Behavior of Full-Scale Lightly Reinforced Concrete Interior Beam-Column Joints under Reversed Cyclic Loading

Abstract

This chapter discusses four full-scale testing on lightly reinforced interior beam–column joints under reversed cyclic loading. The main characteristic of the specimens is that no transverse reinforcement was provided in the joint panel and the beam reinforcement had large diameter resulting in relatively poor bond condition. All the specimens failed in joint panel with gradual strength deterioration, severe stiffness, and bond degradation. Lightly reinforced beam–column joints, where no transverse reinforcement is provided, are generally considered one of the most critical parts of a reinforced concrete frame structure under ground shocks. However, most of the studies on beam–column joints in the literature have been focusing on ductile details. There is a scarcity of information on lightly reinforced joints. Therefore, there is a need to study the behavior of the lightly reinforced concrete beam–column joints under simulated earthquake loading. Anchorage of the beam reinforcement passing through the joint panel played a prominent role on the column shear strength, while column axial load had relatively stronger effect on the deformational behavior of the beam–column sub-assemblage.