Experimental behaviour of end plate minor-axis steel and composite joints under cyclic loading

The relevant moment–rotation characteristics of minor-axis steel beam-to-column joints cannot be predicted by the direct application of the component method as specified in Eurocode 3. According to the general principles of the component method, any joint can be modelled if all the joint components are fully characterized. The limitation in the particular case of minor-axis joints is due to the fact that the component column web in bending, responsible for most of the deformation that limits the joint resistance, is not yet characterized. In seismic regions, and for major axis joints, the column web in shear has a significant contribution towards the energy dissipation. The objective of this paper is to present an experimental study that contributes for the understanding of the behaviour of minor axis joints under cyclic loading. The tested configurations include two geometries of steel end plate beam-to-column minor axis joints subjected to cyclic loading. The experimental Moment–rotation curves are compared to the corresponding monotonic curves, and to the available analytical models. In addition, two tests on the same configurations, but where reinforced concrete was added to form a composite joint are also described. Finally the composite moment–rotation behaviour is then compared to the non-composite connections to identify the real effect of the composite action on the joint structural behaviour.