Seismic Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Joints with Vertically Distributed Reinforcement

This paper presents the experimental and finite element (FE) investigations carried out on reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column joints with vertically distributed longitudinal reinforcement layers along its beam. Four full-scale interior beam-column joints with varying reinforcement within the beam are subjected to a constant column axial load and quasi-static horizontal cyclic load The experimental results highlight and discuss its joint behavior such as hysteresis loops, cracking patterns, and failure mechanisms. The FE numerical models are validated by comparing with the experimental results obtained from tested specimens and previous research. Parametric studies are performed to investigate the complex behavior of the joints under the influence of axial loads, vertically distributed reinforcement layers, and in the amount of reinforcement provided