Plastic Hinge Relocation in RCC Double-Slotted Beam Connection

Abstract

Plastic hinge relocation is the technique to relocate the plastic hinge away from the beam-column junction, i.e. to the beam. Over last few years, several plastic hinge relocation techniques were introduced to avoid penetration of strain into beam-column junction and to ensure strong column–weakbeam behaviour. The main drawback of these techniques is difficulty in prediction of centre of rotation of beam element. In this paper, an innovative type of beam-column connection known as Double-Slotted Beam (DSB) is developed, as a plastic hinge relocation technique with high level of accuracy in prediction of centre of rotation. Here, the beam consists of two vertical slots at top and bottom fibres of beam member. The slots are introduced to control the location of centre of rotation. The location of vertical slots is shifted from face of column towards the beam in each specimen, in order to relocate plastic hinge away from beam-column junction. Finite element analysis of beam-column connection with and without vertical joints was done using ABAQUS, in order to study the behaviour of structure under seismic loading. Displacement-controlled cyclic analysis of DSB connection was conducted. The double-slotted beam connection achieved plastic hinge relocation, minimum damage in concrete and reduction in deterioration of bond in joint.