Experimental investigation into the seismic performance of slabs in RC frame joints

Abstract

In the present work, an experimental investigation into the seismic behaviour of identical beam–column subassemblies was conducted by testing four half-scale joint models: one without a slab and others with slabs of varying slab parameters. The slab–beam–column joints were tested under static displacement-controlled cyclic loading. Slab participation was evaluated using slab bar strain gauge data with respect to storey drift. Actual effective slab widths were much larger than the ones typically used in the design. A large effective slab width would result in large shears in both the joint and in the column that could result in premature shear failures.