EXPERIMENTAL STUDY AND POST-EARTHQUAKE DAMGEINSPECTION OF SCISSORS-TYPE OR SATCHEL (KHORJINI)CONNECTIONS FOR STEEL-FRAME BUILDINGS

摘要

Khorjini (satchel) connection is one of the beam-to-column connections in steel frame structures. It hasbecome especially popular in Iran for conventional buildings, due to its speed and convenient inconstruction process and economic privileges in comparison to the other types of steel connections.Connecting two uncut beams to both side of a column by means of top and seat angles is a method forbuilding a common type of Khorjini connection. In this study, experimental results of loading tests on sixdifferent types of mid-span Khorjini connections subjected to static cyclic unidirectional reverse lateralload and applied axial load were presented. The six specimens were design with different details ofstrengthening on the connection components in order to improve the bending moment capacities, stiffnessand rigidity percentages and shear capacities of the satchel connections. Simplicity on installation andbuilding of the connections are the other important parameters that have been taken into account in thedesign. In addition post-earthquake damage inspection results after Dec. 26, 2003 Bam-Iran earthquake onsteel frame buildings with satchel connections are presented. The results of the inspection and theexperimental study on Khorjini connections were discussed and some efficient improvements on Khorjiniconnections were suggested.