Behavior of corrugated webbed beams in post-tensioned semi-rigid connections

This article presents theoretical responses and the results of finite element analysis of seven beam specimens in an interior post-tensioned steel semi-rigid beam-to-column connection including the corrugated webbed beams under the earthquake simulated by cyclic loading up to 4% story drift using well-known software ABAQUS. The connections include the bolted top and bottom angles to dissipate the input energy and high-strength steel strands passed parallel to the beams to provide the post-tensioning force which compresses the beam flanges against the column flange. The finite element results showed that using beams with thinner corrugated web and thicker flanges instead of traditional wide flange beams in post-tensioned semi-rigid connections is more economical in addition to the same bending strength. The inelastic deformations concentrated in the connection angles provide energy dissipation, while no damage affects the beams and columns, and the elastic strands return the frame to its initial position before the earthquake.