CYCLIC BEHAVIOR OF STEEL AND COMPOSITE

BEAM-TO-COLUMN JOINTS
L. Caladoa, L. Simões da Silvab and R. Simõesb
a
Civil Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
b
Civil Engineering Department, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

ABSTRACT

The paper presents the results obtained from experimental research on two types of
European joint solutions, namely steel and composite beam-to-column connections. Steel joints
were designed in order to investigate the influence of the connection detail (fully welded and top
and seat with web angle) and the column size, while the composite ones were designed to
analyze the influence of the slab, the internal and external localization of the joint and the type of
the column, steel and composite.

INTRODUCTION

The use of steel and composite joints is inherent in every structural steel and composite building,
whether it is of one story or one hundred stories. Therefore, the beam-to-column connection, due
to its importance to all constructions, is significant both economically and structurally. Saving in
connection costs as well as improved connection quality has an impact on buildings of all sizes.
Because of the repetitive nature of connections, even minor material or labor savings in one
connection are compounded and expanded throughout the entire building. It is important, then,
for a design engineer to understand the behavior of the connection, not only from the point of
view of the connection as a structural element, but also from the point of view of the connection
as a part of the complete structural system.

The collaboration between the Instituto Superior Técnico and the University of Coimbra aims to
contribute to find some answers on the cyclic behavior of steel and composite connections
through experimental research on different typologies of these connections to ensure that steel
and composite structures may behave in a safe way during the occurrence of an earthquake.

An experimental program on different types of steel and composite beam-to-column connections

has been carried out on these two institutions. The experimental tests have been performed on
specimens representative of frame structure beam-to-column joints close to the ones typical of
European design practice. The test program was planned with the aim of assessing the influence
of connection detail (fully welded and top and seat with web angle) and column size for steel
connections and the influence of the localization of the joint (internal and external) and type of
column (steel and composite) for composite connections. The main parameters influencing the
cyclic response of these joints are briefly presented.

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EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM

Steel joints were tested at the Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon while composite ones were
tested at the University of Coimbra.

Steel Joints

Two series of full-scale specimens have been designed and tested, Calado and Mele (1), Calado
et al (2, 3, 4), namely a fully welded series (BCC5, BCC6 and BCC8) and a top and seat with
web angle series (BCC9, BCC7 and BCC10). The specimens of the two series were T-shaped
beam-column subassemblages, consisting of a 1000 mm long beam and an 1800 mm long
column. The material used for the columns, beams, and angles was steel S235 JR. In each series
the cross section of the beam was the same (IPE300), while the column cross section has been
varied, being respectively HE160B for the BCC5 and BCC9 specimens, HE200B for the BCC6
and BCC7 specimens, and HE240B for the BCC8 and BCC10 specimens. In both series, the
continuity of the connection through the column has been ensured by 10 mm thick plate
stiffeners, fillet welded to the column web and flanges. In the fully welded specimens, Figure 1,
the beam flanges have been connected to the column flange by means of complete joint
penetration (CJP) groove welds, while fillet welds have been applied between both sides of the
beam web and the column flange.
Figure 1 - Detail of the fully welded connections.

In the BCC9, BCC7 and BCC10 specimens, Figure 2, 120x120x10 angles have been adopted.
Two rows of bolts were placed on each leg of the flange angles, while on the legs of the web
angles there was only one row of three bolts. The bolts were M16 grade 8.8 preloaded according
to the Eurocode 3 provisions (5), i.e. at FP,CD= 0.7 fub As = 87.9 kN.

Figure 2 - Detail of the top and seat with web angle connections.

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Composite Joints

The test program performed at the University of Coimbra on the cyclic behavior of composite
joints included 4 prototypes, Simões (6) and Simões et al (7), being 2 in internal nodes and 2 in
external ones. The prototypes were defined such that they could reproduce the connections in a
common European framed structure, with spans of about 7m, 4m spacing between frames, live
loads up to 4 kN/m2 and a high energy dissipation capacity and a good fire resistance, Eurocode
3 (5) and Eurocode 4 (8). The steel connection is the same in all prototypes, corresponding to a
beam connected to the column by one end plate, welded to the beam and bolted to the column.

In all cases, the beams consisted of an IPE 270, rigidly connected to a reinforced concrete slab
(full interaction) by 8 shear block connectors. The slab, 900 mm wide and 120 mm thick, was
reinforced with 10I12 longitudinal bars and 10I8 transversal bars per meter, with 20 mm cover.
The steel connection consisted of a 12 mm thick end plate, welded to the beam and bolted to the
column flange through 6 M20 bolts (class 8.8). The end plate was flushed at the top and
extended at the bottom, in order to achieve similar behavior under positive and negative
moments. The steel column was the same in all the tests (HEA 220), being encased by concrete
(300 u 300 mm) in tests E10 and E12, with longitudinal reinforcement of 4I12, with one bar in
each corner of the section and stirrups consisting of I6 bars 0.08 m apart. The following
materials were chosen: S235 JR in the steel components, steel class 8.8 in the bolts, steel A400
NR in the reinforcing bars.

