The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Studies in steel moment resisting beam-to-column connections for seismic-resistant design

Blackman, Brent; Popov, Egor P.

UCB/EERC-95/11, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1995-10, 141 pages (517.5/B52/1995)

An historical chapter presents background information regarding the development of earthquake-resistant design standards in building codes as well as the evolution of moment resisting beam-to-column connections used in areas of high seismicity in the United States. Three contemporary, full-scale subassemblages are examined to determine the underlying causes of poor performance during the Northridge earthquake. These specimens, which were tested under the SAC Joint Venture Program, utilized materials, member sizes, and details representative of connections damaged during the earthquake. Two new connections were experimentally investigated in an attempt to improve the ductility and energy absorption capacities of such joints. The first incorporated an all-welded, reinforced connection with a separated continuity plate configuration and "relief" holes, and the second consisted of an I-beam to box-column connection with external tee stiffeners in place of internal continuity plates. Results are discussed.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/EERC/EERC-95-11.pdf (37 MB)