11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPOSITE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Effect of Replacing the Transverse Reinforcement with

Engineered Cementitious Composite in RC Exterior Beam-
Column Joints Subjected to Cyclic Loading

SHWAN H. SAID1
Department of Civil Techniques, Kirkuk Technical Institute, Northern Technical
University, Baghdad, Iraq.
E-mail shwan_19652000@yahoo.com

Abstract This paper presents a comparative study to investigate the seismic behavior of RC
exterior beam-column joints subjected to cyclic loading. Two specimens of full-scale RC
beam- column joint were cast and prepared for testing. The first specimen was cast with
normal concrete (NC) and seismically designed according to ACI 352R-02 structural
connection Type 2. For second specimen, the NC and the transverse reinforcement in the joint
region were replaced by engineered cementitious composite (ECC) using synthetic polyvinyl
alcohol (PVA) fibers. The specimens subjected to a reversed cyclic loading at the end of the
beam under controlled deformation until failure.

Key words normal concrete (NC), engineered cementitious composite (ECC), polyvinyl
alcohol fibers (PVA)

1. Introduction
Because the performance of beamcolumn joints determines the structural integrity of
any building. An appropriate design for beamcolumn joints in structures is needed to meet
the requirements of strength and ductility to prevent any sudden failure. Under seismic action,
the beamcolumn joint zone is considered as the most sensitive zone that undergoes different
shear stresses in various directions
High-performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) are the more
advanced and superior type of FRC with strain hardening behavior in direct tension test.
Engineered cementitious composite (ECC) is a type of HPFRCC that exhibits multiple
cracking behavior and tensile strain capacity over 37% with tensile strength about 46 MPa
In this experimental study, two full-scale exterior beamcolumn joint specimens were
cast and prepared for testing under cyclic loading. The study highlights the comparison
between the behavior of NC specimen and ECCPVA specimen in the joint zone in terms of
flexural capacity, shear capacity, joint rotation, and energy dissipation capacity of the joint.
Effect of Replacing The Transverse Reinforcement With Engineered Cementitious Composite
in RC Exterior Beam-Column Joints Subjected to Cyclic Loading: Said, S. H.

2. Experimental Results and Discussion

Fig. 1 Details and dimensions for beam- Fig. 2 Testing process of beam-column
column specimen joint

For the first specimen cast with NC and Transverse reinforcement in the joint region. The
average ultimate load capacity of the specimen is 59 kN at drift ratio 4% and an ultimate
moment and shear capacity of the joint of 72 kN.m and 346 kN, respectively. The joint zone
was almost intact indicating a shear failure with moderate ductility in the joint. Load amount
at failure stage shows a decrease of about 20% of the ultimate load capacity at 5% of drift
ratio.
For the second specimen cast with ECC in the joint region. The specimen sustained an
average ultimate load of 72.5 kN at drift ratio of 4.5% with a moment at the joint of 89 kN.m
and shear force capacity of 425 kN. The drop in the load initiated after 4.5% drift ratio and the
load value decreased about 12% of the ultimate load capacity at 7% drift ratio. The beam
column joint failed owing to the high shear forces generated in the joint zone associated with
a ductile mode of failure caused by the ECC characteristics of high ductility and high shear
strength.

Conclusion

The loops area was wider and more organized in the ECC specimen than the loops in NC
specimen, which has the reduced effect of pinching. The usage of ECC in the joint zone
instead of designed normal concrete joint gives better and more reliable results. It allows for
ease of fabrication by eliminating the use of transverse reinforcement and get rid of the
casting difficulties in the joint zone.