Journal of Constructional Steel Research 66 (2010) 962–970

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Journal of Constructional Steel Research

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A study on the seismic performance of concrete-filled square steel tube

column-to-beam connections reinforced with asymmetric lower diaphragms
Sung-Mo Choi a,∗ , Su-Hee Park a , Yeo-Sang Yun b , Jin-Ho Kim c
a
Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, Republic of Korea
b
Harmony Engineering, Seoul, Republic of Korea
c
Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology Steel Structure Research Laboratory, Kyungkido, Republic of Korea

article info abstract

Article history: This paper studies the development of the through-type concrete-filled square steel tube column-to-
Received 2 December 2008 beam connection, reinforced with an asymmetric lower diaphragm. This type of connection can be
Accepted 17 January 2010 used in weak-earthquake regions such as Korea. A simple tension test was performed on the suggested
lower diaphragms and the combined cross diaphragm in order to confirm their tensile behavior.
Keywords: Subsequently, four types of concrete-filled square steel tube column-to-beam connection (with combined
Concrete-filled square steel tube
cross diaphragm, nothing, horizontal T-bar and vertical plate as lower diaphragm) were fabricated in
Diaphragm
Column-to-beam connection
actual size and tested according to the ANSI/AISC SSPEC 2002 cyclic loading program. The horizontal T-bar
Cyclic loading program and stud bolts in the vertical plates were designed to transmit the tensile stress from the bottom flange of
Simple tension test the beam to the filled concrete. All the test specimens satisfied the 0.01 radian inelastic rotation capacity
Seismic performance requirements for the composite ordinary moment frame (C-OMF) of the AISC seismic provisions. It was
concluded that the suggested simplified lower diaphragms have sufficient strength, stiffness and plastic
deformation capacity to be used in the field.
© 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction in Fig. 1. The RC core inside the building is usually designed to

1.1. Research background and objectives
The Concrete Filled Tube (CFT) structure is acknowledged
within the industry as a very economic and effective structural
system. The CFT structure has been studied by many researchers
and has been widely used in the field [1–4]. The connection details
for the CFT structures have been developed mainly to resist strong
earthquakes. It would therefore be uneconomical to apply these
details to structures in weak-earthquake regions such as Korea.
For the CFT column-to-beam connections requiring field
welding, the AISC Seismic Provisions [5] provide the through-type
connection where the beam penetrates the column as the seismic
connection detail of the composite special moment frame (C-SMF).
This through-type connection is adequate for strong-earthquake
regions, such as America and Japan. However, it is uneconomic
to apply the through-type connection to structures in weak-
earthquake regions, such as Korea. In addition, tall buildings in
Korea usually adopt a reinforced concrete (RC) core and a moment
frame as the lateral load resisting system, such as in the building
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +82 2 2210 2396; fax: +82 2 2248 0382.
E-mail address: smc@uos.ac.kr (S.-M. Choi).
0143-974X/$ – see front matter © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jcsr.2010.01.004
resist 80%–90% of the lateral load, while the exterior moment
frame is required to resist only a small portion of the lateral
load. In this study, the authors suggest the use of asymmetric
diaphragms at the bottom of the through-type connections that
can obtain an inelastic rotation capacity of 0.01 rad. This would
comply with the requirements for the composite ordinary moment
frame suggested by the AISC Seismic Provisions [5] and be applied
in weak-earthquake regions such as Korea. This lower diaphragm
is designed to resist 40% of the tensile force derived from the full-
plastic moment of the beam.
In existing CFT column-to-beam connections that have different
depths of beams at both sides, the lower diaphragm in the
connection becomes inclined or two-layered, as shown in Fig. 2.
This makes the construction work complicated and deteriorates
the concrete-filling condition in the steel tube. Thus, it is necessary
to develop a connection detail that can compensate for these
weak points. However, a guide and manual on the details for
various column-to-beam connections does not exist, and neither
the Korean Society of Steel Construction nor the Architectural
Institute of Korea has published such material [6]. The objective
of this study is to present the base data on CFT column-to-beam
connection details that could obtain the performance of fabrication
and construction work and exhibit a sufficient ductile behavior.
This data is presented as part of the development of a CFT column-
 S.-M. Choi et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 66 (2010) 962–970 963

to-beam connection to be used in weak-earthquake regions such

as Korea.

