Database for the semi-rigid behaviour of beam-to-column connections in seismic regions

Abstract

The behaviour of steelwork connections has long been recognised as complex. A database of test results for connection behaviour constitutes an essential step towards the development of design methodologies, allowing more researchers to investigate in this field without the financial burden of carrying out experimental work, avoiding being misled by incomplete or incorrect data, and opening the way to design assisted by testing. A database of experimental results for steel and steel-concrete composite connections is presented which encompasses graphical treatment of data, numerical manipulation and statistical treatment of groups of results, allowing easy comparison of connection behaviour. Simplified constitutive models for the hysteretic behaviour of connections are presented and included in the data- base for comparison and calibration with experimental results.