Central angle effect on connection behavior of steel box beam-to-circular column

This paper presents the experimental results on the strength behavior and failure modes of box beam-to-circular column connections in steel piers. Previous research introduced parameters such as joint central angles, extension of horizontal stiffeners, and use of equivalent web depth, which ignored strength behavior and failure modes of box beam-to-circular column connections. The use of equivalent web depth $d_2$ is not reasonable when central angle ${\alpha}$ is closer to $90^{\circ}$; therefore, a monotonic loading test has been performed for eight connection specimens. From the test, it is identified that the connection with the circular column is stronger than the connection with the box-sectioned substitution column. Also, the strength of the beam-to-column connections with horizontal stiffeners is higher than the one of the no column stiffeners. The concrete-filled effect of box beam-to-circular column connection is also investigated, and the experimental yield strength of the connection is compared with the theoretical one. Also, more a reasonable equivalent web depth is suggested. The failure modes of connection are clearly defined.