37@4.05m = 149.8m
1.2. Test plan

As a base study to detect the behavior of a CFT square column-

9 @ 8.4m = 75.6m
to-beam connection, a simple tension test was carried out on
three types of lower reinforcing. The specimens for the simple
tension test were idealized with only a tension flange of the
beam in the CFT column-to-beam connection. The applicability
of the suggested connections was checked based on these simple

5@4.6m = 23m
tension test results. In addition, four types of CFT column-
to-beam connection were fabricated in actual size and tested
according to the ANSI (American National Standard Institute)/AISC
SSPEC-2002 cyclic loading program [5] in order to discover their
structural behavior through the seismic performance evaluation. 2@14.5m + 13m = 42m 2@14.5m + 13m = 42m
A parametric study was also carried out so as to understand their
(a) Plan (Typ.). (b) Elevation.
behavior.
Fig. 1. R4 building.
1.3. Suggested connection details

Two connection details of the HT and VP type are suggested in

this study. These connection details are developed so that they can
be applied in cases where the compressive load interacts only as
a part of the development of a CFT column-to-beam connection.
Furthermore, they are developed so that they can be used in weak-
earthquake regions such as Korea [7]. The bottom of the connection
details is reinforced with a horizontal T-bar (HT) and vertical plate
(VP), in order to improve concrete filling and construction work.
Fig. 3 illustrates these two connection details. In the HT type, when
compression develops on the bottom flange of the beam, the stress
is transferred to the filled concrete of the CFT column, through the Fig. 2. Diaphragm in connection with different depth of beams at both sides.
vertical plate welded to the end of the trapezoidal horizontal plate.
If tension develops on the bottom flange of the beam, tension is Weak Axis
Strong Axis
transferred by the anchor action of the T-bar in the filled concrete.
In the VP type connection detail, the compression of the bottom Combined cross
flange of the beam is transferred to the filled concrete in the CFT Diaphragm
column through the stud bolts, which are welded to the vertical
plate at regular intervals and confined by the filled concrete.
A sleeve-inserted combined cross diaphragm (CDS) is also
presented for comparison with the HT and the VP type connection
details. The CDS is an existing connection type that can be used Vertical
Flat bar
in strong-earthquake regions. The detail of the CDS is designed to
transfer stress more clearly and obtain a sufficient ductile behavior.
The research team in this study has achieved finite element
analysis for the connection details of the CDS type from previous Horizontal
research, and has evaluated the load-carrying capacities, load T- bar
transfer mechanism and stress concentration associated with the
Fig. 3. Supposed connection detail.
CDS type [8,7]. The research team has also suggested the evaluation
equation of load-carrying capacities for this connection [9].
The unbalance of load on the beams at both sides of the The T-bar was made by welds of 6 mm and 12 mm-thick plates
connection is also considered in this research. More specifically, and had a 25 mm diameter hole for concrete filling. The tension
the diaphragm in the strong axis penetrates the column and is of the beam flange is transferred to the filled concrete in the CFT
connected to the beam directly, while the diaphragm in the weak column through the horizontal T-bar.
axis is inserted into the column. In the VP specimen, a 9 mm-thick reinforcing plate was welded
to the steel tube vertically and 4 stud bolts of 13 mm in diameter
2. Simple tension test and 60 mm in length were welded to this vertical plate at intervals
of 100 mm.
2.1. Specimen design
2.2. Loading and measurement method
Three specimens of CDS, HT and VP were fabricated in order
to discover the behavior of the suggested lower reinforcing types A pullout test was carried out on the beam flanges of the
under tension, and the applicability to the CFT column-to-beam specimens by the universal testing machine with a 2940 kN
connection. These specimens are illustrated in Figs. 4–6. capacity. This test was continued until the ultimate capacities and
The CDS specimen had a sleeve-inserted combined cross failure modes were confirmed. The axial displacement of the beam
diaphragm. It was used for comparison with the other types. In flange was measured by the displacement gauges attached to the
the HT specimen, a T-bar was welded to the steel tube horizontally beam flange, which were in the range of 600 mm gauge length,
inside the CFT column. starting at a 100 mm distance from the column face. Strain gauges
964 S.-M. Choi et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 66 (2010) 962–970

