Hysteresis behavior of CFT column to H-beam connections with external T-stiffeners and penetrated elements

This paper is a study on concrete-filled tubular (CFT) column to H-beam welded connections that are reinforced externally with T-shaped stiffeners at the junction of the column and beam, and with a reinforcing bar or bent plate which penetrates a column. Cyclic loading tests on eight cruciform connections and finite element analysis using ABAQUS were carried out. The results of the tests demonstrate that an increased stiffener length was more effective than an increase in the area of penetrated elements for the criteria of both strength and stiffness. Also, good agreements between analytical results and experimental tests are found. By reinforcing external T-stiffeners, the connection moments of all specimens exceed the beam full plastic moment and stable hysteresis behavior under cyclic loading is shown.