Experimental Research on the Seismic Ductility Performance of Wavy Web PEC Beams

• Published in: Buildings (Basel) 2024-10, Vol.14 (10), p.3101
• Main Authors: Yang, Kejia, Lu, Tianyu, Li, Jie, Lou, Hanzhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Bearing capacity; Concrete; Construction; corrugated web; Cracks; Cycle ratio; Deformation effects; Ductile-brittle transition; Ductility; Ductility tests; Energy dissipation; Experimental research; Failure; Finite element method; finite element simulation; Flanges; Fracture toughness; hysteresis energy consumption; Load; Load bearing elements; low-cycle repeated load test; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Parametric analysis; partially encased composite; Reverse loading; Seismic response; Seismic stability; Shear; Shear strength; Shear tests; Software; Strain gauges; Thickness; Webs (structural)
• ISSN: 2075-5309; 2075-5309
• DOI: 10.3390/buildings14103101

To improve the out-of-plane stability of partially encased composite (PEC) beam webs and enhance the synergy between concrete and section steel, a new type of wavy web PEC beam was designed and fabricated. In this study, the flange thickness and shear–span ratio were varied as key parameters. Low-cycle reversed loading tests were conducted to investigate the effects of these variables on the load-bearing capacity, failure patterns, deformation capacity, hysteretic energy dissipation capacity, and stiffness degradation of the wavy web PEC beams. Numerical simulations were performed using ABAQUS CAE2023, a finite element analysis (FEA) software, under low-cycle reversed loading conditions. The applicability of the ABAQUS software CAE2023 for the corrugated web PEC beam model was validated by comparing test results with finite element analysis results. A detailed parametric analysis was then carried out using the finite element model to further investigate the mechanical properties of the wavy web PEC beams. The research findings are as follows: the wavy web PEC beams exhibited good ductility; a larger shear–span ratio led to a transition in the failure pattern from shear failure to flexural failure; varying the flange thickness significantly affected the failure location and characteristics; and reducing the flange thickness could limit the propagation of concrete cracks, thereby improving toughness and energy dissipation capacity.