ABSTRACT
The design, fabrication and quality control criteria for beam-to-RHS column connections are proposed based on recent test results. Connections discussed here are those with improved details, which include: 1. the field-welded connection with no beam cope and with improved details of bolted web joints to carry greater flexural loads; 2. the bolted connections with no welded joint at the beam flange ends; 3. the field-welded connection with cover plates. The connections selected here require less severe quality control requirements than conventional connections by improving connection details to suppress the strength demand on CJP welded joints. All these beam-to-column assemblies were found to have a sufficient plastic rotation capacity to meet severe inelastic demand from future earthquakes and also economically feasible. Proposed criteria were assessed in the light of representative investigations conducted in the US and Japan after the Northridge and Kobe Earthquakes.
