found in building frames is the web axis connection. In this type of connection, the beams are attached to the plane of the column web perpendicularly. It is called the weak-axis beam. and it tends to bend the column at its weak axis. In this study, some of the fundamental behaviors of beam-to-column connections were examined by changing the connection details as weil as comparing them with previous connection details. This study sought to develop the details in the beam-to-column connection in the weak axis for middle- and low-rise steel construction systems.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.315-329
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• 2020

Through bolt connections in Concrete Filled Steel Tubes (CFSTs) has been proved to be good in terms of seismic performance and constructability. Stiffened extended end plate connection with full through type bolt helps to avoid field weld altogether, and hence to improve the quality of joints. An experimental study was conducted on the hysteretic performance of square interior beam-column connections using flat extended end plates with through bolt. The study focuses on the effect of the bond between the tie rod and the core concrete on the cyclic performance of the joint. The study also quantifies how much the interior joint is getting strengthened due to the confinement effect induced by bi-directional bolting, which is widely used in 3D moment resisting frames. For a better understanding of the mechanism and for the prediction of shear capacity of the panel zone, a mathematical model was generated. The various parameters included in the model are the influence of axial load, amount of prestress induced by bolt tightening, anchorage, and the concrete strut action. The study investigates the strength, stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation characteristics. The results indicate that the seismic resistance is at par with American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) seismic recommendations. The bidirectional bolting and bond effect have got remarkable influence on the performance of joints.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.4A
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• pp.307-313
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• 2009

In this study, in order to research the repair-strengthening methods, when fatigue crack occurs in the coped stringers of a steel railway bridge, we manufacture the full size of crossbeam-stringer and floor system model. Also the experimental test is performed on the coped stringers applying the repair-strengthening methods using the stop hole, combination plate, connection plate, bracket, and so on. The results indicate that, the most effective method is to set up connection plate and bracket in the top flange and bottom flange of the stringers, while we can consider the method of punching stop holes in the end of the crack as a subsidiary method. It is necessary to set up the combination plate when the length of crack is quite long.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.343-356
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• 2016

As the common cast-in-place construction works fails to meet the enormous construction demand under rapid economic growth, the development of prefabricated structure instead becomes increasingly promising in China. For the prefabricated structure, its load carrying connection joint play a key role in maintaining the structural integrity. Therefore, a novel end plate bolt connecting joint between fully prefabricated pre-stressed concrete beam and high-strength reinforcement-confined concrete column was proposed. Under action of low cycle repeated horizontal loadings, comparative tests are conducted on 6 prefabricated pre-stressed intermediate joint specimens and 1 cast-in-place joint specimen to obtain the specimen failure modes, hysteresis curves, skeleton curves, ductility factor, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity and other seismic indicators, and the seismic characteristics of the new-type prefabricated beam-column connecting joint are determined. The test results show that all the specimens for end plate bolt connecting joint between fully prefabricated pre-stressed concrete beam and high-strength reinforcement-confined concrete column have realized the design objectives of strong column weak beam. The hysteretic curves for specimens are good, indicating desirable ductility and energy dissipation capacity and seismic performances, and the research results provide theoretical basis and technical support for the promotion and application of prefabricated assembly frames in the earthquake zone.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.37-44
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• 2017

Due to structural characteristics, construction costs and duration of a modular system would be saved by minimizing the schedule on the job site. As such, it is crucial to develop a connection that can guarantee stiffness while allowing for simple assembling. Particularly, the mid- to high-rise construction of the modular system necessitates the securing of the structural stability and seismic performance of multi-unit frames and connections, and thus, the stiffness of unit-assembled structures needs to be re-evaluated and designed. However, evaluating a frame consisting of slender members and reinforcing materials is a complicated process. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the structural characteristics of a modular unit connection based a method for reinforcing connection brackets and hinges while minimizing the loss of the cross section. Toward this end, the study modeled the beam-to-column connection of a modular system with the proposed connection, and produced a specimen which was used to perform a cycling loading test. The study compared the initial stiffness, the attributes of the hysteretic behavior, and the maximum flexural moment, and observed whether the model acquired the seismic performance, compared to the flexural strength of the steel moment frame connection that is required by the Korean Building Code. The test results showed that the proposed connection produced a similar initial stiffness value to that of the theoretical equation, and its maximum strength exceeded the theoretical strength. Furthermore, the model with a larger ceiling bracket showed higher seismic performance, which was further increased by the reinforcement of the plate.