EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE KEY ISSUES AFFECTING CYCLIC BEHAVIOUR OF REDUCED BEAM SECTION MOMENT CONNECTIONS

摘要

Reduced beam section connections are renowned as ductile moment connections which are able to dissipate a large amount of energy during seismic excitations. In spite of the good hysteretic behaviour, an RBS beam is susceptible to local and lateral instability through which load-carrying capacity of the beam reduces. This paper aims to investigate the RBS connection behaviour, and key issues influencing cyclic behaviour of RBS beams such as panel zone. To this end, an experimental study was conducted on a series of steel subassemblies with RBS connection. The results indicate that all the specimens showed ductile behaviour and were able to dissipate significant energy. Moreover, if the PZ ductility is well selected, the beam buckling severity and its adverse effect on moment capacity reduce.