1400
CDS
1200

1000 Failure at Diaphragm in major axis (1284kN, 24mm)

Load (kN)
Failure at welded part of Steel tube
800 (597.8kN, 23mm)
HT Pp
600

400

200 VP
Failure at welded part of vicinity of Steel tube
(441kN, 25mm)
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Displacement (mm)

Fig. 7. Load–displacement curve.

were also attached to the flanges of the beam and column in order
to detect the strain distribution.

Fig. 4. Sleeve-inserted combined cross diaphragm (CDS) type. 2.3. Material test

A material test was carried out in order to confirm the

mechanical properties of the steel that was used in the simple
tension test specimen. The test was carried out according to KS
B 0802, Method of Tensile Test for Metallic Material in Korean
Standards, and the results are given in Table 1. Welds of 12 mm-
thick SM490 steel plates were used to fabricate the columns of each
specimen, while 16 mm-thick plates of SS400 steel were used for
the diaphragms and beam flanges. The compressive test was also
carried out on the concrete that was used to fill the steel tube, in
order to detect its 28-day compressive strength.

2.4. Load test results

Fig. 7 illustrates the relationship between the load and

Fig. 5. Horizontal T-bar (HT) type.
displacement of three specimens according to the simple tension
test results. In Fig. 7, Pp is the full plastic moment of the beam
flange, which is a product of Fy and sectional area. Here, the value
of Fy is given in the material test results of Table 1.
According to the simple tension test, the capacity of the CDS
specimen was governed by the tensile strength of the diaphragm
in the strong axis (the diaphragm in the strong axis and the beam
flange are made of the same steel). In the case of the HT and
VP specimens, their capacities were governed by a failure of the
connection.

2.5. Ultimate capacity and initial stiffness

The ultimate capacity and initial stiffness of specimens are

compared in Fig. 7. The ultimate capacity of the HT specimen was
10% larger than that of the VP specimen. However, the ultimate
capacities of the HT and VP specimens were only about 50% of
that of the CDS specimen. Similarly, the initial stiffness of the
CDS specimen was 40%–45% higher than that of the HT and VP
specimens. This might be caused by the fact that the drop-off in
capacity of the HT and VP specimens occurred earlier than that of
the CDS specimen, with their reinforcing diaphragms undergoing
a plastic state (See Figs. 8 and 9).

