Hysteresis behavior of concrete filled square steel tube column-to-beam partially restrained composite connections

This study presents the development of an improved detail for a Concrete Filled Steel Tube (CFT) square column-to-beam partially restrained composite connection (PR-CC) and the evaluation of its hysteresis behavior under cyclic loading. The detail of the connection was designed to prevent brittle failure at the bottom of the connection due to the composite effect and to simplify its fabrication process. The suggested connection is a welded type of bottom beam flange connection and the existing PR-CC is a bolted type with a seat-angle. To evaluate their hysteresis behavior, specimens were fabricated at full scale and tested under cyclic loading. Results revealed that the suggested type fractured at the welding zone without a drop in capacity due to the anchors inside the steel tube, and reached over 0.04 radian of the plastic rotational angle. The stiffness of the suggested type was about 10% greater than the existing type because the bolted connection allowed more deformation than the welded connection. Both connections were classified as Semi-rigid connections by stiffness analysis according to Eurocode3. The suggested type can be classified as a partially restrained connection overall under cyclic loading because it reached more than 0.03 rad of an inelastic rotation angle 80% capacity of the maximum moment capacity. This type was evaluated to exhibit equal or more ductility than the existing type. As a result, it is concluded that the welded bottom beam flange connection type can be used in practice for the CFT column–beam connection instead of the existing bolt connection using a seat-angle.