This is Part 2 of a paper dealing with the semi-rigid behaviour of connections in precast concrete framed structures. In Part 11 the results of 28 full scale beam-to-column connection tests were presented in terms of flexural strength and stiffness. In Part 2, equations are developed to predict moment-rotation (M–f) behaviour, and a method to calculate the effective length factors b for columns in sway frames containing semirigid connections is presented.
The moment of resistance of the connection MRC is the sum of the yield strength of all components present at the end of the beam. The mean value of the ratio of the calculated-to-test moment is 1.01. Connection rotation is the aggregate sum of deformations at the interface, plus beam and column curvature acting over a length related to the dimension of the beam or column. The correlation with experimental M–f curves is in some cases better than 95% accurate. The analysis shows that whilst some connectors are suitable for semi-rigid frame design, non-compliant ones should be classified as pinned. The semi-rigid behaviour of precast beam-column connections and the axial load capacity of columns can be obtained through rational calculations.
Kim S. Elliott, BTech, PhD, CEng, MICE
School of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham,
Gwynne Davies, BSc, PhD, CEng, MIStructE, MICE School of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham, UK
Marcelo Ferreira MEng, MSc, PhD, CEng University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Formerly Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham
Halil Gorgun, BSc, MSc, PhD Lecturer, Dicle University, Turkey
Formerly Research Assistant, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham, UK
A. A. Mahdi, BSc, MSc, PhD, MICE Hyder Consulting, UK
Formerly Research Assistant Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham, UK