Seismic Performance of Exterior Steel Ring-Stiffener Joint

Abstract

Westudytheseismicperformanceoftheexteriorsteelring-stiffener(ESRS)joint,amemberthatisusedtoconnectasteelbeamto a square steel tubular column filled with steel fibre recycled concrete for seismic resistance. To this end, the influence of seismic factors such as axial compression ratio and beam-column linear stiffness ratio on seven specimens is studied. A physical test is conductedonthespecimenswithaseriesofcyclicloadings.Thetestingandanalysisofhystereticloopsandskeletoncurvesofthe ESRS joints revealed the seismic performance characteristics including failure mode, rigidity, ductility, bearing-capacity degradation, and energy dissipation capacity. The results reveal (a) damage to the specimens at the beam-end near the joint, (b) no failureatthejoints’coreareaandcolumn,(c)appearanceofaplastichingeatthebeam-endnearthejoint,and(d)plumpspindleshapedhystereticloopsandnormalrigiditydegradationcurvesinthespecimens.Thespecimensarethensimulatedwiththefinite element method (FEM) and the results are compared with those of the physical test.