4 Steel - SMRF - Behavior

Seismic Design of Structures Fall 2015 - Shiraz University of Technology
CE 4111
Seismic Design
of Structures
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Shiraz University of Technology
S.M. Dehghan
Fall 2015
Steel Seismic
Force Resisting
Systems
Dr. Dehghan 1
Steel SFRS
Steel Seismic Force Resisting Systems will be
covered in Five Parts:
1. Ductile Design / Structural Steel
2. General Requirements
3. Special Moment Resisting Frame (SMRF)
A. Design
B. Behavior
4. Special Concentrically Braced Frame (SCBF)
5. Eccentrically Braced Frame (EBF)
Steel Seismic
Load Resisting
Systems
Moment Resisting
Frames - Behavior
Dr. Dehghan 2
Moment
Resisting Frames
Outline
Topics
Description and Behavior
of Moment Resisting
Frames
Beam-to-Column
Connections
Panel Zone Behavior
AISC Seismic Provisions

Special MRF
Intermediate MRF
Ordinary MRF
Dr. Dehghan 3
References
ASCE 7-10, Minimum Design Loads for
Buildings and Other Structures
AISC 360-10, Specification for Structural
Steel Buildings
AISC 341-10, Seismic Provisions for
Structural Steel Buildings
NIST GCR 09-917-3, Seismic Design of
Steel Special Moment Frames
AISC 358-10, Prequalified Connections for
SMRF for Seismic Application
Moment
Resisting Frames
Description and
Behavior
Dr. Dehghan 4
Moment Resisting Frames

Advantages
Architectural Versatility
High Ductility and Safety
Disadvantages
Low Elastic Stiffness
MRFs are the two frames on the right
Oakland, California
10
Taipei, Taiwan
Perimeter frames are
moment resisting
Columns are steel
box columns
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11

Achieving Ductile Behavior
Choose frame elements that
will yield in an earthquake
(fuses = plastic hinge
locations)
Detail plastic hinge regions to
sustain large inelastic
rotations prior to the onset
of fracture or instability
Design all other frame
elements to be stronger than
the plastic hinge regions
12
Behavior of MRFs
Behavior of MRF under
Lateral Load
Typical distributions of
moment and shear in the
Internal Forces and
members of an MRF under Plastic Hinge Locations
lateral load
Provide insight into
Where yielding is likely to
occur when an MRF is
loaded beyond the elastic
range
How we can control plastic
hinge locations
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13
Behavior of MRFs
Using a centerline
model, qualitatively
the moment diagram
in the beams and
columns of an MRF
under lateral load
The maximum moment
occur at the member
ends
The flexural yielding
occurs in an MRF at
the ends of beams and
columns
14
Behavior of MRFs
The moment and shear
diagrams for a column of an
MRF under lateral load
Not a centerline model of frame Note:
High shear
Includes beam-column joint region (V) in Panel
The shear in the clear span Zones
portions of the columns is small,
and has little effect on elastic or
inelastic response of the frame
Within the joint regions, shear in
the column is very high (V=dM/dx)
High moment gradient in the joint
region, resulting in very high
shear (can result in shear yielding
of the column in the joint region) M V
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15
Plastic Hinges
Possible Plastic Hinge Locations
Possible plastic hinge locations =
Locations of high moment or high
shear
Flexural yielding at the ends of
the clear span of beams = plastic
hinges in the beams
Flexural yielding at the ends of
the clear span of the columns =
plastic hinges in the columns
Shear yielding within the joint
region of the columns = plastic
hinges in the panel zones.
16
Plastic Hinges
Possible Plastic Hinge Locations
Notes
Since columns may be carrying significant axial force in
addition to large bending moments, Plastic hinges in the
clear span portions of the column will typically involve
yielding due to flexure + axial force
It is possible to control the location of the plastic hinges
by controlling the relative strengths of the beam, column
and panel zone
The plastic hinge will occur in the weakest element, thus in
many practical cases, yielding may occur in more than one
location, e.g. in the beams and in the panel zones
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17
Plastic Hinges
Plastic Hinges in
Beams
Note that to
form a complete
mechanism,
plastic hinges
must also occur
at the column
bases or column
bases must be
pinned
18
Plastic Hinges
Plastic Hinges in
Column Panel Zones
Note that to form
a complete
mechanism, plastic
hinges must also
occur at the column
bases or column
bases must be
pinned
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19
Plastic Hinges
Plastic Hinges in Columns
Note that generally, this
mechanism is undesirable
because it may
concentrate all inelastic
action in a single story
and may result in a soft
story collapse
We normally try to avoid
this mechanism by
enforcing strong column -
weak girder design
requirements
20
Critical Detailing Area

Beam-to-Column Connections
Plastic hinges in MRFs will occur in the
region of the beam-column joint
(at the beam ends, at the column ends,
or in the panel zones)
For any of these cases, very large force
and deformation demands can occur at
beam-column connection
One of the basic ductile detailing requirements for MRFs is
that the frame should be able to develop large ductility
without failure of the beam-column connection
This is a critical aspect of ductile detailing of steel MRFs
Design Requirement: Frame must develop large ductility
without failure of beam-to-column connection
Dr. Dehghan 10
Moment
Resisting Frames
Beam-Column Connections
Before Northridge
Earthquake
22
Connections
Beam-Column Connection Because of the importance
Developing beam-column of beam-column connections,
connection details that can we will examine behavior of
survive an earthquake the connections
without failure has been one in laboratory testing
of the major challenges in in actual earthquakes
MRF design over the last 30 We will review practices for
to 40 years beam-to-column connections
Beam-to-column connections Before Northridge/Kobe
performed poorly in the After Northridge/Kobe
1994 Northridge and 1995 This will lead us to
Kobe Earthquakes Understanding of current
Causing major changes in design and construction
practice and in the AISC practices, and current code
Seismic Provisions requirements
Dr. Dehghan 11
23
Pre-Northridge Connection
Pre-Northridge Practice
Welded Flange-Bolted Web
(WFBW) moment connection
widely used from early
1970s to 1994
24
Pre-Northridge Practice
Bolted Flange-Bolted Web
(BFBW) all bolted moment
connection
Considered less desirable
because of slip of bolts
(pinched hysteresis loops)
and net section rupture
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25
Pre-Northridge WFBW
moment Connection
Key features of WFBW
Shear tab is shop-welded to
column
Column stiffeners (continuity
plates), if required, are Weld Access Hole
shop-welded to the column

