Title: Seismic Performance of Gravity-Load-Designed Beam-Column Joints with Strain-Hardened Cementitious Composite

Author(s): B.S. Sindu and Saptarshi Sasmal

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 121

Issue: 3

Appears on pages(s): 159-172

Keywords: beam-column (BC) joint; energy dissipation; hysteresis behavior; seismic upgradation; strain-hardened cementitious composite (SHCC)

DOI: 10.14359/51740484

Date: 5/1/2024

Abstract:
Beam-column (BC) joints are crucial components for ensuring the safety of structures during earthquakes. Various standards/ codes (Eurocode 8, ACI 352R-02, and IS 13920:1993) prescribe special reinforcement detailing at the joint region to improve the seismic performance. Although extremely important, execution of the same is challenging due to heavy reinforcement congestion. In this regard, an attempt has been made in this study to develop a strain-hardened, high-performance cementitious composite (SHCC) with improved tension-related performance for seismicresistant BC joints, which can potentially reduce the reinforcement demand. The efficacy of SHCC in improving the gravity-loaddesigned (GLD) BC joints without any additional reinforcement required for ductile detailing is investigated. Full-scale BC joint specimens were developed and subjected to reversed cyclic loading, and the critical seismic performance—such as hysteresis behavior, damage pattern, energy dissipation, shear deformation, and strength/stiffness degradation—were evaluated and compared with GLD specimens with normal concrete. It is observed that the GLD specimens with SHCC at the joint region showed remarkable performance. Without any additional confinement in the joint region, energy dissipation is doubled (100%), and shear deformation is only 40% of the GLD under the same drift demand. The findings of this study will help in developing seismic-resistant BC joints with the minimum reinforcement.