3. Cyclic load test

3.1. Specimen design

In all specimens, the top of the connection was designed to

transfer the stress more clearly and have a large ductility. In
addition, the unbalance of the load on the beams at both sides
Fig. 6. Vertical Plate (VP) type.
of the connection was taken into account. Specifically, the upper
 S.-M. Choi et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 66 (2010) 962–970
Table 1
Material test results on the simple test and the cyclic load test specimens.
Member Steel grade THK (mm)
Steel tube SM490 12
Beam flange 10
Diaphragm 16
T-bar (horizontal) SS400 6 2152
T-bar (vertical) 9 2106
Flat-bar 12
Concrete fck = 49 MPa
Fig. 8. Comparison of ultimate capacity.
Fig. 9. Comparison of initial stiffness.
diaphragm in the strong axis which is under the larger load,
penetrated the column and was directly connected to the beam,
while the upper diaphragm in the weak axis, which is under a
smaller load, was inserted into the column.
Four specimens of CDS, CDSN, CDST and CDSV were fabricated
for the cyclic load test. The upper diaphragm of all specimens
was a combined cross diaphragm and the four specimens were
distinguished by the lower diaphragm. Figs. 10–13 show the detail
of each specimen. In all specimens, the column was a square
tubular section of -400 × 400 × 12, SM490 steel and the beam
was a wide flange section of H-500 × 200 × 10 × 16, SS400 steel.
The steel tubular column was filled with a high-flexible concrete
with a 49 MPa compressive strength. In the top of the connection, a
200 mm-wide diaphragm penetrated into the column in the strong
axis and welded with the diaphragm of the weak axis so as to
form a combined cross diaphragm. A round sleeve of 114.3 mm in
diameter, 6 mm in thickness and 130 mm in length, was inserted
into the center of the combined cross diaphragm. The ratio of the
opened area to the gross area of the diaphragm for this sleeve was
28.4%. A sleeve was inserted into the upper diaphragm so as to
compensate for the reduction in the sectional area due to the hole
in the center of the diaphragm and to the increase of the in-plane
strength under tension.
The CDS specimen included this combined cross diaphragm at
both the top and the bottom of the connection [10]. The CDSN
965
E (GPa) Fy (MPa) Fu (MPa) Fy /Fu Elo. (%)
2108 462.6 603.7 0.77 26
2051 340.1 450.8 0.75 28
2050 342 478.2 0.72 32
231.3 364.6 0.63 29
330.3 476.3 0.69 26
2106 262.6 355.7 0.74 34
specimen included this combined cross diaphragm only at the top
of the connection. It was intended that the compression of the
bottom flange of the beam be transferred to the filled concrete in
the CFT column directly, without a diaphragm at the bottom.
The CDST specimen had the T-shape of a lower diaphragm,
which consisted of a vertical rectangular plate of 200 mm in
width, 100 mm in height and 12 mm in thickness and a horizontal
trapezoidal plate of 200 mm in lower side length, 100 mm in
upper side length, 88 mm in height and 6 mm in thickness. The
trapezoidal shape was used in the lower diaphragm in order to
distribute the stress to the filled concrete under compression, and
to increase the confinement effect by the concrete under tension.
The CDSV specimen had a vertical plate of 572.5 mm in height,
100 mm in width and 9 mm in thickness. It also had 5 stud bolts of
13 mm in diameter and 60 mm in length as the lower diaphragm.
Stud bolts were perpendicularly welded to the vertical diaphragm
at intervals of 60 mm.
The lower diaphragm of the CDST and CDSV specimens was
designed mainly for compression because, in weak-earthquake
regions, it is on the bottom of the beam where compression mostly
develops. If tension develops on the bottom of the connection
under a strong earthquake, tension can be transferred to the filled
concrete in the CFT column through the embedded plate and stud
bolts. The beam webs of all specimens were connected to the
column through the bolts and the 20 mm-thick single plate. This
bolted connection was adopted in order to minimize the influence
of shear on the connection and to evaluate the ductility of the
connection under pure bending.
FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc Welding), with E71T-1 ϕ 1.6 mm welding
rod, was adopted for the welding of all specimens [10]. In Korea,
this is the most common method for shop welding and it satisfies
the AWS (American Welding Society) standards. SMAW(Shielded
