Cyclic performance welded steel reduced beam section moment connections using longitudinal slots in flanges

Abstract

A new type of steel reduced beam section connection using longitudinal slots in the beam flanges is introduced. The effect of different parameters has been studied by the non-linear three-dimensional finite element method. Parameters have been the distance between the slot and column face, the length and width of the slot, the distance between the slot and the edge of the beam flange, the number of slots, the distance between slots, and the dimensions of the beam. The displacement controlled cyclic loading protocol recommended by SAC has been imposed. The von Mises yield criterion has been used. Obtained results show that creating the slots in the beam flange improves considerably the performance of the connection. The bending moment at the column face and plastic strains in the weld decrease by 32% and 94%, respectively, by increasing the slot length by 264%. The bending moment and dissipated energy reduce by 59% and 66%, respectively, when the slot width is increased by 430%. By increasing the length and width of the slot from a specific value and by moving the slot towards the beam web, the behaviour of the connection becomes unsatisfactory. The effect of the beam height is more than that of other dimensions of the beam. Based on the results obtained, recommendations for the design implications related to the geometric dimensions of the slots have been formulated.