Experimental investigation of self-centering beam-to-column connections with different ribbed top and seat angles

Abstract

This study experimentally investigated the seismic behavior of a novel self-centering beam-to-column connection with the different ribbed top and seat angles. The connections were composed of square concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) column, H-shaped steel beam, angles with or without stiffening rib, and post-tensioned (PT) high-strength steel tendons. Eight half-scale specimens were designed and tested under cyclic loading. The influences of stiffening rib type including plane rib and multi-wave rib, PT tendon distance, and with or without PT tendons upon the performance of the connection were evaluated experimentally. The results show that the connections installed PT tendons exhibited the double linear hysteretic feature with a slight narrow hysteretic loop due to the friction of the components, the connections assembled the angles or ribbed angles took on the fuller and more stable hysteretic loop, and the connections installed the PT tendons and ribbed angles exhibited the double-flag shaped hysteretic curve. The employment of plane or multi-wave ribbed angles significantly increased the initial rotational stiffness and ultimate moment. For the connection combined the PT tendons and ribbed angles, the average residual rotation angle ratio and the maximum equivalent viscous damping ratio reached about 0.095 and 0.07 at the drift ratio of 2%, respectively. The distance of PT tendons did not affect the hysteretic behavior of the connection. The PT tendons could provide the excellent self-centering behavior of the connection.