Tentative design guideline for a new steel beam connection detail to composite tube columns

Abstract

Steel tubes of relatively thin wall thickness filled with high-strength concrete have been used in building construction in the U.S. and Far East Asian countries. In this type of construction, a heavy steel beam is framed to these composite columns at each floor level. Often, these connections are required to develop shear yield and plastic moment capacity of the beam simultaneously. This paper summarizes results and recommendations from a pilot study conducted to develop a moment-resisting steel connection detail for connecting steel beams to composite columns of the type described. The suggested through-beam connection detail is believed to be the most suitable. In this type of detail a certain height of the column tube, together with a short beam stub passing through the column and welded to the tube could be shop fabricated to form a tree column. Analytical and experimental investigations were undertaken to comprehend and identify the force transfer mechanisms between beam and column elements.