Physical testing is used to characterize the structural properties of beam-to-column joints, comprising pultruded fiber-reinforced\udpolymer (FRP) H-shapes of depth 203 mm, connected by 128 mm-long web cleats and two M16 bolts per leg. Testing is performed on two\udbatches of nominally identical specimens. One batch had web cleats of pultruded FRP and the other had structural steel. The structural\udbehavior of the joints is based on their moment-rotation responses, failure modes, and serviceability vertical deflection limits. Joints with\udFRP cleats failed by delamination cracking at the top of the cleats, and when the cleats were of steel, the FRP failure occurred inside the\udcolumn members. Neither failure mode is reported in the design manuals from pultruders. At the onset of the FRP damage, it was found that\udthe steel joints were twice as stiff as the FRP joints. On the basis of a characteristic (damage) rotation, calculated in accordance with Eurocode\ud0, the serviceability deflection limits are established to be span/300 and span/650 for the joints with FRP and steel cleats, respectively. This\udfinding suggests that appropriate deflection limits, in relation to cleated connections, should be proposed in manufactures’ design manuals\udand relative design standards and design codes. Failure to address the serviceability, by the engineer of record, could lead to unreliable\uddesigns.
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