Applied Research On Rigid Zone Of Beam-column Joints In RC Frame Structure

The rigid zone of beam-column joints is a common topic in structural design. Generalspeaking, drawings without concerning rigid zone are considered safer when concerning rigidzone could bring economic benefit. In fact, the difference between these two methods is lackof research. In addition, current standards just acquire rigid zone analysis in high structure,but it isn’t mandatory in other kinds of structure. Because of the difficulty of use, thestandards are hard to be executed.This research derived the advanced layer based distribution and D-value method basingon the formulas of the length of the rigid zone given by standards and structural mechanics.The advanced layer based distribution and D-value method were general, they both applied torigid-zone and non-rigid-zone analysis. With the method derived, we simulated a building,analyzed the difference between rigid-zone and non-rigid-zone method, and summarized thecharacteristics in different kinds of members and joints. Finally, we made some analysis ofintegrated performance of RC frame structure by ETABS, compared with the period anddisplacement between rigid-zone and non-rigid-zone method, and gave the suggestion ofsome conditions for using non-rigid-zone design.The results concluded from the research showed that, there were no general conditionsthat made non-rigid-zone designs fitted to any situations, it was very strict. According to therespond of horizontal loading effecting in RC frame structure, we strongly advised that rigidzone should be considered in seismic areas while it was optional in non-seismic areas. Forthose structures designed by PKPM, it seemed no need to consider rigid zone because ofPKPM’s own defects. The appropriate way was using the internal force revising to make ourbuildings safe.