BACKGROUND

This document accompanies a list of steel moment connnection tests compiled by the Steel Subcommittee of the SEAONC Seismology Committee.

Listed tests are limited to full-scale tests executed since the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The list includes SAC Phase I tests. It does not include Japanese tests, which generally assume construction procedures not used in the U.S. Many of the listed test programs included some pre-Northridge connections, mostly to compare with modified designs or to test repair schemes. References CH0094, E1293, R0696, and TS0695 offer insights into the history and development of the pre-Northridge connection.

The list is intended to help engineers find information they may need, but they must still read that information themselves. The list does not give test results for several reasons: The Subcommittee does not want to approve any detail, even indirectly. Also, different test programs sometimes measure performance differently, so results must be read in context. Finally, test results are commonly found to be influenced by variables not intended as primary test parameters, such as actual yield strength, backup bar detail, etc. In the absence of complete test descriptions, a listing of even basic test results could be misleading.

Maintenance of the list is expected to be an ongoing project of the Subcommittee. An update is anticipated by mid-March 1997. Users are asked to contact David Bonowitz (415-771-3227) if they are aware of tests not listed, or if they have questions about the list or the references.

NOTES

Unless noted otherwise, the following conditions applied to all listed tests: The following notes indicate exceptions to the typical conditions above:
1a A572Gr50 beam or beam nominal yield strength not reported
1b A36 column or column nominal yield strength not reported
2a FCAW weld without notch-toughness requirement at one or both beam flanges
2b SMAW weld
2c Electrode type not reported
3a Column axial tension applied
3b Column axial compression applied
3c Out-of-plane moments/axial loads applied to column to simulate bidirectional loading
4 Composite beam behavior simulated with partial slab
5 Test listed is one side of a two-sided (i.e. one column with two beams) test configuration
6a Static monotonic loading
6b Dynamic loading, cyclic (sim ATC-24) or time-history

ABBREVIATIONS

Connection Type
T,B,TB top, bottom, top and bottom
CP cover plate
PreNR pre-Northridge connection
RBS reduced beam section
WSlot web slot
Column, Beam
bu built-up from plates
BX box
CFT concrete-filled tube
cruc cruciform section
sim H or other section similar to listed WF
wk weak axis orientation
Shear Connection
B bolted only
W welded, with or w/o erection bolts
Wpl bm welded to tab, tab welded to col
WB bolted with shear tab welds

