Experimental Study on Improved Beam-to-Column Connections of Steel Moment Frame

Five different full-scale improved beam-to-column connections in steel moment frame were tested to study the failure process, failure mode, strength and plastic deformation capacity. The speciments consisted of one Welded-Bolted Widen Flange-Dog Bone Connection(SP1-1), one Welded Widen Flange-Dog Bone Connection(SP1-2),one T-Widen Flange Connection(SP2),one Beam Strengthen-Flange Splice Plate Reduced Connection(Reduced depth=0)(SP3-1),one Beam Strengthen-Flange Splice Plate Reduced Connection(Reduced depth=50mm)(SP3-2). The test showed that the five connections effectively moved the plastic hinges away from the face of the column so that end welding of beam would be effectively protected, the ultimate plastic rotation of connection exceeded 0.03rad, ductility factor is large than 4 and hysteresis loop is full .these connections provided good plastic deformation and energy dissipation.