Metal Arc Welding) with E7018 ϕ 1.8 mm welding rod was used in
the connection of the steel tube and the beam flange. The end of one
plate that was to be welded was cut diagonally and welded to the
other plate by groove welds. A backing strip was used in case it was
difficult to weld inside the column. The purpose of this was also to
minimize weld defects such as weld crack and slag inclusion and
to prevent the influence on the test results by welds. As shown in
Fig. 14, a complete penetration groove weld was used and a scallop
with a radius of 35 mm was placed at the top and bottom corners
of the beam webs in the connection between the steel tube and
the beam flange, taking into consideration the construction work
in the field.
3.2. Material test
Table 1 gives the material test results for the modulus of
elasticity (E), yield strength (Fy, fck ), tensile strength (Fu ), yield ratio
(Fy /Fu ) and elongation (Elo.).
3.3. Loading system
The loading system is illustrated in Fig. 15. The specimen was
placed on the reaction footing and was hinged-connected to the
reaction wall. An actuator with 1960 kN capacity was attached at
the end of the beam and preclusive supplementary supports were
966 S.-M. Choi et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 66 (2010) 962–970
Fig. 10. CDS specimen detail (Sleeve-inserted combined cross diaphragm).
Fig. 11. CDSN specimen detail (no reinforcing in the bottom).
Fig. 12. CDST specimen detail (horizontal T-bar).
Fig. 13. CDSV specimen detail (vertical plate).
Fig. 14. Scallop detail in connection.
installed at both ends of the loading point so as to prevent lateral
buckling of the beam.
3.4. Loading and measurement method
As shown in Fig. 16, a load was applied to the specimen
according to the ANSI/AISC SSPEC- 2002 cyclic loading program [5].
The load was controlled by the storey drift angle. The displacement
of the beam end was defined using the distance between the
loading point of the beam and the center of the column, according
to the storey drift angle [11]. A displacement-controlled actuator
applied the load. Specimens were loaded for 6 cycles at 0.375%,
0.5% and 075% of the storey drift angle, respectively, and 4 cycles
at 1%. After 2% of the storey drift angle, they were loaded for 2
cycles at intervals of 1% of the storey drift angle, until failure of
the specimen occurred.
Displacement gauges and strain gauges were attached to those
points where the overall behavior and local deformation of the
specimens could be shown sufficiently. The vertical displacement
of the actuator controlled the displacement of the specimens. The
load was measured through the load cell in the actuator. The
inelastic rotation angle [12] for the measurement of ductility was
obtained by dividing the plastic displacement at the beam end
by the distance between the beam end and the center of the
column, in accordance with the Seismic Provision for Structural
Steel Building [5]. The plastic displacement at the beam end was
also obtained by subtracting the elastic displacement from the
displacement at the beam end.
 S.-M. Choi et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 66 (2010) 962–970
Fig. 15. Loading system.
D
Fig. 16. ANSI/AISC SSPEC-2002.
4. Test results and analysis
4.1. Moment–rotation angle relation
The relationship between the moment and the rotation angle
for each specimen and its failure mode are shown in Figs. 17–20.
The moment is the value of the load at the loading point multiplied
by the distance between the loading point and the center of the
column. The rotation angle is the value of the displacement at
the loading point, divided by 3500 mm, which is the length of
the beam [11]. In addition, the full plastic moment of the beam
(Mp ) is the yielding stress of the beam multiplied by the plastic
section modulus of the beam. Also, the hysteretic curves between
the moment and rotation angles were converted to the monotonic
curves for all specimens, in order to compare the behaviors of
specimens. Fig. 21 shows the converted monotonic curves.
4.1.1. CDS specimen—Sleeve-inserted combined cross diaphragm
The CDS specimen exhibited the most stable hysteretic curve
overall, as shown in Fig. 17(a). At 3 steps (0.00375 rad), the surface
of the beam flange fell off and the beam started yielding and
undergoing a plastic region without any apparent physical change
until 6 steps. At 6 steps (0.02 rad), a crack was found at the lower
