Experimental study of earthquake-resilient high ductility prefabricated opening-web steel channel beam-column joint

Abstract

In order to improve the construction efficiency and precision of prefabricated steel structures, and effectively protect the main members of the structures in the earthquake, a new form of joint was proposed in this study. This new earthquake-resilient high ductility prefabricated opening-web steel channel beam-column joint (HDPSJ) was designed on the basis of the concepts of modular construction, damage control and buckling restraint. A total of six joint specimens were tested under low-cycle load to study the seismic properties and post-earthquake restoration properties of the new joint, and the curves of hysteresis, skeleton and strain, and the energy dissipation ability of specimen were obtained. This paper mainly studied influences of the thickness of the flange cover plate (FCP), the weakened degree of FCPs and the quantity of bolts connecting the FCP on the seismic properties and restoration properties of joints. U-shaped web connecting plate (UWCP) was applied to this type of joint to restraint the buckling of FCPs. The results show that the HDPSJs have excellent bearing capacity, ductility and post-earthquake repair capacity, and the indexes of the restored joints are still up to the seismic standards; the yield load of the joint principally depends on the thickness of FCP. The slip of FCP is mainly determined by the number of flange connecting bolts; the UWCP can effectively improve the ductility of the joint. The hysteretic property of the joint is stable during the low-cycle constant amplitude load, which shows the joint also has the function of a damper.