• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.297-317
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• 2016

Current codes recommend large amounts of shear reinforcement for reinforced concrete beam-column joints that causes significant bar congestion. Increase in congestion of shear reinforcement in joint core (connection zone), leads to increase accomplishment problems. The congestion may also lead to diameter limitations on the beam bars relative to the joint dimensions. Using double headed studs instead of conventional closed hoops in reinforced concrete beam-column joints reduces congestion and ensures easier assembly of the reinforcing cage. The purpose of this research is evaluating the efficiency of the proposed reinforcement. In this way, 10 groups of exterior beam-column joints are modeled. Each group includes 7 specimens by different reinforcing details in their joint core. All specimens are modeled by using of ABAQUS and analyzed subjected to cyclic loading. After verification of analytical modeling with an experimental specimen, 3D nonlinear specimens are modeled and analyzed. Then, the effect of amount and arrangement of headed studs on ductility, performance, ultimate strength and energy absorption has been studied. Based on the results, all joints reinforced with double headed studs represent better performance compared with the joints without shear transverse reinforcement in joints core. The behavior of the former is close to joints reinforced with closed hoops and cross ties according to the seismic design codes. By adjusting the arrangement of double-headed studs, the decrease in ductility, performance, ultimate moment resistant and energy absorption reduce to 2.61%, 0.90%, 0.90% and 1.66% respectively compared with the joints reinforced by closed hoops on the average. Since the use of headed studs reduces accomplishment problems, these amounts are negligible. Therefore, use of double-headed studs has proved to be a viable option for reinforcing exterior beam-column joints.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.617-628
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• 2017

In order to study the failure mode and seismic behavior of the interior-joint in steel traditional-style buildings, a single beam-column joint and a double beam-column joint were produced according to the relevant building criterion of ancient architectural buildings and the engineering instances, and the dynamic horizontal loading test was conducted by controlling the displacement of the column top and the peak acceleration of the actuator. The failure process of the specimens was observed, the bearing capacity, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, strength and stiffness degradation of the specimens were analyzed by the load-displacement hysteresis curve and backbone curve. The results show that the beam end plastic hinge area deformed obviously during the loading process, and tearing fracture of the base metal at top and bottom flange of beam occurred. The hysteresis curves of the specimens are both spindle-shaped and plump. The ultimate loads of the single beam-column joint and double beam-column joint are 48.65 kN and 70.60 kN respectively, and the equivalent viscous damping coefficients are more than 0.2 when destroyed, which shows the two specimens have great energy dissipation capacity. In addition, the stiffness, bearing capacity and energy dissipation capacity of the double beam-column joint are significantly better than that of the single beam-column joint. The ductility coefficients of the single beam-column joint and double beam-column joint are 1.81 and 1.92, respectively. The cracks grow fast when subjected to dynamic loading, and the strength and stiffness degradation is also degenerated quickly.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2002

This paper summarises results of the research performed at the Department of Steel Structures and Structural Mechanics from the "Politehnica" University of Timisoara, Romania, in order to evaluate the performance of beam-to-column extended end plate connections for steel and composite joints. It comprises laboratory tests on steel and composite joints, and numerical modelling of joints, based on tests. Tested joints are double-sided, with structural elements realised of welded steel sections. The columns are of cruciform cross-section, while the beams are of I section. Both monotonic and cyclic loading, symmetrically and antisymmetrically, has been applied. On the basis of tested joints, a refined computer model has been calibrated using a special connection element of the computer code DRAIN 2DX. In this way, a static/dynamic structural analysis of framed structures with real characteristics of the beam to column joints is possible.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.303-317
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• 2019

This paper presents a finite element model for predicting the behaviour of high-strength steel bolted beam-to-column joints under monotonic loading. The developed numerical model considers the effects of material nonlinearities and geometric nonlinearities. The accuracy of the developed model is examined by comparing the predicted results with independent experimental results. It is demonstrated that the proposed model accurately predicts the ultimate flexural resistances and moment-rotation curves for high-strength steel bolted beam-to-column joints. Mechanical performance of three joint configurations with various design details is examined. A parametric study is carried out to investigate the effects of key design parameters on the behaviour of bolted beam-to-column joints with double-extended endplates. The plastic flexural capacities of the beam-to-column joints from the experimental programme and numerical analysis are compared with the current codes of practice. It is found that the initial stiffness and plastic flexural resistance of the high-strength steel beam-to-column joints are overestimated. Proper modifications need to be conducted to ensure the current analytical method can be safely used for the bolted beam-to-column joints with high-performance materials.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2020

The top-and-seat angles with double web angles are commonly used in the design of beam-to-column joints in Asian and North American countries. The seismic behavior analysis of these joints with large cross-section size of beam and column (often connected by four or more bolts) is a challenge due to the effects from the relatively larger size of stiffened angles and the composite action from the adjacent concrete slab. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the seismic performance of exterior composite beam-to-column joints with stiffened angles under cyclic loading. Four full-scale composite joints with different configuration (only one specimen contain top angle in concrete slab) were designed and tested. The joint specimens were designed by considering the effects of top angles, longitudinal reinforcement bars and arrangement of bolts. The behavior of the joints was carefully investigated, in terms of the failure modes, slippage, backbone curves, strength degradation, and energy dissipation abilities. It was found that the slippage between top-and-seat angles and beam flange, web angle and beam web led to a notable pinching effect, in addition, the ability of the energy dissipation was significantly reduced. The effect of anchored beams on the behavior of the joints was limited due to premature failure in concrete, the concrete slab that closes to the column flange and upper flange of beam plays an significant role when the joint subjected to the sagging moment. It is demonstrated that the ductility of the joints was significantly improved by the staggered bolts and welded longitudinal reinforcement bars.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.803-818
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• 2020

