• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.751-760
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the seismic performance of the frame which is assumed to be used with Welded Unreinforced Flange-Bolted web (WUF-B) connections and detailed in compliance with FEMA 350 recommended seismic design criteria. In FEMA 350, these types of connections are only valid for Ordinary Moment-Resisting Steel Frames (OMRSFs). For this purpose, based on test results, we proposed an analytical model for the Post-Northridge WUF-B connections with different panel zone strength ratios. Using the connection model, SAC Phase II three and nine-story frames were modeled and analyzed. From a nonlinear static pushover analysis, ductility, maximum strength, and the maximum interstory drift ratio were investigated for buildings with Post-Northridge details. Moreover, the maximum interstory drift ratio of each performance level (IO and CP) was also investigated through Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA). Analytical results were compared with those of buildings with either Pre-Northridge connection or ductile connections with no fracture. The analytical results showed that buildings with Post-Northridge WUF-B connections provide superior strength and interstory drift ratio capacity than buildings with Pre-Northridge WUF-B connections.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.473-478
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to model the seismic behavior of Welded Unreinforced Flange and Bolted (WUF-B) connections with post-Northridge details and evaluate the system performance of the builidings with WUF-B connections. For this purpose, based on test results, mathematical model of the connections were developed and compared with test results. This connection model take into account both panel zone deformation and connection fractures. Then, SAC Phase II 3 and 9-story buildings were modeled using the connection model developed in this study. From nonlinear static pushover analysis of the buildings, maximum strength, maximum roof drift, and so forth are investigated for the buildings with post-Northridge details. Analysis results were compared with those of buildings with pre-Northridge details and ductile connections with no fractures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.507-518
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• 2013

The seismic performance of six types of weak-axis steel moment connections was investigated through cyclic testing of six full-scale specimens. These weak-axis moment connections were the column-tree type, WUF-B type, FF-W type, WFP type, BFP-B type and DST type weak-axis connections. The testing results showed that each of these weak-axis connection types achieved excellent seismic performance, except the WFP and the WUF-B types. The WFP and WUF-B connections displayed poor seismic performance because a fracture appeared prematurely at the weld joint due to stress concentrations. The column-tree type connection showed the best seismic behavior such that the story drift ratio could reach 5%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.483-491
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• 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
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.829-838
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• 2008

In this study, cyclic tests of beam-column connections composed with members applicable to the domestic low-middle rise steel buildings were conducted to develop seismic connection details and its evaluation. Connection types and material properties of the steel were testing variables and the difference between the newly developed seismic rolled section (SHN490) and existing rolled section (SM490) was also investigated. Distributions of the yield strength and the ultimate strength of the SHN490 rolled section were relatively uniform comparing to those of the SM490 rolled section Brittle fracture in the weldments of the test specimens was not observed. Instead, fracture occurred at heat-affected zones or the stress-concentrated point near the weld access hole of the beam flanges. In the case of identical rolled-section specimens, the rotational capacity and dissipated energy of the WUF-W connection was larger than those of the WUF-B connection. In the case of identical connection types, the rotational capacity and dissipated energy of the SHN490 section connection was larger than those of the WUF-B section connection.