Partially Restrained Connections in Reinforced Concrete Structures

Resumo

This work shows the results of experimental tests in reinforced concrete beam connections conducted at the Engineering School of São Carlos – USP. The experimental results are concentrated in relative rotation between beam and column, important parameters to the evaluation of the moment-rotation curves and the characterization of semi-rigid behavior of the connections. The experimental data were obtained from tests on specimens of exterior beam-column connections. The influence of concrete compressive strength and joint reinforcement transversal rate on relative rotations were investigated. The experimental results were compared with results obtained from theoretical model proposed by FERREIRA [1] for partially restrained connections, allowing an evaluation of percentage the restriction enhanced by types of tested connections.