Experimental study on seismic performance of steel beam to SRC column connections

Abstract

The seismic performance of steel beam to steel reinforced concrete (SRC) column connections was investigated experimentally through cyclic loading tests of two full-scale specimens. In this study, the SRC column was made of a steel box section encased in reinforced concrete. The reason for using an SRC column is to take advantage of its fire resistance, structural stiffness and strength. The experimental results showed that both of the test specimens demonstrated excellent seismic resistance capability. The steel beams of the connections were able to develop plastic rotations in excess of 5.3% radians. Satisfactory interstory drift angle up to 6.2% radians was observed from the tests. The experiments also indicated that the reinforced concrete in the beam-to-column connection zone provided an "effective constraint" to the embedded portion of the steel beam in the joint. It was observed that this constraint Successfully assisted the steel beam to develop a plastic hinge outside of the SRC column face. Consequently, the groove-welded joint of the steel beam to the steel box section in the SRC column was protected by the reinforced concrete and avoided possible premature failure.