diaphragm and at the bottom flange of the beam, about 1 cm
from the column. Subsequently, the capacity of the connection
started to decrease as the crack width increased until 2 cycles of
7 steps (0.03 rad). After it reached its ultimate capacity at 7 steps
(0.03 rad), the bottom flange of the beam fractured and the test was
concluded.
967
Both the top and the bottom of the connection had the capacity
to surpass the full plastic moment of the beam.
4.1.2. CDSN specimen—No reinforcement
The CDSN specimen included the combined cross diaphragm
only at the top connection. This made a great deal of difference in
the behavior between the top and the bottom of the connection, as
shown in Fig. 18(a). At 4 steps (0.01 rad), a crack occurred on the
weld zone of the bottom flange of the beam. Furthermore, a minute
yielding line was observed in the bottom flange of the beam, while
the center of the weld zone, between the bottom flange of the beam
and the steel tube, swelled out slightly. At 5 steps (0.015 rad), the
thickness of the crack developed to the same thickness as that of
the beam flange. The yielding line was apparent mainly in the weld
zone between the bottom flange of the beam and the steel tube. At
7 steps (0.03 rad), the bottom of the steel tube swelled out a great
deal and it reached its ultimate capacity, with an abrupt failure, at
both the steel tube and the bottom flange of the beam, as shown
in Fig. 18(b). Under tension in the top of the beam, the capacity
of the connection surpassed the full plastic moment of the beam.
However, under tension in the bottom of the beam, the capacity
of the connection was only 30% of the full plastic moment of the
beam.
4.1.3. CDST specimen—Horizontal T-bar
The CDST specimen included the horizontal T-bar in the bottom
of the connection so as to enhance the confinement effect of
concrete and to reduce the concentration of the bearing stress. The
specimen exhibited a stable hysteretic curve at an early stage. At
4 steps (0.01 rad), the stiffness of the specimen began to decrease
with the introduction of a micro-crack on the weld zone between
the bottom flange of the beam and the steel tube. This was similar
to the behavior of the CDSN specimen. The bottom of the steel tube
also began to swell out.
During 5 steps (0.015 rad) and 6 steps (0.02 rad), the preceding
change on the bottom of the connection developed gradually.
However, there was no appearance of any defect such as a crack or
deformation at the top of the connection. At 7 steps (0.03 rad), the
specimen reached its ultimate capacity with a fracture at the right
edge of the steel tube. As the specimen continued to develop its
fracture, it was thought that it had lost its load-carrying capacity
and the test was concluded. As shown in Fig. 19(a), there was a
significant difference between the capacity of the top and that of
the bottom of the connection. While the capacity surpassed the full
plastic moment of the beam under tension at the top, the capacity
was about 70% of the full plastic moment of the beam under tension
at the bottom.
4.1.4. CDSV specimen—Vertical flat-bar
In the CDSV specimen, the bottom of the connection was
reinforced with vertical stiffeners welded to the inner surface of
the steel tube. The specimen exhibited elastic behavior until 4
steps (0.01 rad). At 4 steps, the bottom flange of the beam yielded
with a micro-crack at the weld zone between the bottom flange
of the beam and the steel tube. After 5–6 steps, there was a
significant difference in the behavior between the top and the
bottom. The top of the connection increased its capacity with a
corresponding increase in crack width. On the other hand, the
capacity of the bottom decreased rapidly as the bottom of the
connection experienced a plastic state. At 7 steps, it reached its
ultimate state. Then, as the lower diaphragm experienced a plastic
state, the steel tube could no longer bear the tensile force from
the bottom flange of the beam and it consequently failed abruptly.
The capacity of the top of the connection surpassed the full plastic
moment of the beam under the tension in the top, while that of the
bottom of the connection was 70% of the full plastic moment of the
beam under the tension in the bottom. This behavior was similar
to that of the CDST specimen.
968 S.-M. Choi et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 66 (2010) 962–970

