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CONNECTION: PART II
Selectively trimming a portion of a beam allows
connection strength to exceed beam strength without
the need to develop a stronger connection
By Michael D. Engelhardt, case, however, the connection is
Ted Winneberger, Andrew J. made stronger than the beam
Zekany and Timothy J. not by increasing the strength of
Potyraj the connection, but rather by
decreasing the strength of the
S
INCE THE 1994 NORTHRIDGE beam. The dogbone can be
EARTHQUAKE, INTENSIVE viewed as a ductile fuse. It forces
RESEARCH AND TESTING yielding to occur within the
EFFORTS have been underway to reduced section of the beam, an
find better methods to design area that can sustain large
and construct seismic resistant inelastic strains. At the same
steel moment connections. A Figure 1: Typical “dogbones” time, the dogbone acts as a fuse,
wide variety of solutions have limiting stress at the less ductile
been proposed over the last two region near the face of the col-
years, many of which have ated states of triaxial tension, umn. Previous work has been
shown greatly improved perfor- etc. The reinforcement reduces conducted on the constant cut
mance in the laboratory com- stress levels within this vulnera- and tapered cut dogbone shapes
pared to the previous “Pre- ble region near the column face, shown in Figure 1. In the case of
Northridge” connection. The and forces the large stresses and the tapered cut, the taper is
overall goal in the development inelastic strains further into the intended to follow the moment
of new connections is to provide beam. Reinforcing the connec- diagram in order to promote uni-
highly ductile response, reliable tion, however, increases its cost. form yielding over the full length
performance, and economy. Further, if excessive reinforce- of the dogbone.
Many of the new moment con- ment is used, new problems can At first glance, it may seem
nections combine improvements be created resulting from the counterintuitive that removing a
in welding with some type of need for very large welds with portion of a structure actually
reinforcement at the connection high shrinkage, and higher improves the performance of the
(cover plates, ribs, haunches, degrees of restraint and triaxial structure. In the case of the dog-
side plates, etc.). The purpose of tension. bone, however, this is exactly the
the reinforcement, in the most An alternative to reinforcing a case! The dogbone results in only
general terms, is to provide a moment connection that provides a small reduction in lateral
connection that is stronger than benefits similar to reinforce- strength and stiffness of a frame
the beam. A strong earthquake ment, but may avoid some of the but can provide a large increase
would be expected to develop disadvantages, is the “dogbone” in ductility, the key to survival of
plastic hinges at the beam ends moment connection. A distin- a structure in a strong earth-
in a traditional fully restrained guishing feature of the dogbone, quake. Trading a small amount
(FR) moment frame. The rein- also known as the Reduced of strength in return for a large
forcement is intended to force Beam Section (RBS) connection, amount of ductility represents
the plastic hinge away from the is that portions of the beam an excellent bargain for earth-
face of the column, where prema- flange are trimmed away in the quake resistant design.
ture fractures can occur due to region adjacent to the beam-to- The size of moment frame
potential weld defects, stress column connection (Figure 1). beams is normally controlled by
concentrations at weld access Various shape cutouts are possi- code-mandated drift limitations
holes, stress concentrations due ble. The result is similar to rein- rather than by code strength
to column flange bending, high forcement, i.e., the connection is requirements. The dogbone gen-
levels of restraint and the associ- stronger than the beam. In this erally results in only a slight