Cyclic loading tests and finite element analyses on performance of ring beam connections

•A novel ring-beam connection is proposed for SRC columns and RC beams.•Four specimens with a reduced scale of 1:2.57 were tested and numerically simulated.•The ring beam connection can realize strong connection weak beam requirement.•The specimen satisfying the strong connection weak beam requirement shows good seismic performance.•Insufficient longitudinal rebars or stirrups will lead to premature failure of the ring-beam. A novel ring-beam connection is proposed for steel reinforced concrete (SRC) columns and reinforced concrete (RC) beams, avoiding difficult design and complex construction. The seismic performance of this ring-beam connection is investigated through experimental tests and finite element analysis (FEA). Four reduced-scale specimens were tested under cyclic loading to examine the effects of longitudinal reinforcements, stirrups and different anti-shear parts in the ring-beam connection. The results from tests show that the ring-beam connections with an appropriate design have a good seismic performance and satisfy strong connection weak beam requirement effectively. As further investigation, finite element analyses are carried out, and the analyses results agree well with the experiments.