Analytical investigation of failure behavior of beam-column knee joint with external steel plates anchorage using 3D RBSM

Abstract

External steel plates anchorage is one way to reduce the reinforcement congestion inside the beam-column joint because the reinforcing bars of the beam and column are anchored using steel plates located outside the joint. In this study, the failure behavior of the joint is investigated through the study of internal stresses using a discrete analysis method called 3D Rigid Body Spring Model. Simulation results are compared with experimental results. The simulation results show that in BCJ-Hook (conventional hook bar anchorage), the capacity of the beamcolumn joint in open case is significantly lower than that in close case. Meanwhile, in BCJ-Plates (external steel plates anchorage), the maximum load in open case is roughly the same as that in close case with only 6-14% reduction in maximum load. Higher capacity in BCJ-Plates is caused by the confinement from the steel plates.