Note that design practices
and code requirements for
continuity plates have varied
over the years
Need for continuity plates (CP)
Required thickness of CP Beam Flange
Welding details to attach CP to Backup Bar

column web and flanges Stiffener
Column Flange
26
Pre-Northridge WFBW
moment Connection
Beam is field bolted to the
shear tab
Beam flanges are field
welded to the column flange Weld Access Hole
The welds joining the beam flanges
to column are single bevel CJP
groove welds
The grooves are oriented so that
both the top and bottom flanges
can be welded in a flat position (no
overhead welding required)
A backup bar and weld tabs are
Beam Flange
normally provided for each groove
weld (weld tabs not shown above) Backup Bar
Stiffener
Column Flange
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Pre-Northridge WFBW
moment Connection
(Continued)
The back-up bar forms the bottom
of the groove, and weld tabs
extend the groove beyond the
outer edges of the beam flanges Weld Access Hole
A weld access hole is cut in
the beam web, both at the
top and bottom flanges
At the top flange, the access hole
permits placement of the back-up
bar
At the bottom flange, the access
Beam Flange
hole permits placement of a groove
weld within the center portion of Backup Bar
Stiffener
the bottom weld Column Flange
28
Pre-Northridge WFBW
moment Connection
In typical practice, the web
connection (bolted shear
tab) was designed for the
shear in the beam Weld Access Hole
In some cases, supplemental
fillet welds may be placed at
the top and bottom of the
shear tab
Beam Flange
Backup Bar
Stiffener
Column Flange
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29
Moment Connection
Pre-Northridge WFBW Weld tabs in place
moment Connection
Typical Examples
The weld tabs at the top and
bottom beam flanges are visible
30
Moment Connection
Pre-Northridge WFBW Bottom flange back-up 2
moment Connection tacked into place
Stages of Construction
1
Beam web bolted

to shear tab
Back-up bar extend beyond flange edges

Ready for welding Tack welds should be placed inside of
the groove
Note that the beam Typical groove weld geometry
end has been o 3/8" = 9.5 mm root
prepared with (gap between column face and bottom

beveled flanges and edge of beam flange)
weld access holes o 30-degree bevel on beam flange
(30-degrees from a vertical line)
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Moment Connection
First weld pass has been placed with
Pre-Northridge WFBW flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) process
moment Connection
Weld tabs tack welded into place
Tabs extending groove geometry 4
beyond flange edges
For the first weld pass (root pass) the
welder must interrupt the weld in the
center portion of the flange
3 The beam flange groove welds are
normally made in the field using FCAW
o the electrode is a continuous wire
o the wire is hollow, and the flux is on
the inside of the wire

The FCAW process is still typically used
Weld Tabs permits weld terminations in current field welding practice
(which normally contain defects) to be Prior to Northridge, common electrode
made outside of the beam flange was as E70T-4 (low fracture toughness
- important source of failures)
32
Moment Connection
Pre-Northridge WFBW
moment Connection Completed bottom flange
Stages of Construction groove weld
Bottom groove 5
continues to be filled
In pre-Northridge practice, the back-up

Note that each weld pass is interrupted bar and weld tabs were normally left
in the center portion of the flange, in-place
where the welder must weld from
alternate sides of the beam web
The interruption of the weld passes can
lead to weld defects in this region
Dr. Dehghan 16
33
Moment Connection
Pre-Northridge WFBW Completed top flange 8
moment Connection groove weld
7
For any given weld pass, the welder

starts outside of the beam flange (in
Beam top flange with back-up the weld tab), welds continuously across
bar and weld tabs in place the groove, and terminates the weld
pass outside of the beam flange, at the
Note that the backup bar is continuous, opposite weld tab
and passes through the weld access Unlike the bottom flange weld, the top
hole. flange groove weld is not interrupted in
the middle part of the flange by an
obstruction at the top flange weld
34
Test Results
Experimental Data on
Typical Experimental Setup
Pre-Northridge Moment
Connection
This part will show some
laboratory data on the
performance of the
pre-Northridge WFBW
connection under cyclic
loading
A test specimen normally consists of a beam segment connected to a column segments

o ends of the column are held in place
o cyclic loads and deformations are applied to the end of the beam
o point of load application represents a point of inflection (zero moment) in the beam
of a moment frame under lateral load
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35
Test Results
Experimental Data on
Pre-Northridge Moment
Connection
A hydraulic loading ram is located at the
right end of the beam segment
A lateral brace is also provided near the
end of the beam, to restrain lateral
torsional buckling of the beam
Note that the connection region is
painted white, using whitewash
(a mixture of lime and water)
o when steel yields, the large strains A photo of a typical beam-column
will cause the whitewash to fall off of connection in the laboratory
the beam
o the whitewash, provides an indication
of where yielding has occurred
36
Test Results
Initial Tests on Large Scale Specimens
Tests conducted at UC Berkeley ~1970
Tests on W18x50 and W24x76 beams
Tests compared
all-welded connections
(beam flange and beam web
are welded directly to the
column flange, using CJP
groove welds)
welded flange-bolted web
connections
Note that the entire back

flange of the column was
bolted to a support
Dr. Dehghan 18
37
Test Results
Tests conducted at UC Berkeley ~1970
Welded flange Welded flange

