The Analysis Of Seismic-Resistant Behavior Of Beam-to-Column Web Rigid Connections In Steel Moment Frames

Steel moment-resisting frames, which were considered having excellent performance for seismic resistance, were widely used in multi-stories or high-rise structures. But previous investigations of earthquake disaster indicated that many destroies occured in the steel frames to various extent, and mostly belonged to brittle fracture of beam-to-column connections, which indicated that cognitions on the damage mechanism of welded-bolted beam-to-column joints were rather inadequate. In fact, beam-to-column web connections are as widespread as flange connections in the steel frames, and the design and construction of them are more difficult. Studies on seismic-resistant behavior of beam-to-column web connections are not only significant from the theoretical aspect, but also important in practice. Based on the verifications of the existing test results by the computation results from the nonlinear finite element program considering geometry, material and status nonlinearity, an thorough finite element simulation of the welded-bolted beam-to-column web connections is carried out. The behavior and fracture mechanism of web connections under cyclic load are analysed , then a new distribution mode of shearing strength in the joint zone is put forward based on the computation results, which can provide basis for engineering design. During the parametric analysis, length of beam flange continuity plate sticking out column flange, height of beam, axial pressure of column, thickness of beam flange, thickness and width of column flange are considered to study their impact on the seismic-resistant behavior of the web connections. Subsequently, the influencing degree of these parameters is studied using orthogonal design and an reasonable scheme making the connections have preferable seismic-resistant behavior is gained simultaneously . On the basis of damage mechanism of the common welded-bolted beam-to-column web connections, the seismic-resistant behavior of new types of web connections—RW Connections and RBS Connections is analysed introductively. The results make know that RBS Connections have excellent plastic deformation ability, which will lay a foundation for further study. In conclusion, the finite-element model can well simulate the behavior of beam-to-column web rigid connections under cyclic load. The study is rather systematic. The conclusion and design recommendations are very useful for instructing the project. This article plays a basis role of more study about seismic-resistant behavior of beam-to-column web connections.