The behaviour of reinforced concrete beam-column joints under cyclic loading

This project investigates the behaviour of reinforced concrete beam-column joints under the application of high intensity cyclic loading. The experiments, which were carried out on specimens with a beam framing in on only one side of the joint, were conducted to investigate the amount of transverse reinforcement required for confinement and shear resistance in the joint and column regions, in order to establish the ductility available in the column, when subjected to simulated seismic loading. Four units were tested during the experimental program, the design parameters being:- (i) the amount of transverse reinforcement in the joint. (ii) the method of anchoring the beam flexural steel in the joint. (iii) the amount of transverse reinforcement in the column. The type of failure mechanism, and the cause of degradation in stiffness in the post-elastic range, is examined for each specimen leading to a critical appraisal of the joint detail. From the results obtained during testing, recommendations rave been suggested for the design of reinforced concrete joints, including ways in which detailing could be improved to enable the load resisting capacity to be sustained during post-elastic cycles