- Welded web - Bolted web
connection connection
detail detail
38
Test Results
Tests conducted at UC Berkeley This connection permitted the beam to
yield, and allowed the beam to develop
moderate levels of ductility
In the specimen, connection failure
occurred after several cycles of loading
Little yielding occurred in the beam
The fracture occurred at the bottom beam
flange groove weld
Note that yielding is not failure, Yielding is
the desired ductile response mode
Welded Flange
Bolted Web
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39
Test Results
Note on initial test specimens
Relatively little number of beam and column sizes
o At the time, all connections in buildings designed to transfer moment
o Over the years, cost for full moment connections led engineers to
limit number of moment-resisting bays
Loss of redundancy, deeper beams, thicker column flanges
Observations from Initial UC Berkeley Tests
Large ductility developed by all-welded connections
Welded flange-bolted web connections developed less
ductility, but were viewed as still acceptable
After this test series, the welded flange - bolted web detail
became the standard detail for beam-to-column connections
in seismic-resistant steel moment frames
o Little information was available on level of ductility needed to survive
a strong earthquake
40
Test Results
Subsequent Test Programs
Welded flange-bolted web connections showed highly variable

performance
Identical specimens (different welder), welds inspected
Large difference in demonstrated ductility or behavior
Typical failure modes was fracture at or near beam flange
groove welds
A large number of laboratory tested connections did not
develop adequate ductility in the beam prior to connection
failure
Many connections failed in laboratory with little or no ductility
Reasons not well understood
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41
Test Results
Subsequent Test Programs
- Sample Failure Modes
No ductility was
developed in the
beam prior to failure
Fracture at top flange of specimen

Typical fracture at bottom beam with WFBW connection
flange groove weld, for test of Fracture initiated at left edge of
WFBW connection beam flange (at the weld-runoff
Fracture is near interface of groove region) propagated across beam top
weld and column flange flange
42
Northridge Earthquake
Widespread failure of welded flange - bolted web
moment connections was observed
Basic facts on the 1994
January 17, 1994
Magnitude = 6.8
Epicenter at Northridge -
San Fernando Valley
(Los Angeles area)
Fatalities: 58
Estimated Damage Cost was $20 Billion
(structural and non-structural)
Collapse of first story of a wood

framed apartment building
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Northridge - Ground Accelerations
Sylmar: 0.91g H 0.60g V
Sherman Oaks: 0.46g H 0.18g V
Granada Hills: 0.62g H 0.40g V
Santa Monica: 0.93g H 0.25g V
North Hollywood: 0.33g H 0.15g V
Severe damage to a
modern parking garage
Severe damage to an older

nonductile reinforced concrete
frame building
Note that an entire story has
collapsed
44
Damage to Steel Buildings in the
Large number of modern steel buildings sustained
severe damage at beam-to-column connections
Initially not identified (not readily visible); found
accidentally later during repairs
Large number (more than 100 of approx. 500 in
region) of modern steel buildings sustained severe
damage at beam-to-column connections
Primary Damage was Fracture in and around
beam flange groove welds
Damage was largely unexpected by engineering
profession
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45
Connection Damages
Damage Observations in Steel Moment Connections
A reminder of the key features of the welded flange-bolted web
connection
Weld Access Hole
Beam Flange
Backup Bar
Stiffener
Column Flange
46
Connection Damages
Many fractures were observed near the interface of the groove
weld and the face of the column
Example of fracture near interface

of groove weld and face of column
The card highlights the location of
the fracture
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47
Connection Damages
Many fractures were observed near the interface of the groove
weld and the face of the column
Example of a fracture near the interface
of the groove weld and face of column
This fracture likely initiated in the center
portion of the flange weld
Note that weld tab is improperly oriented

The weld tabs should be extending the
groove geometry
There is a highly likelihood of weld
defects at the outer edges of the weld
(not the primary cause of this fracture)
48
Connection Damages
Fracture initiates near root of groove weld, and propagates into
the column flange (ends within the column flange)
Example of a fracture that propagated

into column flange
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49
Connection Damages
the column flange (at column flange a short distance above weld)
A portion of the column flange is pulled out
This type of fracture was sometimes described a as Divot failure
Example of divot type fracture
50
Connection Damages
the column flange (at column flange a short distance above weld)
A portion of the column flange is pulled out
This type of fracture was sometimes described a as Divot failure
Example of divot type fracture Example of divot type fracture
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51
Connection Damages
Fracture initiates near root of groove weld, and propagates across
the column flange
Example of column flange fracture
52
Connection Damages
the column flange and continues into web of column.
In a few instances, fractures propagated across the full width of
the column
Example of column flange fracture
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53
Connection Damages
the column flange and continues into web of column.
In a few instances, fractures propagated across the full width of
the column
Fracture of column flange, and portion

of column web
Fracture across full width of column
54
Connection Damages
Damage Observations Summary
A large number of steel moment frame buildings suffered

connection damage
No steel moment frame buildings collapsed, despite
extensive connection damage
Typical Damage
fracture of groove weld
divot fracture within column flange
fracture across column flange and web
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55
Connection Damages
Observations from studies of Fractured Connections
Subsequent studies of the Northridge Connection

failures revealed two key points
Many connections likely failed by a brittle fracture

mechanism, while the beams were still in the elastic range of
behavior (like many previous laboratory tests, these actual
connections showed poor performance)
Fractures frequently initiated at the root of the beam

bottom flange groove weld, and then propagated in various
directions
56
Connection Damages
Response to Northridge Moment Connection Damage
Nearly immediate elimination of welded flange - bolted

web connection from US building codes and design
practice
Intensive research and testing efforts to understand
causes of damage and to develop improved connections
for a period of about ten years following the earthquake
AISC, NIST, NSF, etc
SAC Program (FEMA)
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57
Causes of Damages
Causes of Moment Connection Damage in Northridge
Some of the key factors that may have contributed to

the connection failures are divided into three broad
categories
1. factors related to welding

2. factors related to connection design
3. factors related to material properties
(for structural steel)
58
Causes of Damages
Welding Factors
Low Fracture Toughness of Weld Metal

