| Title |
An Experimental Study Investigating the Effectiveness of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Joints |
| Authors |
Kwak Yoon-Keun ; Choi Hyun-Tai ; Kwon Woo-Hyun ; Kim Woo-Suk ; Kang Thomas H.-K |
| Keywords |
Beam-Column Joint ; Seismic Loading ; Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete ; Lateral Confinement Reinforcement |
| Abstract |
For the sufficient strength and ductile behavior of RC beam-column joints, closely-spaced lateral confinement reinforcement is required by seismic design codes. However, such seismic design often hinders the economic efficiency and constructability of a structure. The use of steel fibers in RC beam-column joints can improve the cost effectiveness and overcome fabrication complications, such as congested reinforcement details and associated poor concrete placement, without altering its seismic performance. To investigate the effect of steel fibers in RC beam-column joints, an experimental study was carried out under seismic loading conditions. A total of six half-scale joint specimens with seismic details or replacing steel fibers were subjected to three reversed cycles at each drift level up to 6% lateral drift ratio. The variables studied in this investigation are the joint transverse reinforcement amount and steel fiber volume fraction (0, 1, and 1.5%). The results of tests show that lateral load capacity, energy dissipation capacity, shear strength and ductility, and drift capacity are improved with the application of steel fibers of 1.5% but with the same configuration for the rest of the details. Also, a detailed analysis of both global and local data reveals the possibility of substituting steel fibers for some of the transverse reinforcement. |