ABSTRACT
Beam-column joints are critical regions in reinforced concrete structures. An extensive number of studies were conducted to investigate both the behavior and design parameters of this area. Design parameters such as joint shear reinforcement, concrete compressive strength, joint aspect ratio, and column axial stress are all critical factors in the behavior of beam-column joint. In a planar frame, joint failure results in multiple reductions of redundancy of the structure, whereas a failure in beam or column results in a single reduction of redundancy (Said & Nehdi 2004). Accordingly, strength hierarchy ensures that joint failure is avoided and that a strong column weak beam will limit failure to the beam.
