Seismic behavior of a self-centering beam-to-column joint using low-yield arc steel plates for dissipating energy

To improve the seismic performance of the beam-to-column joints in steel moment-resisting frame structures, a new type of self-centering beam-to-column joint assembled with low-yield arc steel plate dampers for dissipating seismic energy is proposed and studied in the current study. One distinctive feature of the joint is the utilization of low-yield steel, which has significant strain hardening and ductility properties. Five beam-to-column joint specimens equipped with different arc steel plates, which are made from different materials (common carbon steel and low-yield steel) and have different geometric parameters, are designed and tested experimentally under quasi-static cyclic loading. High-precision numerical models are built to simulate the hysteresis behaviors of the self-centering beam-to-column joint, and the simulation results match well with the test data. Based on the validated numerical simulation method, influence of the potential governing factors on the seismic behavior of the proposed joint is studied through a series of parametric analyses. •A new self-centering beam-column joint with low-yield arc steel plates is proposed.•Expected performance of the proposed joint is confirmed by experimental tests.•High-precision numerical model of the proposed joint is developed and validated.•Governing influence factors are investigated through parametric analysis.