Experimental study on composite beam-column joints subject to column removal scenario

• Main Author: Michell, Nathasya
• Other Authors: Tan Kang Hai
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71436
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Research on progressive collapse analysis has been initiated since the partial collapse of Ronan Point apartment and it was found that failures usually started from beam-column joints when subjected to extreme loading. As such, it is important for the beam-column joints to possess sufficient strength, stiffness and rotational capacities to sustain this abnormal loading, as correspondingly stated by many design codes and guidelines against progressive collapse. Previous research studies have focused on the behaviour of bare steel beam-column joints under column removal scenario. However, these studies have relied mostly on quasi-static loading and only few studies have been done to predict the behaviour of composite joints which is believed to enhance the resistance of the structure to progressive collapse. The research presented in this report extends previous work in this area by testing composite joint specimens with welded unreinforced flange bolted web (WUF-B) connection under dynamic loading condition. In total, four beam-column joint specimens with composite slabs were tested using an MTS drop-weight machine. Besides, as progressive collapse is a dynamic phenomenon, impact loading serves as a better and more accurate experimental model to capture the dynamic nature of collapse. The research includes two types of tests: three of the specimens were middle joint specimens subject to sagging moment and the last specimen is a side joint specimen under hogging moment. Behaviour of WUF-B specimens, including impact forces, vertical displacements of column, strain and failure modes, will be presented in this report.