Abstract
Beam column connection is the most critical zone in a reinforced concrete frame. The strength of connection affects the overall behavior and performance of RC framed structures subjected to lateral load and axial loads. The study of critical parameters that affects the overall joint performances and response of the structure is important. Recent developments in computer technology have made possible the use of Finite element method for 3D modeling and analysis of reinforced concrete structures. Nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete exterior beam column connection subjected to lateral loading was performed in order to investigate joint shear failure mode in terms of joint shear capacity, deformations and cracking pattern using ABAQUS software. A 3D solid shape model using 3D stress hexahedral element type (C3D8R) was implemented to simulate concrete behavior. Wire shape model with truss shape elements (T3D2) was used to simulate reinforcement’s behavior. The concrete and reinforcement bars were coupled using the embedded modeling technique. In order to define nonlinear behavior of concrete material, the concrete damage plasticity (CDP) was applied to the numerical model as a distributed plasticity over the whole geometry. The study was to investigate the most influential parameters affecting joint shear failure due to column axial load, beam longitudinal reinforcement ratio, joint panel geometry and concrete compressive strength. The Finite Element Model (FEM) was verified against experimental test of exterior RC beam column connection subjected to lateral loading. The model showed good comparison with test results in terms of load-displacement relation, cracking pattern and joint shear failure modes. The FEA clarified that the main influential parameter for predicting joint shear failure was concrete compressive strength.
Highlights
Beam column connections are one of important structural elements in concrete structures
When the building is subjected to the earth quake, beam column connection is prone to joint shear failure due to high shear stress which appears in the joint panel as result of opposite sign moments on opposite side of the joint core
Since the mid-1960s, numerous experimental tests and numerical studies have been conducted to investigate the performance of RC beam column connections subjected to lateral loading [1,2,3,4,5]
Summary
Beam column connections are one of important structural elements in concrete structures It is a critical seismic element because its behavior under severe earth quake motions has a significant effect on failure mode and strength and deformation capacity of the building structures. When the building is subjected to the earth quake, beam column connection is prone to joint shear failure due to high shear stress which appears in the joint panel as result of opposite sign moments on opposite side of the joint core. Shear failure of beam column connection was the main cause in failure of several moment-resisting frame structures during recent earthquakes [15, 16]. The strength of beam column joints have long been recognized as a significant factor that affects the overall behavior of RC moment resisting frames subjected to large lateral loading. The shear failure developed within the rigid joint is always brittle in nature which is not acceptable in seismic design of frames subjected to seismic loads [17, 18]
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