ELASTOPLASTIC BEHAVIOR OF STEEL BEAM-TO-RHS COLUMN CONNECTIONS UNDER CYCLIC BENDING AND BEAM AXIAL TENSION

This paper investigates the impact of beam axial tension on the cyclic performance of beam-to-column connections consisting of RHS column and H-beam. Five specimens were tested under cyclic loading with the column thickness and the presence and magnitude of beam axial tension as test variables. FEA was also conducted to quantify the degree of damage at the fracture initiation point. From experimental and numerical results, when the strength of the beam-end connection is determined by the out-of-plane bending capacity of the column wall, a significant reduction in plastic deformation capacity was observed, with an increase in beam axial tension.