Cyclic testing of through-plate moment connection for beam to concrete filled and unfilled circular column

Abstract

This research presents a specific configuration for the fully restrained connections between I-shaped beams and concrete filled and unfilled circular columns. In the proposed connection, there is a vertical plate which passes through the aligned slots in the connection zone. The through-plat connection provides a new reliable path to transfer the in-plane forces from the beam to the circular column. The performance of the through-plate connection is experimentally evaluated and, the interior planar connections are tested under lateral cyclic loading. Specimens are consisted of two concrete-filled columns and one unfiled circular column. Herein, the fabrication process and analysis of the proposed connection are presented. The experimental full-scale tests are carried out to understand the mechanisms of the force transferring from the beam to the circular column, and also the shear transferring in the panel zone region. The failure modes, hysteretic performance, strength, initial stiffness, ductility and panel zone behavior of the through-plate connection are evaluated. It is shown that the through-plate connection is a suitable configuration for seismic applications with large deformation demands. The specimens have sustained rotations more than 6% story drift with no damage in the column and the connection components. The results of the experimental program reveal the adequacy of the proposed connection as a special moment connection according to the AISI/AISC341-16 seismic provisions.