Square reinforced CFST column to RC beam joint subjected to lateral loading: An investigation using finite element analysis

Abstract

Concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns have been applied popularly in recent years, where they were connected with reinforced concrete (RC) beams or steel beams in a building. This paper proposes a joint system which connects the square reinforced concrete-filled thin-walled steel tube (RCFTWST) column and RC beam. In the joint system, reinforced bars are located in the square CFTWST column, and stiffeners are welded at adjacent sides of the square steel tube. Besides, the panel zone is strengthened by internal diaphragms. A finite element model (FEM) based on software ABAQUS was developed to evaluate the behavior of the proposed joint system under lateral loading, and parametric analysis was carried out. Based on the analysis results obtained from FEM, some important parameters were chosen. And two specimens were tested under combined axial compression and low-cyclic lateral load to assess the seismic performance of the proposed joint system. The axial load level was chosen as the parameter. Test results showed that all tested specimens performed well up to 5% drift and can satisfy the seismic requirements of “strong-joint weak-component”. In addition, the finite element model (FEM) is verified by comparing with the experimental results. The results can be well predicted by the model.