Two tests were also performed in internal nodes, test E11 corresponding to the prototype
arrangement between composite beams and a steel column, and test E12 between composite
beams and a composite column. General details of composite joints are presented in Figure 3.

Loading Histories

For the steel specimens the experimental program consisted of cyclic tests with constant and
step-wise increasing amplitude displacement histories. This test type has been carried out
according to the basic loading history recommended in ECCS (9). For internal and external
composite specimens cyclic loading was applied only according to the methodology proposed by
the ECCS.

Testing Apparatus

The test set-up available at the Instituto Superior Técnico, mainly consists of a foundation, a
supporting girder, a reaction r.c. wall, a power jackscrew and a lateral frame, Figure 4. The
power jackscrew (capacity 1000 kN, stroke r 200mm) is attached to a specific frame, pre-
stressed against the reaction wall and designed to accommodate the screw backward movement.
The specimen is connected to the supporting girder through two steel elements. The supporting
girder is fastened to the reaction wall and to the foundation by means of pre-stressed bars.

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 Figure 3 – General detail of internal and external composite connections.

Figure 4 – Test set-up used for steel joints and available at Instituto Superior Técnico.

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 Figure 5 – Test set-up used for composite joints and available at University of Coimbra.

The tests on composite connections were performed at the University of Coimbra, and the test
set-up used consists of a foundation, a supporting frame and two dynamic actuators with a
capacity of 200 kN and 600 kN, and maximum displacement of 20 cm and 10 cm, which allow
experimental tests on internal and external solutions, Figure 5. The composite specimens are
connected to the supporting frame and fastened to the foundation.

Instrumentation

An automatic testing technique was developed in both laboratories to allow computerized control
of the jackscrew and the dynamic actuators, of the displacement and of all the transducers used
to monitor the specimens during the testing process. Specimens have been instrumented with
electrical displacement transducers (LVDTs), which recorded the displacement histories at
several points in order to obtain a careful documentation of the various phenomena occurring
during the tests.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

In the following only the moment rotation hysteresis loops obtained in the increasing amplitude
tests are provided.

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Steel Joints

A great regularity and stability of the hysteresis loops up to failure, with no deterioration of
stiffness and strength properties characterize the cyclic behavior of welded joints, Figure 6. In
the very last cycle specimens have collapsed with a sudden and sharp reduction of strength, due
to fracture initiated in the beam flange and propagated also in the web.

200
M (kNm)
150

100

50
I (rad)
0
-0.08 -0.06 -0.04 -0.02 0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08
-50

-100

-150

-200

Figure 6 – Hysteresis loops and failure mode of a welded joint.

Significant distortion of the joint panel zone has been observed during the tests, though no
remarkable plastic deformation occurred in the beam. The increasing of the size of the column
specimens showed a gradual reduction of the peak moment starting from the second cycle, where
the maximum value of the applied moment was usually registered. This deterioration of the
flexural strength of the connection was related to occurrence and spreading of local buckling in
the beam flanges and web. A well-defined plastic hinge in the beam has formed in all the tested
specimens. In the specimens with large column size the panel zone deformation has not been
remarkable, and the plastic deformation took place mainly in the beam.

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 150
M (kNm)

100

50

I (rad
0
-0.08 -0.06 -0.04 -0.02 0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0

-50

-100

-150

Figure 7 – Hysteresis loops and failure mode of a top and seat with web angle connections.

The cyclic behavior of the top and seat with web angle connections was characterized by bolt
slippage and yielding and spreading of plastic deformation in the top and bottom angles,
cyclically subjected to tension. Plastic ovalization of the bolt holes has also been observed
mainly in the leg of the angle adjacent to column flange. The experimental curves, typical of this
type of connection, showed pinching hysteresis loops, with a large slip plateau and subsequent
sudden stiffening, Figure 7. At large applied displacements, which impose large rotations to the
connection, the contact of the compression angle and the beam web to the column flange (gap
closure) gave rise to sudden stiffening of the
connection, which is evident in the experimental curves.

No significant rotation of the column and distortion of the panel zone have been observed
throughout the experimental tests carried out on these specimens. In all tests carried out on these
specimens, the collapse of the connection occurred due to fracture in the leg angle located on the
beam flange, immediately after the fillet. Negligible scatters were observed in the moment
capacity of the three connection series, as it was expected, since the inelastic behavior of the
connection was governed by the angle.

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Composite Joints

Two tests were performed in internal nodes, test E11 corresponding to a steel column, illustrated
in Figure 8, and test E12 corresponding to a composite column and shown in Figure 9.

150
M (kNm)

100

50

ITotal (mrad)
0
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50

-50

-100

-150

Figure 8 - Hysteresis loops and failure mode of an internal node with a steel column.

200
M (kNm)
150

100

50
ITotal (mrad)
0
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
-50

-100

-150

-200

Figure 9 - Hysteresis loops and failure mode of an internal node with a composite column.