Poor Quality
Effect of Backing Bars and Weld Tabs
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59
Causes of Damages
Welding Factors - Weld Metal Toughness
Most common Pre-Northridge welding electrode (E70T-4)
had very low fracture toughness
Typical Charpy V-Notch: < 7 J at 21 C
This low CVN value suggested that the welds were very prone to
brittle fracture
This WFBW specimen was constructed using the
E70T-4 electrode
It was constructed under very close scrutiny to
assure high quality welding
Further, backing bars and weld tabs were
removed after welding was completed
Despite the high quality welding, this specimen
failed by brittle fracture of the beam flange
weld, prior to development of significant ductility
This specimen illustrated the importance of weld
metal toughness in the performance
60
Causes of Damages
Welding Factors - Welding Quality
Many failed connections showed evidence of poor weld quality
Many fractures initiated at root defects in bottom flange

weld, in vicinity of weld access hole
o Fractures initiated at a lack of penetration or lack of fusion

defect at the root of the bottom flange groove weld, in the
vicinity of the weld access hole
o This is the location where the welder must interrupt the groove
weld, and where defects are likely to occur
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Causes of Damages
Welding Factors - Welding Quality
Showing the face of the column, after

fracture at the beam bottom flange weld
and removal of the beam
The fracture surface seen in the column
flange follows the location of the bottom
Showing a lack of penetration defect flange weld
at root of groove weld The arrow is pointing to a large lack of
This defect may be sufficient to fusion defect
Note that the defect is located in the
initiate brittle fracture
middle part of the beam flange weld
The welds were UT tested and approved
62
Causes of Damages
Welding Factors - Weld Backing Bars and Weld Tabs
Backing Bars
o Can create notch effect
o the backing bar can act as a stress riser,
causing a stress concentration at the weld
o in the presence of low toughness weld metal, this stress riser may be
sufficient to initiate a brittle fracture
o research has shown that the stress riser effect of the back-up bar is
more severe at the bottom flange weld than at the top flange
o Increases difficulty of inspection
o can increase difficulty in interpreting UT signals, since it introduces
additional surfaces for reflection of the UT wave
o the back-up precludes visual inspection of the weld root
o inspection problems are more significant at the bottom flange weld,
due to the high likelihood of a root defect in the region of access hole
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63
Causes of Damages
Weld Tabs
o Weld runoff regions at weld tabs contain numerous
discontinuities that can potentially initiate fracture
o leaving the weld tabs (and associated weld runoff regions) in-place can
also be problematic
o the runoff regions are where the weld starts and stops are located,
and often contain a large number of defects and discontinuities
o the weld runoff regions are outside the beam flange, some stress still
flows through these regions from the beam flange to the column
flange
o when this stress encounters discontinuities in the weld runoff regions,
a fracture can be initiated
64
Causes of Damages
Shows a fracture initiated at the Photo of weld runoff region at outer

root, and then edge of beam flange groove weld
The gap left between the back-up This runoff region is where the
bar and face of column acts as a welder starts and terminates weld
stress riser that can initiate this passes, and normally contains defects
type of fracture and discontinuities
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65
Causes of Damages
Fracture initiating at out edge of

beam flange, in the vicinity of the
weld tab
66
Causes of Damages
Design Factors
A number of design and detailing features of the WFBW
connection served to produce very high levels of stress
and strain at the beam flange groove welds
Inadequate Participation of Beam Web Connection in
Transferring Moment and Shear
Effect of Weld Access Hole
Effect of Column Flange Bending
Other Factors
o Presence of composite floor slab
o Panel Zone (more later)
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67
Causes of Damages
Design Factors - Inadequate Moment and Shear Transfer
At the beam-column connection, the beam flange welds are
much stiffer than the bolted web connection
Most of the bending stress in the web of the beam will flow
to the beam flanges at the connection. The effect is
illustrated qualitatively in this slide
68
Causes of Damages
Design Factors - Inadequate Moment and Shear Transfer
While the beam flange
stress is only Fy a distance
away form the weld, the
stress may approach, or
exceed, Fu immediately
adjacent to the welds
Use of the bolted web connection
serves to increase beam flange
stresses near the groove welds
These high stress levels can increase the likelihood of weld
failure, especially in the presence of weld defects and low
toughness weld metal
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Causes of Damages
Design Factors - Increase in Flange Stress Due to
Shear in Flange
The bolted web connection is
ineffective in transferring
bending moment and shear
o From a design point of view,
we typically assume the bolted
web connection to transfers
the beam shear to the column
o The flange welds are much stiffer than the bolted web
connection, some of the beam shear is transferred through the
beam flanges and beam flange welds
o This cause further increase stress levels on the beam flange and
beam flange groove weld
70
Causes of Damages
Design Factors - Increase in Flange Stress due to Shear in Flange
Shear in the beam flanges add
shear stress to the beam flange
and can add a secondary bending
stress in the flange
o If the beam flange act as a short
cantilever, the beam flange shear,
Vflange, produces a bending stress distribution as shown
o Secondary stresses are in addition to the primary bending stress
When the primary bending stress in the bottom flange is
tension (the critical case for fracture)
o The secondary bending stress adds additional tension on the
bottom side and adds compression on the top side of the flange
o At the beam bottom flange, the tensile stress will be very high
at the root of the bottom flange groove weld
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Causes of Damages
Design Factors - Increase in Flange Stress due to Shear in Flange
At the top flange of the beam, the directions of primary and
secondary bending stress are reversed
o The stress at the root of the top flange groove weld will be
smaller than at the root of the bottom flange groove weld
Consequently, the stress at the root of the top flange groove
weld will be smaller than at the root of the bottom flange
groove weld
In summary, shear carried by the beam flanges produce
shear stress and secondary bending stress in beam flanges
o the root of the bottom flange weld is more critical than the root
of the top flange weld
o Unfortunately, the likelihood of a weld defect is higher at the
root of the bottom flange weld
72
Causes of Damages
Design Factors - Effect of Weld Access Hole
The presence of the weld access hole

