The Effects of Internal and External Stiffeners on Hysteretic Behavior of Steel Beam to CFT Column Connections

Abstract

This study focuses on performance of H-shaped steel beams to CFT column rigid connections. To this end, the effects of internal and external stiffeners on hysteretic behavior of connections were studied. Comparative numerical analyses carried out on eight different connections. To this end finite element models were prepared using ANSYS and nonlinear cyclic analyses carried out. Results of this study revealed that external stiffeners are key elements to increase ductility and strength of steel beam to CFT column connections. It was also shown that T-shaped stiffeners are the most effective types of external stiffeners for improvement of hysteretic behavior of steel beam to CFT steel column connection.