Journal of Steel & Structure

Journal of Steel & Structure

Experimental Study Of Cyclic Behavior Of conventional Saddle Kike Connections and Their Acceptance Criteria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Hamidreza Amiri Hormozaki
Ali Akbar Aghakouchak
Professor at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University
10.22034/jss.2011.238594
Abstract
In this paper, which is aimed to study the behavior of saddle like connections under cyclic loading, results of experiments on six different specimens are utilized. Initially details of each specimen and its setup and loading protocol are presented. Then observations during the tests consisting of position and situation of initial crack and final fracture are discussed and the moment-rotation curves are presented. Subsequently backbone curve of each specimen is provided and the performance levels are determined. Finally the results of finite element analysis consisting of moment-rotation curves, initial stiffness and ultimate strength are compared with those obtained from tests. Baesd on the tests conducted in this research, the main reason for reduction in moment capacity of the saddle like connections is fracture in the welds that connect top angle to column or beam. Therefore  if the load bearing capacity of the connection for gravity loads is maintained, the connection behaves as a scissor like andmoment carrying behavior of it can be considered as deformation control one.
Keywords
Saddle Connection
Cyclic Behavior
Fracture
Backbone Curve
Acceptance Criteria
Finite Element Method