Hysteresis behavior of CFT column to H-beam connections with external T-stiffeners and penetrated elements

This paper is a study on concrete-filled tubular (CFT) column to H-beam wel ded connections that are reinforced externally with T-shaped stiffeners at the junction of the column and beam, and with a reinforcing bar or bent pla te which penetrates a column. Cyclic loading tests on eight cruciform conne ctions and finite clement analysis using ABAQUS were carried out. The resul ts of the tests demonstrate that an increased stiffener length was more eff ective than an increase in the area of penetrated elements for the criteria of both strength and stiffness. Also, good agreements between analytical r esults and experimental tests are found. By reinforcing external T-stiffene rs, the connection moments of all specimens exceed the beam full plastic mo ment and stable hysteresis behavior under cyclic loading is shown. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.