Cyclic elasto-plastic behaviour of replaceable ductile Split-T located at the bottom beam flange

• Published in: Engineering structures 2024-03, Vol.303, p.117506, Article 117506
• Main Authors: Zheng, Haowen, Cui, Guozhi, Kishiki, Shoichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beam-to-column connection; Cyclic behaviour; Plastic deformation capacity; Replaceable ductile Split-T
• ISSN: 0141-0296; 1873-7323
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.117506

This study proposed a novel replaceable ductile Split-T (RDST) component located at the bottom beam flange to enhance the ductility and energy dissipation capacity of steel structures. The proposed RDST aims to effectively control damage and enable rapid recovery of structural functions in the aftermath of earthquakes. A series of cyclic loading tests under large deformation amplitude was conducted to investigate the plastic deformation capacity of this new type of structural component. The influence of shear span ratio on the specimens’ hysteretic behaviours was studied experimentally. Meanwhile, experimental phenomena such as the pinching effect and snap-through buckling which compose the complicated deformation behaviour were evaluated quantitatively. Consequently, methods for quantitatively evaluating the mechanical properties of this new type of structural component were established based on the experimental results and previous discussions on T-stub-type structural components. Moreover, a hysteretic model was developed to precisely describe the specimens’ complicated hysteretic behaviour. It is expected to be the key element for further research on the structures with this new type of beam-to-column connection. •Proposed a novel replaceable ductile Split-T (RDST) located at the bottom beam flange of steel frames.•Cyclic loading tests under large deformation amplitude were conducted.•The elasto-plastic behavior of RDST components under monotonic loading was precisely evaluated.•A hysteretic model precisely describing the complicated hysteretic behaviour of the specimens was developed.