Comparison of the behaviour of reinforced concrete beam-column joints designed for ductility and limited ductility

Abstract

Four beam-interior column Units were designed, constructed and tested subjected to simulated earthquake and gravity loading. One Unit followed the requirements of the New Zealand concrete design code NZS 3101:1982 for structures designed for ductility. The other three Units only partly followed the requirements of NZS 3101, in order to obtain information on the behaviour of beam-column joints of limited ductility. Plastic hinging was designed to occur in the beams. The major test variables were the quantity of horizontal and vertical shear reinforcement in the beam-interior column joint cores and the diameter of the beam longitudinal reinforcing bars passing through the joint cores. The test results indicated that the current NZS 3101 detailing requirements for shear and bond in the beam-interior column joint core regions of ductile reinforced concrete frames could be relaxed.