also introduces a stress concentration
The severity of stress concentration
depends on
o the size and shape of the access hole
o the finish of the cut (smoothness or
roughness of the cut)
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Causes of Damages
Design Factors - Summary
Stress Concentration factors
o Weld access hole
o Shear in flange
o Inadequate flexural participation of web connection
In summary, many of the design and detailing features of the
moment connection served to produce very high stress levels
in the beam flanges and in the beam flange groove welds
High possibility of brittle fracture is due to
o Stress concentration and High stress levels
o Presence of weld defects (particularly at the bottom flange weld
near the access hole)
o Low toughness weld metal
74
Causes of Damages
Design Factors - Connection Configuration
In developing improved moment

connections, simply improving the
welds (high toughness weld metal,
remove back-up bars and weld tabs,
Base Metal
provide good quality and quality
control) may not be adequate
The connection configuration must
also be changed to reduce the high
levels of stress and stress
The base metal immediately adjacent concentration in the beam flanges,
to the weld fractured, as a result of immediately adjacent to the beam
the very high levels of stress and flange groove welds
stress concentration in this area
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Causes of Damages
Causes of Moment
Connection Damage
in Northridge
Design Factors -
Connection Configuration
Tri-Axial Stress Condition
Comparison of Restrained and
Unrestrained steel elements
76
Causes of Damages
Material Factors - Structural Steel
The actual yield stress of structural steel can be
significantly higher than minimum specified values
At the time of the Northridge Earthquake, most moment
frame beams were typically specified to be of A36 steel
o The minimum specified yield stress for A36 is 36 ksi = 250 MPa
o The actual yield stress of A36 steel is up to 50 ksi = 345 MPa
Because of the higher actual yield stress values for A36
steel, stress levels in the beam flanges and at the flange
groove welds will also be higher when the beam yields
This serves to further increase stress levels on the beam
flange groove welds when the beam forms a plastic hinge
The Northridge connection damage highlighted importance of
using realistic material properties in seismic design
Dr. Dehghan 38
Moment
Resisting Frames
Beam-Column Connections
After Northridge
Earthquake
78
Improving Connections
Strategies for Improved Seismic Performance of
Moment Connections
Welding
Materials
Connection Design
and Detailing
Dr. Dehghan 39
79
Moment Connections - Welding
Required minimum toughness for weld metal (AISC A3.4)
Required CVN for All welds in SFRS
27 J at -18 C
Required CVN for Demand Critical welds
54 J at 20 C
o The fracture of beam flange groove welds in moment frame
connections motivated these weld toughness requirements
o It was recognized that weld toughness is desirable in all welded
connections, in all types of SFRS (moment, braced frames, etc.)
o These requirements apply not only to moment frames, but to
any type of seismic-resistant steel frame
o Note that the beam flange groove welds in moment connections
are considered to be demand critical
80
Moment Connections - Welding
Improved practices for backing bars and weld tabs
Remove bottom flange backing bar

Seal weld top flange backing bar
(the top flange back-up bar is normally left in-place)
Remove weld tabs at top and bottom flange welds
o Greater emphasis on quality and quality control (AISC Seismic

Provisions Chapter J)
Dr. Dehghan 40
81
Strategies for Improved
Performance of Moment
Connections - Welding
Improved practices for
backing bars and weld tabs Bottom Flange Weld
Typical improved post-Northridge moment

connection
The weld was made using an electrode that
meets CVN requirements
The weld tabs and weld runoff regions
removed, and the areas ground smooth
The back-up bar has been removed
Bottom Flange Weld After removal, the root of the weld can be
visually inspected, and any observed
Typical pre-Northridge moment connection defects can be removed
The weld was made using a low-toughness A small reinforcing fillet weld is then
electrode, and the back-up bar and weld placed at the bottom of the groove weld to
tabs were left in-place minimizes stress concentrations
82
Strategies for Improved
Connections - Welding
Improved practices for
backing bars and weld tabs
Top Flange Weld
Typical improved post-Northridge moment
connection
The weld was made using an electrode that
meets CVN requirements
The weld tabs and weld runoff regions
removed, and the areas ground smooth
The back-up is not typically removed
Top Flange The likelihood of a weld defect is less at
Weld the top flange
Typical pre-Northridge moment connection A small fillet weld (usually 8 mm leg size) is
Low-toughness electrode, and the back-up placed between the back-up bar and the
bar and weld tabs were left in-place face of the column to reduce the stress
riser effect of the back-up bar
Dr. Dehghan 41
83
Moment Connections - Materials (Structural Steel)
Introduction of expected yield stress into design codes
(AISC 341-10 Table A3.1)
Fy = minimum specified yield strength

Ry = 1.5 for ASTM A36
= 1.1 for A572 Grade 345 and A992
o Additional strategy for improved connection performance is
more explicit recognition of realistic material properties of
structural steel in the design process, and better control of
yield stress variability
o The expected yield stress, provides an estimate of the mean
yield stress for a particular grade of steel
84
Moment Connections - Materials (Structural Steel)
Introduction of ASTM A992 steel for wide flange shapes
Minimum Fy = 345 MPa
Maximum Fy = 450 MPa
Minimum Fu = 450 MPa
Maximum Fy / Fu = 0.85
A992 provides the same minimum specified yield stress and
tensile strength as A572 Grade 345
A992 places an upper bound on yield stress
(Fy less than 450 MPa)
Places an upper bound of 0.85 on the yield ratio (Fy/Fu)
Lower values of yield ratio (a large gap between Fy and Fu) is
desirable for ductile behavior
Dr. Dehghan 42
85
Moment Connections - Connection Design
Improved Weld Access Hole Geometry
One of the strategies for improved connection performance
is to modify some of the design and detailing features of the
connection to reduce stress at the flange groove welds
The presence of the weld access hole introduces a stress
concentration
An improved weld access hole geometry would minimize this
stress concentration
AISC 358-10 E1.6
o Weld access hole geometry (and quality!) shall conform to
requirements of AWS D1.8
86
Strategies for Improved Seismic
Connections - Connection Design
Improved Weld Access
Hole Geometry
Notes
1. Bevel as required for selected
groove weld
2. Larger of tbf or 13 mm
3. 3 tbf to tbf, 19 mm minimum
4. 10 mm minimum radius
5. 3 tbf
Dr. Dehghan 43
87
Improved Weld Access Hole Geometry
The improved weld access hole

