Seismic performance of steel beams to concrete-filled steel tubular column connections

A nonlinear force-deformation model to simulate shear transfer behavior in the panel zone of CFT (Concrete-Filled Steel Tube) beam-column connections is proposed. In this model, influence of axial load on the shear transfer behavior is accounted for. To validate the proposed theory, five circular CFT beam-column connections were constructed and tested. Test results showed that all specimens failed by the welding fracture while entering nonlinear stage. It is found that the higher the axial load was applied, the better the ductility of connections was obtained. Comparison of analytical and experimental results shows that the proposed prediction for panel shear falls in a reasonable range for higher axial load tests, but tends to be conservative for lower axial load tests. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.