Semi-rigid connections with blind bolts could solve the difficulty that traditional high strength bolts were unavailable to splice a steel/composite beam to a closed section column. However, insufficient investigations have focused on the performance of semi-rigid connection to square concrete filled double-skin steel tubular (CFDST) columns. In this paper, a component model was developed to evaluate the mechanical behavior of semi-rigid composite connections to CFDST columns considering the stiffness and strength of column face in compression and column web in shear which were determined by the load transfer mechanism and superstition method. Then, experimental investigations on blind bolted composite joints to square CFDST columns were conducted to validate the accuracy of the component model. Dominant failure modes of the connections were analyzed and this type of joint behaved semi-rigid manner. More importantly, strain responses of CFDST column web and tubes verified that stiffness and strength of column face in compression and column web in shear significantly affected the connection mechanical behavior owing to the hollow part of the cross-section for CFDST column. The experimental and analytical results showed that the CFDST column to steel-concrete composite beam semi-rigid joints could be employed for the assembled structures in high intensity seismic regions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.717-734
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• 2018

This paper presents the flexural performance of steel beam-to-column joints composed of hollow structural section beams and columns. A finite element (FE) model was developed incorporating geometrical and material nonlinearities to evaluate the behaviour of joints subjected to bending moments. The numerical outcomes were validated with experimental results and compared with EN1993-1-8. The demountability of the structure was discussed based on the tested specimen. A parametric analysis was carried out to investigate the effects of steel yield strength, end-plate thickness, beam thickness, column wall thickness, bolt diameter, number of bolts and location. Consequently, an analytical model was derived based on the component method to predict the moment-rotation relationships for the sub-assemblies with extended end-plates. The accuracy of the proposed model was calibrated by the experimental and numerical results. It is found that the FE model is fairly reliable to predict the initial stiffness and moment capacity of the joints, while EN1993-1-8 overestimates the initial stiffness extensively. The beam-to-column joints are shown to be demountable and reusable with a moment up to 53% of the ultimate moment capacity. The end-plate thickness and column wall thickness have a significant influence on the joint behaviour, and the layout of double bolt-rows in tension is recommended for joints with extended end-plates. The derived analytical model is capable of predicting the moment-rotation relationship of the structure.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.337-346
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• 2019

The present paper tries to contribute fill the gap of application of the component method to tubular connections. For this purpose, one typical joint configuration in which just one component can be considered as active has been studied. These joints were selected as symmetrically loaded welded connections in which the beam width was the same as the column width. This focused the study on the component 'side walls of rectangular hollow sections (RHS) in tension/compression'. It should be one of the main components to be considered in welded unstiffened joints between I beams and RHS columns. Many experimental tests on double-sided I-beam-to-RHS-column joint with a width ratio 1 have been carried out by the authors and a finite element (FE) model was validated with their results. Then, some different analytical approaches for the component stiffness and strength have been assessed. Finally, the stiffness proposals have been compared with some FE simulations on I-beam-to-RHS-column joints. This work finally proposes the most adequate equations that were found for the stiffness and strength characterization of the component 'side walls of RHS in tension/compression' to be applied in a further unified global proposal for the application of the component method to RHS.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.547-562
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• 2021

This paper aims to explore the mechanical behavior and moment-rotation model of blind bolted joints between concrete-filled double skin steel tubular columns and steel-concrete composite beams. For this type of joint, the inner tube and sandwiched concrete were additionally identified as basic components compared with CFST blind bolted joint. A modified moment-rotation model for this type of connection was developed, of which the compatibility condition and mechanical equilibrium were employed to determine the internal forces of basic components and neutral axis. Following this, load transfer mechanism among the inner tube, sandwiched concrete and outer tube was discussed to assert the action area of the components. Subsequently, assembly processes of basic coefficients in terms of their stiffness and resistances based on the component method by simplifying them as assemblages of springs in series or in parallel. Finally, an experimental investigation on four substructure joints with CFDST columns for validation purposes was carried out to capture the connection details. The predicted results derived from the mechanical models coincided well with the experimental results. It is demonstrated that the proposed mechanical model is capable of evaluating the complete moment-rotation relationships of blind bolted CFDST column composite connections.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.139-157
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• 2006

In this paper, a cyclic mechanical model is presented to simulate the behaviour of top and seat with web angle beam-to-column connections. The introduced mechanical model is compared with Eurocode 3 Annex J, its extension, and with experimental data. To have a better insight regarding the actual response of the joints, available results of the experiments, carried out on full-scale top and seat angle joints under monotonic and cyclic loading, are first considered. Subsequently, a finite element model of the test setup is developed. The application of the proposed model, its comparisons with the experimental curves and with the Eurocode 3 Annex J and with its modification, clearly show the excellent quality of the model proposed.