Pre-Northridge weld access hole
88
Development of Improved Connection Designs and
Design Procedures
A wide variety of new moment connection designs have been
developed since the Northridge Earthquake
o Reinforced Connections
o Proprietary Connections
o Reduced Beam Section (Dogbone) Connections
o Other SAC Investigated Connections
Dr. Dehghan 44
89
Strategies for Improved Performance of Moment Connection
Improved Connection Design - Reinforced Connections
Cover-Plated Connection
The beam flanges are reinforced with
cover plates
The cover plates are fillet welded to
the beam flanges
The combined beam flange and cover
plate is then groove welded to the
face of the column
The cover plates, strengthen the
connection and reduce stress levels in
groove weld and in the beam flanges
near the groove welds
90
Cover-Plated Connection A cover plated connection tested in
the laboratory
Note the formation of a plastic hinge
in the beam in the region near the tips
of the cover plates
This specimen the development of
large levels of ductility in the beam,
without failure of the connection
Cover plated connections (combined
with improved welding practices)
permitted connection performance
that was much improved
this connection proved costly to
Improved performance in general, but construct
costly to construct Still exhibited occasional poor
performance in the laboratory
Dr. Dehghan 45
91
Cover-Plated Connection
About 2/3 of specimens developed

total plastic rotation of 0.03 rad
without brittle fracture
Brittle fracture in specimen for which
welding procedure not enforced
Failure in specimen with LONG cover
plate
Not sufficiently reliable

Susceptible to same problems of weld
quality and behavior of column flange
92
Flange Rib Connection
Large ribs are welded to the beam
flanges and to the face of the
column
Like cover plates, the ribs serve to
make the connection much stronger
than the beam, and to force plastic
hinge formation away from the face
of the column
Dr. Dehghan 46
93
Flange Rib Connection
A laboratory test of a rib-reinforced

moment connection
This specimen developed very large
beam ductility without connection
failure
94
Haunched Connection
Addition of a haunch at the bottom
flange (some connections provided
haunches at both the top and bottom
flanges)
A variety of reinforcing schemes were
developed, tested, and used in buildings
While these reinforced connections
generally showed good performance in
the laboratory, but were costly to
construct
Dr. Dehghan 47
95
Improved Connection Design RBS was an alternative moment
connection that came into use after
Reduced Beam Section (RBS) the Northridge earthquake
The RBS forces yielding and hinge
formation to occur within the
reduced section of the beam and
limits the moment the can be
developed at the face of the column
By reducing demands on the beam
flange groove welds and the
surrounding base metal regions, the
RBS reduces the possibility of
fractures occurring in this region
The RBS plays a role similar to that
Also called Dogbone connection
of reinforced connection schemes
Less costly, simpler than reinforced
The RBS and reinforced connection
connections
move the plastic hinge away from
the face of the column
96
Improved Connection Design
Reduced Beam Section (RBS)
The smaller moment generated at

the face of the column for an RBS
connection also offers some
advantages in satisfying strong
column-weak beam and in minimizing
column doubler plate requirements
The RBS has become one of the

most common moment connection
Also called Dogbone connection details used in current practice.
Less costly, simpler than reinforced
connections
Dr. Dehghan 48
97
Improved Connection Design
Note that yielding and plastic hinge

formation id concentrated within
the reduced section of the beam, as
intended
RBS has become one of the most
common moment connection details
used in current practice
More details of the RBS will be
provided later
A photo of an RBS connection
specimen after testing
98
Summary
The goal in connection design in MRF is to provide a
connection that is stronger than the beam
This can be accomplished either by strengthening the
connection (as with reinforced connections) or by weakening
the beam (as with the RBS)
Dr. Dehghan 49
99
Proprietary/Patented Connections
Several proprietary (patented) connection designs have been

developed since the Northridge Earthquake
Two of these proprietary connection design, which have
seem considerable use in actual buildings will be illustrated
o Side-plate connection
o Slotted web connection
100
Side Plate Connection
The side plate connection is a
proprietary connection that
sandwiches the beam and column
between two side plates
The beam flanges are not welded
directly to the column flanges, as in
most other moment connection designs
Stress is transferred form the beam
flanges to the column flanges through
the side plates
Further information is available at

http://www.sideplate.com/
Dr. Dehghan 50
101
Slotted Web Connection
The slotted web connection is a
proprietary connection, that provides
slots that separate the beam flanges
from the beam web, in the connection
region
The slots serve to significantly reduce
stress concentrations in the beam
flanges and beam flange groove welds.
Further information is available at

http://www.slottedweb.com/
102
SAC-FEMA Research Program
In the SAC-FEMA program, nine different moment

connection configurations were investigated
Design recommendations for each of these were developed
as part of this program
Dr. Dehghan 51
103
1
The RBS was investigated and tested

prior to the SAC-FEMA program
Further investigations were conducted
under SAC-FEMA program to identify
the capabilities and limitations of this
connection, as well as to refine design
requirements
104
Welded Unreinforced Flange 2
- Bolted Web (WUF-B)

The WUF-B is similar to the pre-Northridge
connection, except that
improved welding practice
(high toughness weld metal, improved
practices for back-up bars and weld tabs)
improved weld access hole
With improvements, the WUF-W was capable
of developing limited ductility in the beam,
prior to connection failure
Not adequate for the high ductility demands
in Special Moment Frames
This connection may be adequate for lower
ductility demands in Intermediate and
Ordinary Moment Frames
Dr. Dehghan 52
105
Strategies for Improved Performance 3
of Moment Connection
Welded Unreinforced Flange
- Welded Web (WUF-W)
The WUF-W is an all-welded connection
Both beam flanges as well as the beam web are
welded to the face of the column
The beam web is welded to the column flange
using a CJP groove weld, but include
supplemental fillet welds to the shear tab
The WUF-W employs improved welding
practices and uses improved weld access hole
Tests showed that the WUF-W provides
excellent performance, allowing the beams to
develop ductility levels suitable for use in
Special Moment Frames
106
Free Flange Connection 4
In the Free Flange connection

