The influence of the beam-column connection on the global results of multi-storey reinforced concrete structures

Abstract

The effect of the semi-rigid connection between beams and columns on the global behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) structures was investigated. The relative rotations in the nodes of the spatial frames were determined using the analytical approach proposed by Alva and El Debs. The rotational restraint factor ( α r) was defined and applied in each node of the spatial frames. RC spatial frames with total heights of 21, 42, and 63 m were considered. It was found that the semi-rigid connection increases the lateral displacements, the 2nd order effects, and the γ z values. The lower the stiffness of the nodes, the lower the influence of α r on the global results. The total fixed beam-column connections can lead to an unrealistic behavior of the spatial frame and thus to global results.