Abstract
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.