Investigation and evaluation of a novel technique on CFRT column connection

• An ultra-high temperature heating and controlled slow cooling process can weaken the strength of Q345B steel.
• The hysteresis behavior of steel was different from that of the monotonic ones.
• HBS measurement succeeded induces plastic development away from column in through-diaphragm CFRT column connection.
• HBS measurement significantly improves the buckling condition and ductility of internal-diaphragm CFRT column connection.
• The tapered plate reinforcement may bring additional fracture probabilities.

This study investigated the effect of an innovative technique, heat treatment, on Q345B steel, which is generally used in China, and the application potential of this technique for H-beam moment connections to concrete filled rectangular steel tube (CFRT) column. A heat-treating process with ultra-high temperature heating and subsequent controlled slow cooling could have a weakening effect on steel strength. The effect of this heat-treating process on steel was investigated through a series of material tests on Q345B steel (Chinese standard). The Chaboche hysteresis material model was selected and calibrated to better describe the strength behavior under cyclic loading, and was then used for subsequent seismic simulations. This technique can be utilized to improve the seismic performance of connections by locally heat-treating the beam section (HBS), and then inducing the plastic hinge away from the critical region. The effect of HBS was investigated on two common CFRT column connections in China, namely, through-diaphragm and internal-diaphragm CFRT column connections. Results showed that the novel heat-treating process also had a significant weakening effect on Chinese Q345B steel. The hysteresis behavior of steel was different from the monotonic performance. The Chaboche model can effectively describe the hysteresis properties. The application of HBS succeeded in inducing plastic strain developed in the heat-treated region, and can reduce strain concentrations without significant connection moment strength loss.