(a) Moment–rotation angle curve. (b) Photo of failure at 0.03 rad.

Fig. 17. Load test result of CDS specimen.

(a) Moment–rotation angle curve. (b) Photo of failure at 0.03 rad.

Fig. 18. Load test result of CDSN specimen.

(a) Moment–rotation angle curve. (b) Photo of failure at 0.03 rad.

Fig. 19. Load test result of CDST specimen.

(a) Moment–rotation angle curve. (b) Photo of failure at 0.03 rad.

Fig. 20. Load test result of CDSV specimen.

 S.-M. Choi et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 66 (2010) 962–970 969

4.2. Initial stiffness and ultimate capacity

The capacity and stiffness of each specimen are given in Figs. 22

and 23 and in Table 2. When the top flange of the beam was under
tension, all the specimens exhibited almost the same capacity for
the upper diaphragm of them that was identically reinforced with a
combined cross diaphragm. On the other hand, specimens behaved
differently from one another under tension in the bottom flange
of the beam. The ratios of the ultimate capacity form the top to
the bottom are defined as the ultimate capacity under the tension
in the top, over the ultimate capacity under the tension in the
bottom. These were 1.04, 0.23, 0.51 and 0.48 for CDS, CDSN, CDST
and CDSV, respectively. The CDS specimen exhibited nearly the
same capacities at the top as at the bottom. The bottom of the CDSN
Fig. 21. Monotonic load-displacement curve [13,14].
specimen had much less capacity than the top and it changed into
a plastic state earlier than did the other specimens, as shown in
Table 2
Fig. 21. This was because, in the CDSN specimen, only the steel tube Cyclic load test results in capacity and stiffness.
carried the tensile force of the bottom flange of the beam.
No. Fu (kN/mm) Ki (kN/mm)
The bottom of the CDST specimen had a smaller capacity
Top Bottom Top Bottom
than the CDS specimen but twice as much capacity as the CDSN
specimen. This was due to the anchoring of the lower diaphragm CDS 196.0 203.8 4.5 4.1
in concrete. The bottom of the CDST specimen showed a decrease in CDSN 214.6 48.4 3.0 1.7
CDST 208.7 105.8 3.7 3.7
capacity after yielding, as the stiffness of the steel tube decreased.
CDSV 216.6 104.9 3.8 3.3
This was due to the tension transferred from the bottom flange of
the beam. The CDSV specimen was similar to the CDST specimen
1.2
in both capacity and behavior. The bottom of the CDSV specimen Fb : Bottom Maximum Strength
1.04 Ft : Top Maximum Strength
showed a decrease in capacity due to the deformation of the steel. 1
This is considered to be due to the lower diaphragm of the CDST
specimen being installed vertically and that the confining force of 0.8
concrete generated on the vertical diaphragm was relatively small.
Fb / Ft

Fig. 23 presents the ratio of the stiffness from the top to the 0.6
0.51 0.48
bottom at the initial loading for each specimen. With the exception
of the CDSN specimen, there was no significant difference in the 0.4
ratios of stiffness between the specimens, from the ratios of the 0.23
capacity in Fig. 22. However, in the CDSN specimen that had no 0.2
reinforcement in the bottom, the stiffness of the bottom was about
0
half of the stiffness of the top. It is therefore considered necessary CDS CDSN CDST CDSV
to reinforce the bottom of the connection.
Fig. 22. Maximum capacity comparison of specimens.
4.3. Plastic deformation capacity
1.2
Kb : Bottom Initial Stiffness
In an earthquake, the capacity of plastic deformation to absorb Kt : Top Initial Stiffness 1.00
1
large amounts of energy and shear force is essential to the sta- 0.91 0.87
bility of the column-to-beam connection of the structure. Table 3
0.8
presents the inelastic rotation angle of connection required for the
Kb / Kt