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These joints presented high ductility with similar response for hogging and sagging moment.
Because the maximum amplitude was not very high, the strength degradation was low. Based on
the experimental results it was possible to conclude that after the cracking of the concrete in the
web of the composite column the cyclic behavior of the specimen E12 (composite column) was
similar to that of the E11 (steel column). This fact allows to say that the confinement of the
concrete was not very efficient, although it was very competent in the monotonic tests performed
in this type of joints.

200
M (kNm)
150

100

50
ITotal (mrad)
0
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
-508

-100

-150

-200

Figure 10 - Hysteresis loops and failure mode of an external node with a steel column.

250
M (kNm)
200

150

100

50
ITotal (mrad)
0
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

Figure 11 - Hysteresis loops and failure mode of an external node with a composite column.

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Concerning external nodes, E9 with steel column (Figure 10), and E10 with composite column
(Figure 11), the experimental curves exhibited some pinched hysteresis loops, with a slip plateau
and subsequent strength degradation, which was unsymmetrical due to the unsymmetrical
resistance of the connection. The strength degradation was mainly due to the deformation of the
shear connectors and consequent slip between the slab and the steel beam.

As in external nodes, the ductility remained high except for test E10 under negative hogging
moment, and the influence of the type of column, steel vs composite, occurred in the first cycles
when the concrete was not cracked. After the cracking of the concrete the cyclic behavior of both
connections, E9 and E10, was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

In this paper the major aspects governing the cyclic behavior of some European solutions for
steel and composite joint have been evidenced against experimental results. It has been shown
that for welded steel joints the behavior of the connection is strongly affected by the panel zone,
which is directly related to the column size. On the contrary, for top and seat with web angle
steel connections the panel zone does not affect the behavior of the joint, which instead is
mainly, related to the tension angle geometry and strength properties. Concerning composite
joints, the experimental tests performed have evidenced that the influence of the type of the
column, steel or composite occurred in the first cycles when the concrete is not cracked. After
that phase the behavior of the joints was similar. On the contrary, the localization of the joint,
internal or external, has influence on the cyclic behavior of the connection. External joints have
exhibited some pinched hysteresis loops while for internal nodes the cyclic behavior was more
regular and stable.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Financial support from “Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia” - PRAXIS XXI research project
“Dynamic Behavior of Steel-Concrete Composite Structures” and the European research project
INCO-COPERNICUS Joint Research Project “Reliability of Moment Resistant Connections of
Steel Building Frames in Seismic Areas” (RECOS) is gratefully acknowledged.

REFERENCES

(1) Calado, L. and Mele, E., 2000. "Experimental Behavior of Steel Beam-to-Column Joints:
Fully Welded vs Bolted Connections". Proc. 12th World Conference on Earthquake
Engineering, Auckland, New Zealand, January-February, paper No.2570/6/A
(2) Calado, L., Bernuzzi, C. and Castiglioni, C. A., 1998, “Structural Steel Components under
Low-Cycle Fatigue: Design Assisted by Testing”, Structural Engineers World Congress,
SEWC, San Francisco.
(3) Calado, L., De Matteis, G., Landolfo, R. and Mazzolani, F.M., 1999, “Cyclic Behavior of
Steel Beam-to-Column Connections: Interpretation of Experimental Results”, SDSS’99
Stability and Ductility of Steel Structures, Proc. 6th International Colloquium, Timisoara
(Romania), (ed. by D. Dubina and M. Ivanyi), Elsevier, 211-220.

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(4) Calado, L., Mele, E., and De Luca, A. 1999, “Experimental Investigation on the Cyclic
Behavior of Welded Beam-to-Column Connections”. Proc. 2nd European Conference on
Steel Structures, EUROSTEEL ’99, Praha, Czech Republic, Paper No.215.
(5) Eurocode 3, ENV 1993-1-1, 1992, “Design of Steel Structures”, CEN, European Committee
for Standardization, Ref. No. ENV 1993-1-1: Brussels, Belgium.
(6) Simões, R. A. D., 2000, “Behavior of Beam-to-Column Composite Joints under Static and
Cyclic Loading”, (in Portuguese), Ph.D. Thesis, Civil Engineering Department, University of
Coimbra, Portugal.
(7) Simões, R. A. D., Simões da Silva, L. A. P., and Cruz, P. J. S., 1999, “Experimental Models
of End-Plate Beam-to-Column Composite Connections”, Proc. 2nd European Conference on
Steel Structures, EUROSTEEL ’99, Praha, Czech Republic, 625-629.
(8) Eurocode 4, ENV 1994-1-1, 1996, “Proposed Annex J for EN 1994-1-1, Composite Joints in
Building Frames”, CEN, European Committee for Standardization, Draft for meeting of
CEN/TC 250/SC 4, Paper AN/57, Brussels, Belgium.
(9) ECCS, 1986, “Seismic Design. Recommended Testing Procedure for Assessing the Behavior
of Structural Steel Elements under Cyclic Loads”, Tech. Comm. 1 - Structural Safety and
Loadings, TWG1.3 – Rep. No.45.

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