Plastic hinge relocation on the beams with innovative beam-to-column joints

The present study utilises the new hybrid precast beam-to-column joints cast with Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) for relocating the plastic hinge zone on the beams outside the joint zone. Three samples including a monolithic reinforced concrete (RC) sample were tested under a quasi-static-cyclic loading to assess the seismic behaviour of the joints. The test results exhibited that the use of ECC for casting the hybrid joints and the adjacent beams areas can prevent brittle failure due to the superior mechanical properties of ECC. Moreover, the increase of energy dissipation capacity of the proposed hybrid joints was also observed compared to the RC sample. Therefore, casting the joint using ECC is recommended for enhancing the seismic behaviour.