moment frame, according to the AISC Seismic Provisions for Struc-
tural Steel Buildings. Fig. 24 presents the inelastic rotation angle of
each specimen under tension in the top and the bottom. Under ten-
sion in the top, all specimens exhibited an inelastic rotation angle
of more than 0.02 rad and could be classified as a composite in-
termediate moment frame. Under tension in the bottom, the CDST
and CDSV specimens had an inelastic rotation angle of more than
0.01 rad and could be classified as a composite ordinary moment
frame. The inelastic rotation angle of the CDSN was greater than
that of the CDST and CDSV specimens. It is thought that this was
because the deformation of the CDSN specimen continued on with-
out an increase in capacity, after yielding earlier than other speci-
mens. All specimens satisfied the requirements for the composite
ordinary moment frame in any case.
4.4. Energy absorbing capacity
The energy absorbing capacity of a structure is one of the most
important factors in its seismic performance. The energy absorbed
by the deformation of the structure can be measured as the area
enclosed by the load-displacement hysteretic curve. This is the
0.6 0.55
0.4
0.2
0
CDS CDSN CDST CDSV
Fig. 23. Initial stiffness comparison of specimens.
total plastic work performed by the structure. Fig. 25 compares
the total work performed by each specimen until a rotation angle
of 0.02 rad is reached. The value of 0.02 rad was selected because
fracture of all specimens occurred at an early stage, although they
could potentially reach an inelastic rotation angle of 0.03 rad. The
total work performed by the CDS specimen was the largest and
total work performed by the other specimens was only 31%–68%
of that of the CDS specimen.
The test results demonstrated that the suggested connection
types, with a simplified lower diaphragm, could obtain a sufficient
energy absorbing capacity as that required to be used in weak-
970 S.-M. Choi et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 66 (2010) 962–970
Table 3
Connection inelastic rotation capacity requirements.
Frame classifications
Composite ordinary moment frame (C-OMF)
Composite intermediate moment frame (C-IMF)
Composite special moment frame (C-SMF)
Fig. 24. Comparison of the inelastic rotation angle.
Fig. 25. Comparison of total plastic work until 0.02 rad of the rotation angle.
earthquake regions, though they had less energy absorbing
capacity than did the connection with the combined cross
diaphragm at both the top and bottom, which can be used in
strong-earthquake regions.
5. Conclusions
This study suggested that the CFT column-to-bottom connec-
tion details be used with an asymmetric lower diaphragm. To this
end, the study carried out a simple tension test and cyclic loading
test on these connections. The test results are as follows:
The simple tension test results showed that the ultimate
capacities of the HT and VP specimens were only about one half
of that of the CDS specimen. Similarly, the initial stiffness of the
CDS specimen was 40%–45% higher than that of the HT and VP
specimens.
As the cyclic load test results demonstrate, all specimens
showed a similar ultimate capacity under tension in the top. Under
tension in the bottom, the CDSN, CDST and CDSV specimens had
a 23%–43% capacity of that of the CDS specimen. The top of the
connection reached 0.02 rad of the inelastic rotation capacity
required for the composite intermediate moment frame and, in
all specimens, the bottom of the connection reached 0.01 rad for
the composite ordinary moment frame. In terms of the energy
absorbing capacity, the CDSN, CDST and CDSV specimens had a
31%–68% capacity of the CDS specimen. The energy absorbing
capacities of suggested connections were different from one
Connection inelastic rotation capacity (rad)
0.01
0.02
0.03
another according to the type of lower diaphragm. It is considered
that the suggested types can obtain sufficient energy absorbing
capacity by reinforcing only the top of the connection with a
combined cross diaphragm.
These cyclic load test results demonstrated that the suggested
connection types, which were reinforced with the asymmetric
lower diaphragm, could obtain more than 0.01 rad of the inelastic
rotation capacity, and so could be classified as a composite
ordinary moment frame and have sufficient seismic performance.
Therefore, it is concluded that the CFT column-to-beam connection
with asymmetric lower diaphragm can be safely used in weak-
earthquake regions.
Acknowledgements
This study was conducted with the support of the Construction
Technology Innovation Program of the R&D Project (Grant 05
Construction Consequence C 26) funded by the Ministry of
Construction & Transportation of Korean government and the
National Research Laboratory (Grant R0A-2007-000-10047-0).
This financial support is greatly appreciated.
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