RECENTERING BEAM-COLUMN CONNECTION

The conception, proof-of-concept testing, performance, and behavior of a SMA-based recentering beam-column connection are presented. Since the 1994 Northridge earthquake, many different research initiatives have been undertaken to create connections that have more robust performance under seismic loads. Numerous vulnerabilities in fully restrained connections have resulted in the re-evaluation of their partially restrained counterpart (i.e. bolted connections). This re-evaluation has shown that properly detailed partially restrained connections have good seismic performance (Murray, 1988; Ocel et al., 2004; Penar, 2005; Swanson and Leon, 2000). A SMA-based partially restrained connection is proposed in this research. The connection is designed to have excellent ductility, yet maintain the ability to recenter after large drift demands. The experimental testing and results from five beam-column connection tests are presented in the work herein. The connection was a modified version of the connection previously tested by Penar (2005) at Georgia Tech. Several enhancements to the previous connection were made in order to ensure that all the inelastic deformations were concentrated in the NiTi tendons. More detailed information can be found in Matthew Speicher's dissertation.