Behaviour and design of steel and composite beam connections to composite walls

This paper presents a combined experimental and numerical study on the static and cyclic behaviour of composite wall-to-steel/composite beam connections. In the experimental phase, seven composite wall-to-steel beam connections fabricated from both S250 mild steels and S690 high-strength steels were tested under static and cyclic loads. Owing to the adoption of various design solutions, tested composite wall-to-steel beam connections exhibited significant different failure modes. However, all of such steel beam connections exhibited satisfactory rotational capacities. Meanwhile, six composite wall-to-composite beam connections were fabricated from S250 mild steel and tested under both static and cyclic loads. On the contrast, less ductile performance of these composite beam connections was observed, as the reinforcement failed to reach yielding. In order to further investigate the design details that can enhance mechanical properties of both composite wall-to-steel/composite beam connections, the authors herein developed finite element models and validated with the obtained experimental results. Extensive following numerical analyses were performed regarding both composite wall to steel and composite beam connections. Finally, practical design recommendations were proposed.