Static strength design of local thickened plate joints between multi-cell concrete-filled steel tubular column and steel beam

Abstract

A new-type local thickened plate joint (LTPJ) between multi-cell concrete-filled steel tubular columns (CSTC) and steel beams is adopted in residential building structures. However, no available strength design method for such beam-column joints is reported. This paper presents the mechanical behavior and static strength design of such joints. The local thickened plates are adopted to replace the normal thickness plates of the CSTCs within the LTPJ region. The rectangular section and L-shaped section of the multi-cell CSTC are involved in the joint study, respectively. Firstly, a finite element model (FEM) of the LTPJ between CSTCs and steel beams is established, which is then adopted to investigate the mechanical behaviour and static load-bearing capacity of the LTPJ. Codirectional and inverse bending moments are applied on the beams on two opposite sides of the LTPJ to simulate lateral loads (arise from wind or earthquake) and dead gravity loads, respectively. It is revealed that the LTPJ experiences shear failure when subjected to lateral loads, whereas it succumbs to bending failure when under dead gravity loads. The shear-bearing capacity of the LTPJ results from the three-part contribution of the steel tube web, the steel tube flange, and the core concrete. The bending-bearing capacity of the LTPJ is determined by the plate normal tension-bearing capacity of the steel tubes, which is predicted by adopting the theory of yielding line and numerical fitting. Finally, the load-bearing capacities of LTPJ under bidirectional bending moment are investigated numerically, and accordingly, some strength design recommendations are proposed in practical application. To conclude, these results provide a method for accurately predicting the load-bearing capacity of the LTPJ subjected to lateral loads and gravity loads, which holds the potential to expand and enhance the application of LTPJs and CSTCs in the design of high-rise residential buildings.