Experimental study on application of reduced section in long link-to-column connections

Abstract

Link-to-column connections in steel eccentrically braced frames must sustain large moments and shear forces to support link rotation. Recent studies showed that link-to-column connections are prone to failure at low drift levels due to their susceptibility to fracture at the link flange-to-column connections. The most promising method to overcome this problem is to utilize reduced beam section in link, in order to keep away stress concentration from the link ends. In this investigation, the application of reduced beam section in long link beams is studied experimentally. Two full-scale specimens with different reduced beam section locations are constructed and tested under cyclic loading. In one specimen, reduced beam section is placed at both ends of the link beam; and in the other specimen, reduced beam section is solely placed at the link end which is near the column. The results show that both specimens have satisfied the seismic code requirements for the link inelastic rotation, which in turn leads to improvement in seismic performance.