• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.37-57
• /
• 2019

This paper presents experimental and analytical studies to evaluate the cyclic behaviour of Circular Reinforced Concrete column Steel beam (CRCS) connections. Two 3/4-scale CRCS specimens are tested under quasi-static reversed cyclic loading. Specimens were strengthened with a tube plate (TP) and a steel doubler plate (SDP). Furthermore; nine interior beam-through type RCS connections are simulated using nonlinear three-dimensional finite element method using ABAQUS software and are verified with experimental results. The results revealed that using the TP improves the performance of the panel zone by providing better confinement to the concrete. Utilizing the TP at the panel zone may absorb and distribute stress in this region. Results demonstrate that TP can be used instead of SDP. Test records indicate that specimens with TP, with and without SDP maintained their maximum strength up to 4% drift angle, satisfying the recommendation given by AISC341-2016 for composite special moment-resisting frames.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.1039-1054
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seismic performance of weak-axis column-tree type connections used in steel moment frames. These connections are composed of a shop-welded and fieldbolted steel structure and can improve welding quality. On this basis, column-tree type connections are widely used in steel moment resisting frames in Korea and Japan. In this study, splices designed with a semirigid concept regarding the seismic performance of column-tree connections were experimentally evaluated. The structures can absorb energy in an inelastic state rather than the elastic state of the structures by the capacity design method. For this reason, the plastic hinge might be located at the splice connection at the weak-axis column-tree connection by reducing the splice plate thickness. The main variable was the distance from the edge of the column flange to the beam splice. CTY series specimens having column-tree connections with splice length of 600 mm and 900 mm were designed, respectively. For comparison with two specimens with the main variable, a base specimen with a weak-axis column-tree connection was fabricated and tested. The test results of three full-scale test specimens showed that the CTY series specimens successfully developed ductile behavior without brittle fracture until 5% story drift ratio. Although the base specimen reached a 5% story drift ratio, brittle fracture was detected at the backing bar near the beam-to-column connection. Comparing the energy dissipation capacity for each specimen, the CTY series specimens dissipated more energy than the base specimen.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.1155-1171
• /
• 2016

Post-tensioned (PT) steel moment resisting frames (MRFs) with semi-rigid connections (SRC) can be used to control the hysteretic energy demands and to reduce the maximum inter-story drift (${\gamma}$). In this study the seismic behavior of steel MRFs with PT connections is estimated by incremental nonlinear dynamic analysis in terms of dissipated hysteretic energy ($E_H$) demands. For this aim, five PT steel MRFs are subjected to 30 long duration earthquake ground motions recorded on soft soil sites. To assess the energy dissipated in the frames with PT connections, a new expression is proposed for the hysteretic behavior of semi-rigid connections validated by experimental tests. The performance was estimated not only for the global $E_H$ demands in the steel frames; but also for, the distribution and demands of hysteretic energy in beams, columns and connections considering several levels of deformation. The results show that $E_H$ varies with ${\gamma}$, and that most of $E_H$ is dissipated by the connections. It is observed in all the cases a log-normal distribution of $E_H$ through the building height. The largest demand of $E_H$ occurs between 0.25 and 0.5 of the height. Finally, an equation is proposed to calculate the distribution of $E_H$ in terms of the normalized height of the stories (h/H) and the inter-story drift.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.851-865
• /
• 2014

Full penetration welded steel moment-resisting frame (SMRF) structures with welded box sections are widely employed in steel bridges, where a large number of steel bridges have been in operation for over fifty years in Japan. Welding defects such as incomplete penetration at the beam-column connections of these existing SMRF steel bridge piers were observed during inspection. Previous experiments conducted by the authors' team indicate that gusset stiffeners (termed fillets in this study) at the beam-web-to-column-web joint of the beam-column connections may play an important role on the seismic performance of the connections. This paper aims to experimentally study the effect of the fillet radius on seismic performance of the connections with large welding defects. Four specimens with different sizes of fillet radii were loaded under quasi-static incremental cyclic loading, where different load-displacement relations and cracking behaviors were observed. The experimental results show that, as the size of the fillet radius increases, the seismic performance of the connections can be greatly improved.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.617-624
• /
• 2008

Well-designed steel moment connections will undergo local buckling before they exhaust their available rotation capacity, and inelastic post-buckling deformation plays a major role in defining the connection rotation capacity. An approximate analytical method to model strength degradation and failure of beam plastic hinges due to local buckling and estimation of the seismic rotation capacity of fully restrained beam-column connections in special steel moment-resisting frames under both monotonic and cyclic loading conditions is proposed in this study. This method is based on the plastic mechanism and a yield line plastic hinge (YLPH) model whose geometry is determined using the shapes of the buckled plastic hinges observed in experiments. The proposed YLPH model was developed for the improved WUF-W and RBS connections and validated in comparison with experimental data. The effects of the beam section geometric parameters on the rotation capacity were discussed in the companion paper (parametric studies).

