Seismic Behavior of Nonseismically Detailed Interior Beam-Wide Column and Beam-Wall Connections

Six full-scale nonseismically detailed reinforced concrete (RC) interior beam-wide column and beam-wall joints with zero to high axial compression loads were tested to investigate the seismic behavior of the joints. Quasi-static cyclic loading, simulating earthquake actions, was applied. The overall performance of each test assembly was examined in terms of lateral load capacity, drift, stiffness, energy dissipation capacity, and nominal joint shear stress. Three levels of axial compressive column loads were investigated to determine how this variable would influence the performance of the joints. All the specimens failed adjacent to the joint panel with gradual strength deterioration and low attainment of structural stiffness. The low attainment of stiffness and strength was attributed to the slip of the longitudinal bars through the joint core. The test results showed that RC interior beam-wide column joints and beam-wall joints with nonseismic design and detailing attained a drift ratio of 2.0% without significant strength degradation. It was thus concluded that such joints could also possess inherent ductility for adequate response to unexpected moderate earthquakes.