Deformability of Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Joints Considering Strain Penetration Effect

The potential shear strength ofjoint panels deteriorates due to the so-called "strain penetration effect"from beam plastic hinges. This strength reduction may cause an unexpected brittle shear failure of joints before the adjacent beams reach the intended ductility level. In this study, reinforced concrete (RC) joint assemblies are experimentally investigated to evaluate the deformability of joints considering joint shear deterioration. Additionally, a deformation capacity model is developed for joint assemblies failing in shear after beam plastic hinge formation. The proposed method accounts for joint shear deterioration due to axial strain penetration from the beam plastic hinges. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed method is verified against a large experimental database consisting of specimens tested in this study and others reported in the literature. The experimental and analytical deformation capacity results show reasonable agreement.