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.183-204
• /
• 2012

Several issues regarding the structural idealization of steel buildings with perimeter moment resisting steel frames (MRSFs) and interior gravity frames (GFs) are studied. Results indicate that the contribution of GFs to the lateral structural resistance may be significant. The contribution increases when the stiffness of the connection of the GFs is considered and is larger for inelastic than for elastic behavior. The interstory shears generally increase when the connections stiffness is taken into account. Resultant stresses at some base columns of MRSFs also increase in some cases but to a lesser degree. For columns of the GFs, however, the increment is significant. Results also indicate that modeling the building as planes frames may result in larger interstory shears and displacements and resultant stresses than those obtained from the more realistic 3-D formulation. These differences may be much larger when semi-rigid (SR) connections are considered. The conservativism is more for resultant stresses. The differences observed in the behaviour of each structural representation are mainly due to a) the elements that contribute to strength and stiffness and b) the dynamics characteristics of each structural representation. It is concluded that, if the structural system under consideration is used, the three-dimensional model should be used in seismic analysis, the GFs should be considered as part of the lateral resistance system, and the stiffness of the connections should be included in the design of the GFs. Otherwise, the capacity of gravity frames may be overestimated while that of MRSFs may be underestimated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.483-491
• /
• 2008

There has been much focus on the strong axis steel moment connections after the Northridge earthquake in 1994. However, research studieson the seismic behavior of weak axis moment connections could be hardly found despite the fact that these connection details have been frequently used as seismic details of MRF in Korea. Therefore, the objective of this research is to provide better knowledge on the seismic behavior of weak-axis steel moment connections, which can be widely applicable to many structures with similar characteristics. For this purpose, an experimental program was designed and performed with twotypes of weak-axis steel moment connections, namely the bracket type and WUF-B type, based on the survey of existing field data and literatures. Using the experimental results obtained from the quasi-static cyclic testing of these specimens, structural performances of the joints such as hysteretic curves, maximum strength capacities and the strain of reinforced bars were investigated. From the test results, the bracket-type connection was shown to have more than a 5% story drift capacity, compared with the WUF-B type connection's 4%. These specimens were also shown to have higher strength capacities than the nominal design strength. The bracket-type connection showed a slow strength degradation after maximum strength was researched. However,the WUF-B type connection showed a rapid strength degradation that caused brittle behavior.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.15-24
• /
• 2013

This paper presents the results from a systematic finite element study on the bending moment resisting capacity of double web-angle connection for a CFT(concrete filled tube) composite frame subjected to cyclic loading. The three-dimensional nonlinear finite element models are constructed to investigate the rotational stiffness, bending moment capacity, and failure modes of the partially restrained composite CFT connections. A wide scope of additional structural behaviors explain the different influences of the double web-angle connections parameters, such as the different thickness of connection angles and the gage distances of high strength steel connection bar. The moment-rotation angle relationships obtained statically from the finite element analysis are compared with those from Richard's theoretical equation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.9-21
• /
• 2012

Concrete filled steel tube (CFT) columns have been widely used in moment resisting frame structures both in seismic zones. This paper discusses the design of such members based on the advanced methods introduced in the 2005 AISC Specification and the 2005 Seismic Provisions. This study focuses particularly on design following both linear and nonlinear methods utilizing equivalent static and dynamic loads for low-rise moment frames. The paper begins with an examination of the significance of pseudo-elastic design interaction equations and the plastic ductility demand ratios due to combined axial compressive force and bending moment in CFT members. Based on advanced computational simulations for a series of five-story composite moment frames, this paper then investigates both building performance and new techniques to evaluate building damage during a strong earthquake. It is shown that 2D equivalent static analyses can provide good design approximations to the force distributions in moment frames subjected to large inelastic lateral loads. Dynamic analyses utilizing strong ground motions generally produce higher strength ratios than those from equivalent static analyses, but on more localized basis. In addition, ductility ratios obtained from the nonlinear dynamic analysis are sufficient to detect which CFT columns undergo significant deformations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
• /
• v.6 no.1 s.20
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2006

The moment resisting frame has been well-known as it had very excellent seismic performance, and it has been widely used and constructed in the design of a lot of buildings. However, the moment resisting frame system did not exert the seismic performance during the earthquake in Northridge and Kobe sufficiently, and it produced the crack or brittle fracture on the joint. this study was to ]m tests with the full-scale test subject as parameters of existence of H-beam web high tensile bolt shearing joint and reinforcement of H-flange rib. This researcher was to anticipate the decrease of number of high tensile bolts and the improvement of workability through the double shear joint by the experiment, and improve the seismic performance through the reinforcement of rib plate. In addition, this study was to prevent the brittle fracture by the stress concentration through the non scallop.