,the beam web is cut away in the
region adjacent to the column
The beam flanges are therefore
FREE in the connection region
The connection also features a
very heavy welded shear tab
This connection showed excellent
performance in a limited number
of tests
In these tests, the beams
developed ductility levels suitable
for use in Special Moment Frames
Dr. Dehghan 53
107
SAC-FEMA Research Program 5
Welded Flange Plate Connection

The Welded Flange Plate connection is similar
to the cover plated connections described
earlier, with one difference
In the Cover Plated connections used, both the
beam flange and cover plate were groove welded
to the face of the column
In the Welded Flange Plate connection, only the
cover plates are welded to the face of the column
This results in the need for heavier cover
plates, but avoids some problems associated
with welding the combined beam flange and
cover plate to the column
The Welded Flange Plate also showed good
performance in a limited number of tests
108
6
Bolted Unstiffened End Plate
Two types of end plate connections were
investigated under the SAC-FEMA
program
the Bolted Unstiffened End Plate
the Bolted Stiffened End Plate
Both types showed good performance in
testing, and detailed design procedures
were developed
End plate connections are commonly used
in Metal Building Systems, and are
sometimes used in industrial
construction
Note that end plate connections require
no field welding
Dr. Dehghan 54
109
Bolted Stiffened End Plate

Two types of end plate connections were
investigated under the SAC-FEMA
program
the Bolted Unstiffened End Plate
the Bolted Stiffened End Plate
Both types showed good performance in
testing, and detailed design procedures
were developed
End plate connections are commonly used
in Metal Building Systems, and are
sometimes used in industrial construction
Note that end plate connections require
no field welding
110
Bolted Flange Plate
The Bolted Flange Plate connection,

like the end plate, requires no field
welding
This connection showed promising
performance in a limited number of
tests
Dr. Dehghan 55
111
Double Split Tee
The Double Split connection is all-bolted in

the field
The connection showed good performance in
limited testing, and design procedures were
developed
This connection is typically treated as a
semi-rigid connection, for which the effects
of connection flexibility must be included in
the overall frame analysis
112
Results of SAC-FEMA Research Program
The SAC-FEMA program resulted in a large number of

research reports
The program also produced four design oriented
documents that provide detailed guidance for designers
and building code officials
These documents are available for free from FEMA.
Pdf versions can also be downloaded for free from the
AISC website (www.aisc.org)
Dr. Dehghan 56
113
Recommended Seismic Design Criteria for Steel Moment
Frames
FEMA 350
Recommended Seismic Design Criteria for New Steel Moment-
Frame Buildings
FEMA 351
Recommended Seismic Evaluation and Upgrade Criteria for
Existing Welded Steel Moment-Frame Buildings
FEMA 352
Recommended Postearthquake Evaluation and Repair Criteria for
Welded Steel Moment-Frame Buildings
FEMA 353
Recommended Specifications and Quality Assurance Guidelines for
Steel Moment-Frame Construction for Seismic Applications
114
FEMA 350
FEMA 350 was one of the most important
outcomes from the SAC-FEMA program
This document, published in 2000,
provides guidance on many issues related
to the design of moment frame buildings
Included in FEMA 350 are descriptions of
the nine moment connection details
Included are recommended design
procedures, recommended limits of usage
These moment connection are called
PREQUALIFIED connections in FEMA350
These connections used as specified in
FEMA 350, could be used without the
need for further testing or verification
Dr. Dehghan 57
115
FEMA 350
Prequalified Connections
116
FEMA 350
Welded Free Flange Plate (WFP)
The WPF connections utilize plates to
connect the beam flanges to the column
flange, without any direct connection of
the beam flange to the column flange
The flange-plate-to-column- flange joint is
a complete joint penetration groove weld
The flange plates are fillet welded to the
top and bottom of the beam top and
bottom flanges
A CJP groove welded web connection is
required for use in this prequalified
connection
Dr. Dehghan 58
117
FEMA 350
In 2005, AISC released a new standard
Standard ANSI/AISC 358-05
"Prequalified Connections for Special
and Intermediate Steel Moment Frames
for Seismic Applications"
AISC 358, replaced FEMA 350 for
prequalified moment connections
FEMA 350 contains a great deal of
useful design information for steel
moment frames, and still serves as a
valuable reference
New version of AISC 358 is released
in 2010
118
AISC 358-10
New standard
Replaced FEMA 350
Prequalified rigorous program of
testing, analytical evaluation and
review by the connection
prequalification review panel (CPRP)
Dr. Dehghan 59
119
AISC 358-10
Prequalified Connections
120
AISC 358-10
In a RBS moment connection portions of

the beam flanges are selectively trimmed
in the region adjacent to the beam-to-
column connection
Yielding and hinge formation are intended
to occur primarily within the reduced
section of the beam
Dr. Dehghan 60
121
AISC 358-10
Bolted Unstiffened / Stiffened Extended End-Plate
(BUEEP/BSEEP)
Bolted end-plate connections are made by welding the beam to an end-plate
and bolting the end-plate to a column flange
122
AISC 358-10
Bolted Flange Plate (BFP)
BFP moment connections utilize
plates welded to column flanges and
bolted to beam flanges
Same top and bottom plates
Flange plates are welded to the
column flange using CJP welds
Beam flange connections are made
with high-strength bolts
The beam web is connected to the
column flange using a shear tab
with bolts in short-slotted holes
Initial plastic hinge formation
occurs in the beam in the region
near the end of the flange plates
Dr. Dehghan 61
123
AISC 358-10
Welded Unreinforced Flange-Welded Web (WUF-W)
In the WUF-W moment

connection, inelastic rotation
is developed by yielding of
the beam in the region near
to the face of the column
124
AISC 358-10
Kaiser Bolted Bracket (KBB)
In a KBB connection, a cast
high-strength steel bracket
is fastened to each beam
flange and bolted to the
column flange
The bracket attachment to
the beam flange is
permitted to be either
welded or bolted
Yielding and plastic hinge
formation occurs primarily
in the beam at the end of
the bracket away from the
column face
Dr. Dehghan 62
125
AISC 358-10
Kaiser Bolted Bracket (KBB)
126
Connection Prequalification
AISC 358-10
AISC Connection Prequalification Review Panel (CPRP)
ANSI/AISC 341-10 Chapter K

