ABSTRACT
Within the connection qualification program under process at the Univesidad Nacional de Colombia under direction of the author, 28 beam-to-column connections constructed with cold-formed steel shapes have been studied analytically and experimentally. Beams, as well as columns, have been designed with double C shapes, arranged in a box-type section or an I-section, varying characteristics such as sections’ combinations, width-thickness ratios and type of reinforcement (stiffeners, continuity plates, etc.). Among the studied connections, there are very simple ones such as that of a box-type beam weld connected to a box-type column, without any special reinforcement, or others with I-section beams, some with stiffeners, continuity plates, seat plates, shear plates, lateral plates, and combinations of reinforcements such as those mentioned. It must be noted that in all cases the feasibility of construction of the connection has been taken into account. The
theoretical behavior of the connections was evaluated considering, among others, two very important aspects from the point of view of seismic response in the building in which they are intended to be used:
1) theoretical resistance of the members, according to the principle of strong-column/weak-beam, and 2) resistance of the elements of the connection such as plates, welds, stiffeners, etc, calculated assuring that they remain in the elastic range even if the connected members reach plastic deformation. In Table 1 and Figure 1 the different types of studied connections are shown.
