Nonlinear behaviour of beam-to-column connection in reinforced concrete industrialised building system

Abstract

The connection between beam and column affects directly the integrity of the building structure, In precast reinforced concrete Industrialised Building Systems (IBS), complexity often occurred in the implementation of a new type of beam-to-column connection. "This is due to the new IBS arrangement and the consequent new interaction between the jointed elements of beam and column, In this study, an innovative new type of semi-rigid beam-to-column connection, called SMART IBS consisting of beam to column steel connectors and reinforced concrete elements cast together were detailed out. Four full scale experimental tests were conducted to achieve the real behaviour of the connection in H-shape and Cruciform sub-frames. The tests were supplemented with conventional monolithic models representing the moment resisting connection for comparison of structural specifications. Moreover, for obtaining more comprehensive behaviour, nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) using ABAQUS software was conducted. Furthermore, the whole behaviour of IBS using this new connection was researched through 3D linear analysis to include gravitational and seismic time-history loads using SAP 2000 software, The response of the connection was investigated through the study of the ultimate loading capacity, ductility ratio, load-displacement, moment-rotation, modes of failure and crack patterns. The results of this research confirmed that the new SMART IBS beam-to-column connection was a semi-rigid connection with extra beneficial ductility in comparison with conventional reinforced concrete connection. The ultimate strength of the SMART IBS beam-to-column connection was equal to the conventional model. Furthermore, the results of NLFEA were matched up to 90"/0 with experimental tests. In terms of seismic performance, a three dimensional building of SMART IBS seismic performance was better than the conventional reinforced concrete frames.