Connections shall be prequalified based on test data satisfying
Section K1.3, supported by analytical studies and design models
The combined body of evidence must be sufficient to assure
that the connection can supply the required story drift angle for
SMF and IMF systems on a consistent and reliable basis within
the specified limits of prequalification
Dr. Dehghan 63
Moment
Resisting Frames
Panel-Zone Behavior
128
Panel Zone
Column Panel Zone
Panel zone is the portion of the
column within the beam-column
joint region
Subject to high shear when the
frame is under lateral load
Shear yielding and large shear
deformations is possible
(forms shear hinge)
Provides another plastic mechanism
for steel moment frames
plastic hinges are in the panel zones
rather than at the beam ends Joint deformation
Dr. Dehghan 64
129
Panel Zone
Plastic Shear Hinge
Panel zone yielding provides an
alternative way to develop
ductility in a steel moment frame
Important questions are
Does panel zone yielding result in
ductile behavior?
Is this an acceptable approach for
moment frame design?
Plastic Shear Hinges In Column Panel Zones
130
Panel Zone
Behavior of Panel Zone
A number of experiments and
studies on behavior of beam-column
joints with weak panel zones
Yielding is concentrated in the panel
zone (shear yielding)
Right: This photo shows
a panel zone that has
undergone large
inelastic deformations
Left: Cover-plated
connection where the
panel zone is the main
yielding element with
small amount of flexural
yielding in the beam
Dr. Dehghan 65
131
Panel Zone
Like many other tests weak panel
zones, has very high levels of ductility
Shear yielding of the panel zone is a
highly ductile process
Failure typically occurs by a fracture in
the beam flange groove welds
Fracture can occur in groove weld, beam
flange, or column flange
Shows a large moment connection test specimen
Specimen has a composite floor slab
RBS connections were used for the beam-column
This specimen was designed with a very weak
panel zone
Note that there is no yielding in the RBS region of
the beams
132
Panel Zone
Shows a fracture at the bottom flange of right beam
This fracture is immediately next to the beam flange
groove welds
This fracture occurred when the moment in the beam was
well below plastic moment Mp
Fracture was the result of highly localized deformation
at the panel zone corners, KINK regions
Kink at corners
of panel zone
Dr. Dehghan 66
133
Panel Zone
Behavior of Panel Zone Shear force on the panel zone, versus
shear deformation
This plot is for the same Shows local response of the panel zone
specimen shown before Shear yielding of the panel zone does not
exhibit strength degradation due to local
Overall hysteretic response
buckling
Demonstrated outstanding ductility,
Clearly demonstrates the outstanding
sustained many cycles of inelastic loading
ductility possible shear yielding of steel
up to a drift angle of 0.06 radian
Note also that ductility in shear is an
It developed high levels of cyclic ductility
important difference between steel and
before failing by fracture in the vicinity
reinforced concrete
of beam flange groove welds
134
Panel Zone Behavior

Observations on Panel Zone Behavior
Very high ductility is possible
Localized deformations (kinking) at corners of panel zone
may increase likelihood of fracture in vicinity of beam
flange groove welds
Current AISC Seismic Provisions permits limited yielding
in panel zone (Specification J10.6 for available strength)
Further research needed to better define acceptable
level of panel zone yielding
There appears to be broad agreement that panel zone
yielding is a highly ductile process, and the panel zone is an
ideal energy dissipater in a steel moment frame
There is broad disagreement on the role that panel zone
yielding plays in joint fracture
Dr. Dehghan 67

4 Steel - SMRF - Behavior

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4 Steel - SMRF - Behavior

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Seismic Design of Structures Fall 2015 - Shiraz University of Technology

AISC Seismic Provisions

Moment Resisting Frames

MRFs are the two frames on the right

Moment Resisting Frames

Moment Resisting Frames

Critical Detailing Area

shop-welded to the column

Welding details to attach CP to Backup Bar

Beam web bolted

Back-up bar extend beyond flange edges

prepared with (gap between column face and bottom

(30-degrees from a vertical line)

o the wire is hollow, and the flux is on

the inside of the wire

In pre-Northridge practice, the back-up

For any given weld pass, the welder

A test specimen normally consists of a beam segment connected to a column segments

of a moment frame under lateral load

of where yielding has occurred

Note that the entire back

Welded flange Welded flange

Welded flange-bolted web connections showed highly variable

Fracture at top flange of specimen

Collapse of first story of a wood

Severe damage to an older

Weld Access Hole

Example of fracture near interface

Note that weld tab is improperly oriented

Example of a fracture that propagated

Example of divot type fracture

Example of divot type fracture Example of divot type fracture

Example of column flange fracture

Example of column flange fracture

Fracture of column flange, and portion

A large number of steel moment frame buildings suffered

Subsequent studies of the Northridge Connection

Many connections likely failed by a brittle fracture

Fractures frequently initiated at the root of the beam

Nearly immediate elimination of welded flange - bolted

Some of the key factors that may have contributed to

1. factors related to welding

Low Fracture Toughness of Weld Metal

Many failed connections showed evidence of poor weld quality

Many fractures initiated at root defects in bottom flange

o Fractures initiated at a lack of penetration or lack of fusion

Showing the face of the column, after

Shows a fracture initiated at the Photo of weld runoff region at outer

Fracture initiating at out edge of

The presence of the weld access hole

In developing improved moment

Remove bottom flange backing bar

o Greater emphasis on quality and quality control (AISC Seismic

Typical improved post-Northridge moment

Fy = minimum specified yield strength

The improved weld access hole

About 2/3 of specimens developed

Not sufficiently reliable

A laboratory test of a rib-reinforced

The smaller moment generated at

The RBS has become one of the

Note that yielding and plastic hinge

Several proprietary (patented) connection designs have been

Further information is available at