• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2020

In this study, the behavior of external beam-column joints reinforced by plain and deformed bars with non-seismic reinforcement details is investigated and compared. The beam-column joints represented in this study include a benchmark specimen by seismic details in accordance with ACI 318M-11 requirements and four other deficient specimens. The main defects of the non-seismic beam-column joints included use of plain bar, absence of transverse steel hoops, and the anchorage condition of longitudinal reinforcements. The experimental results indicate that using of plain bars in non-seismic beam-column joints has significantly affected the failure modes. The main failure mode of the non-seismic beam-column joints reinforced by deformed bars was the accumulation of shear cracks in the joint region, while the failure mode of the non-seismic beam-column joints reinforced by plain bars was deep cracks at the joint face and intersection of beam and column and there was only miner diagonal shear cracking at the joint region. In the other way, use of plain bars for reinforcing concrete can cause the behavior of the substructure to be controlled by slip of the beam longitudinal bars. The experimental results show that the ductility of non-seismic beam-column joints reinforced by plain bars has not decreased compared to the beam-column joints reinforced by deformed bars due to lack of mechanical interlock between plain bars and concrete. Also it can be seen a little increase in ductility of substructure due to existence of hooks at the end of the development length of the bars.

• 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.1 no.3
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• pp.295-312
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• 2001

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new type of steel reinforced concrete (SRC) beam-column joints and to examine the structural performance of the proposed joints, which simplify the construction procedure of steel fabrication, welding works, concrete casting and joint strengthening. In the proposed beam-column joints, the steel element of columns forms continuously built-in crossing of H-sections (${\Box}$), with adjacent flanges of column being connected by horizontal stiffeners in a joint at the level of the beam flanges. In addition, simplified lateral reinforcement (${\Box}$) is adopted in a joint to confine the longitudinal reinforcing bars in columns. Experimental and analytical studies have been carried out to estimate the structural performance of the proposed joints. Twelve cruciform specimens and seven SRC beam-column subassemblage specimens were prepared and tested. The following can be concluded from this study: (1) SRC subassemblages with the proposed beam-column joints show adequate seismic performances which are superior to the demand of the current code; (2) The yield and ultimate strength capacities of the beam-to-column connections can be estimated by analysis based on the yield line theory; (3) The skeleton curves and the ultimate shear capacities of the beam-column joint panel are predicted with a fair degree of accuracy by considering a simple stress transfer mechanism.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.67-83
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• 2015

The load transfer mechanism and load-bearing capacity of cast steel joints for H-shaped beam to square tube column connection are studied based on the deformation compatibility theory. Then the monotonic tensile experiments are conducted for 12 specimens about the cast steel joints for H-shaped beam to square tube column connection. The findings are that the tensile bearing capacity of the cast steel joints for beam-column connection depends on the ring of cast steel stiffener. The tensile fracture happens at the ring of the cast steel stiffener when the joint fails. The thickness of square tube column has little influence on the bearing capacity of the joint. The square tube column buckles while the joint without concrete filled, but the strength failure happens for the joint with concrete filled column. And the length of welding connection between square tube column and cast steel stiffener has little influence on the load-bearing capacity of the cast steel joint. Finally it is shown that the load-bearing capacity of the joints for H-shaped beam to concrete filled square tube column connection is larger than that of the joints for H-shaped beam to square tube column connection by 10% to 15%.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.74 no.2
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• pp.243-254
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• 2020

Devastating RC structural failures in the past have identified that the behavior of beam-column joints is more critical and significantly governs the global structural response under seismic loading. The congestion of reinforcement at the beam-column joints with other constructional difficulties has escalated the attention required for strengthening RC beam-column joints. In this context, numerous studies have been carried out in the past, which mainly focused on jacketing the joints with different materials. However, there is no comparative study of different approaches used to strengthen RC beam-column joints, from efficiency and cost perspective. This paper presents a detailed investigation carried out to study the various strengthening schemes of exterior RC beam-column joints, viz., steel fiber reinforcement, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthening, steel haunch strengthening, and confining joint reinforcement. The effectiveness of each scheme was evaluated experimentally. These specimens were tested under horizontal loading that produced opening moments on the joints and their behavior was studied with emphasis on strength, displacement ductility, stiffness, and failure mechanism. Special attention was given to the study of crack-width.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.215-233
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• 2016

Exterior beam-column joints are structural elements that ensure connection between beams and columns. The joint strength is generally assumed to be governed by the structural element of lowest load capacity (beam or column), however, the joint may be the weakest link. The joint shear behavior is still not well understood due to the influence of several variables, such as geometry of the connection, stress level in the column, concrete strength and longitudinal beam reinforcement. A parametrical study based only on experiments would be impracticable and not necessarily exposes the failure mechanisms. This paper reports on a set of numerical simulations conducted in DIANA$^{(R)}$ software for the investigation of the shear strength of exterior joints. The geometry of the joints and stress level on the column are the variables evaluated. Results have led to empirical expressions that provide the shear strength of unreinforced exterior beam-column joints.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.307-330
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• 2002

This study aims at postulating a simple methodology for predicting the failure modes of monotonically loaded reinforced concrete beam-column joints. All the factors that affect the failure modes of joints are discussed in detail using an experimental database of monotonically loaded exterior beam-column joints. The relative contributions of the strut and truss mechanisms to joint shear strength are determined based on the test results. A simple design equation for the beam longitudinal reinforcement ratio for joints with low, medium and high amount of stirrups is developed. The factors influencing the failure modes of monotonically loaded exterior beam-column joints are investigated in detail. Design charts that predict the failure modes of exterior beam-column connections both with and without stirrups are developed. Experimental data are compared with the design charts. The results show that the simple methodology gives very accurate predictions of the failure modes.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.313-328
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• 2016

Beam-column joints are recognized as one of the most critical and vulnerable zones of a Reinforced Concrete (RC) moment resisting structure subjected to seismic loads. The performance of the deficient beam-column joints can be improved by retrofitting these joints by jacketing them with varied materials like concrete, steel, FRP and ferrocement. In the present study strength behavior of RCC exterior beam-column joints, initially loaded to a prefixed percentage of the ultimate load, and retrofitted using ferrocement jacketing using two different wrapping schemes has been studied and presented. In retrofitting scheme, RS-I, wire mesh is provided in L shape at top and at bottom of the beam-column joint, whereas, in scheme RS-II along with wire mesh in L shape at top and bottom wire mesh is also provided diagonally to the joint. The results of these retrofitted beam-column joints have been compared with those of the controlled joint specimens. The results show an improvement in the ultimate load carrying capacity and yield load of the retrofitted specimens. However, no improvement in the ductility and energy absorption has been observed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.419-432
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• 2023

Beam-column joints are a critical component of reinforced concrete frame structures. They are responsible for transferring forces between adjoining beams and columns while limiting story drifts and maintaining structural integrity. During severe loading, beam-column joints deform significantly, affecting, and sometimes governing, the overall response of frame structures. While most failure modes for beam and column elements are commonly considered in plastic-hinge-based global frame analyses, the beam-column joint failure modes, such as concrete shear and reinforcement bond slip, are frequently omitted. One reason for this is the dearth of published guidance on what type of hinges to use, how to derive the joint hinge properties, and where to place these hinges. Many beam-column joint models are available in literature but their adoption by practicing structural engineers has been limited due to their complex nature and lack of practical application tools. The objective of this study is to provide a comparative review of the available beam-column joint models and present a practical joint modeling approach for integration into commonly used global frame analysis software. The presented modeling approach uses rotational spring models and is capable of modeling both interior and exterior joints with or without transverse reinforcement. A spreadsheet tool is also developed to execute the mathematical calculations and derive the shear stress-strain and moment-rotation curves ready for inputting into the global frame analysis. The application of the approach is presented by modeling a beam column joint specimen which was tested experimentally. Important modeling considerations are also presented to assist practitioners in properly modeling beam-column joints in frame analyses.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2021

According to ACI 224.3R-95 (ACI, 2013), construction joints (cold joint) in the column are to be provided at the top of floor slab for column continuing to the next floor and underside of floor slab and beam. A recent study reveals that providing cold joint of the mentioned location significantly reduced the seismic performance of the frame structures. Since, the construction joints in multi-story frame structures normally provided at the top of the floor slabs and at soffit of the beam in the column. This study investigated the effect of construction joint at various location in the column of beam-column joint such as at the top of floor slab, soffit level of the beam, half the depth of beam below the soffit of the beam and at a full depth of the beam below the soffit of the beam. The study revealed that there is an improvement in seismic capacity of the specimens as the location of cold joint is placed away from the soffit of the beam for lower story column.