REFERENCES

Although some test results are proprietary or not yet published, most have been described in conference papers or journal articles; these in turn refer to more complete reports published by various universities. Many of the unpublished reports are scheduled for publication in 1997. The Subcommittee will try to make interim reports available to SEAONC members as needed. Multiple references are given for some test programs to facilitate a literature search. Together with the SAC reports, which provide useful detail and definitions, the Eleventh World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (11WCEE, Acapulco, June 1996) is a good place to start, as it included short papers on most of the largest programs from 1994 and 1995.
A1295
Anderson, J.C. et al. Post Earthquake Studies of a Damaged Low Rise Office Building (Report No. CE 95-07). University of Southern California, Department of Civil Engineering. December 1995. See also 11WCEE Paper No. 174. The building is #RCRJ in the SAC Survey (SAC 95-06).
A0596
Anderson, J.C. et al. "Three Repair/Retrofit Procedures for Welded Moment Frames," in Proceedings of the 11th EMD Conference, ASCE, May, 1996.
A0197
Anderson, J.C. "A Welded Moment Connection for Low Rise Steel Frames," in The EERC-CUREe Symposium in Honor of Vitelmo V. Bertero (preprint volume), Berkeley, CA, January 1997.
AL1095
Allen, J. et al. "Ductile Connection Designs for Welded Steel Moment Frames," in Proceedings: 64th Annual Convention (1995 SEAOC Convention), Indian Wells, CA, October 1995.
AL0796
Allen, J. et al. "Stress Distribution in Welded/Bolted Beam to Column moment Connections." July, 17, 1996. Lead paper in unpublished collection of test results, analysis results, related articles, presentation materials, etc. Available from SSDA: 714-363-5850.
AL1196
"Slotted Beam-to-Column Connection Designs." Seismic Structural Design Associates, Inc. (SSDA), November 1996. Unpublished collection of test results, details, etc. Available from SSDA: 714-363-5850.
CH0094
Chen, S.J. and Yeh, C.H. "Enhancement of Ductility of of Steel Beam-to-Column Connections for Seismic Resistance," in SSRC 1994 Technical Session, Lehigh, PA.
CH1196
Chen, S.J. et al. "Ductile Steel Beam-to-Column Connections for Seismic Resistance." Journal of Structural Engineering, November 1996: 1292-1299.
E1293
Engelhardt, M.D. and Husain, A.S. "Cyclic-Loading Performance of Welded-Flange-Bolted Web Connections." Journal of Structural Engineering, December, 1993: 3537- 3550.
E1094
Engelhardt, M.D. and Sabol, T.A. "Testing of Welded Steel moment Connections in Response to the Northridge Earthquake," in Northridge Steel Update I. American Institute of Steel Construction, October 1994. Available from AISC: 312-670-2400. Also presented in Modern Steel Construction (May 1995) and in proceedings of 1995 AISC National Steel Construction Conference (San Antonio, May 1995). See also 11WCEE Paper No. 857.
E0396
Shuey, B., Engelhardt, M. and Sabol, T. "Testing of Repair Concepts for Damaged Steel Moment Connections," in Technical Report: Experimental Investigations of Beam-Column Subassemblages (SAC 96- 01, Part 2). SAC Joint Venture Partnership, March 1996.
E0796
Engelhardt and Sabol. "Reinforcing of Steel Moment Connections with Cover Plates: Benefits and Limitations." Presented at U.S.-Japan Seminar on Innovations in Stability Concepts and Methods for Seismic Design in Structural Steel, Honolulu, July 1996.
E0896
Engelhardt, et al. "The Dogbone Connection: Part II." Modern Steel Construction, August 1996: 46-55. Additional data provided in five unpublished interim "Brief Reports" by Engelhardt's team.
E1196
Civjan, S. and Engelhardt, M. "Brief Report: HAUNCH1." Unpublished interim report of tests conducted 11/26- 27/96.
E1296
Civjan, S. and Engelhardt, M. "Brief Report: DOG1." Unpublished interim report of tests conducted 12/20/96.
E0197
Engelhardt, M. Letter to DB, 1/17/97. Report in preparation.
FE0795
Jokerst, M. "Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Human Genome Laboratory Steel Joint Test: Technical Brief." Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc. July 20, 1995. Unpublished report available from F/E.
G0896
Goel, S. et al. A New Look at Steel Moment Connections (Report UMCEE 96-19). Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. August 1996.
I0496
Iwankiw, N. and Carter, C. "The Dogbone: A New Idea to Chew On." Modern Steel Construction, April 1996: 18-23.
K0196
Kasai, K. and Bleiman, D. "Bolted Brackets for Repair of Damaged Steel Moment Frame Connections." Prepared for the 7th U.S.-Japan Workshop on the Improvement of Structural Design and Construction Practices: Lessons Learned from Northridge and Kobe, Kobe, Japan, January 18-20, 1996. Also available from ICF Kaiser engineers: 818-509-3182. See also 11WCEE Paper No. 1732.
K0796
Kasai, K. et al. "Rigid-Bolted Repair Method for Damaged Moment Connections." Presented at U.S.-Japan Seminar on Innovations in Stability Concepts and Methods for Seismic Design in Structural Steel, Honolulu, July 1996. Also to be published in J. of Engineering Structures in Oxford, England.
KY0497
Kouyoumdjian, H. "High Rotational Capacity Moment Connections." Prepared for ASCE Structures Congress 1997, Portland.
L0696
Leon, R.T. et al. "The Effect of Composite Floor Slabs on the Behavior of Steel Moment-Resisting Frames in the Northridge Earthquake," in Composite Construction III: Proc. of the Third Conference on Composite Construction, Irsee, Germany, June, 1996. See also 11WCEE Paper No. 656. Also to be presented at April 1997 ASCE Structures Congress in Portland.
M0596
Murray, T.M. and Meng, R.L. Moment End-Plate Connections for Seismic Loading (Report CE/VPI-ST 96/04). Department of Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, May 1996.
MNH96
The SidePlate Connection System. MNH-SMRF Systems, Inc. Undated three-page summary, available from MNH-SMRF Systems, Inc.: 800-475-2077. Refers to LA County SMRF Bulletin No. 3: Steel Moment Resisting Frame (SMRF) Connection Systems.
N0196
Nelson, R.F. "Proprietary Solution." Modern Steel Construction, January 1996: 40-44.
P0296
Popov, E. "UCB Specimen DB1 Test Summary Memo." 9 pages, unpublished. February 27, 1996.
P0396
Popov, E. et al. "Full-Scale Steel Beam-Column Connection Tests," in Technical Report: Experimental Investigations of Beam-Column Subassemblages (SAC 96- 01, Part 2). SAC Joint Venture Partnership, March 1996.
P0496
Popov, E. Studies in Steel Moment Resisting Beam- to-Column Connections for Seismic-Resistant Design (Report UCB/EERC-95/11). University of California, Berkeley. Listed data is from a SAC Summary of this report.
P0696
Popov E. et al. Cyclic Testing of Five Full-Scale Steel Beam-Column Connections (Report to Watsonville Community Hospital). Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, June 1996. Unpublished report of privately sponsored tests.
P1096
Popov, E. Experimental and Analytical Studies of Steel Connections and Energy Dissipaters (Report UCB/EERC-95/13). University of California, Berkeley. Listed data is from a SAC Summary of this report.
R0396
Roeder, C. "Summary Report of SAC Phase 1 Task 7 Experimental Studies," in Technical Report: Experimental Investigations of Beam-Column Subassemblages (SAC 96-01, Part 1). SAC Joint Venture Partnership, March 1996.
R0696
Roeder, C. and Foutch, D. "Experimental Results for Seismic Resistant Steel Moment Frame Connections." Journal of Structural Engineering, June 1996: 581-588.
RI0696
Ricles, J.M. et al. "Experimental Performance of Moment Connections in CFT Column-WF Beam Structural Systems Under Seismic Loading," Paper No. 1224 in Eleventh World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Acapulco, June 1996.
TD0297
Tide, R. Letter (by facsimile) to DB, February 20, 1997. Report in preparation.
TS0695
Tsai, K.C. et al. "Experimental Performance of Seismic Steel Beam-Column Moment Joints." Journal of Structural Engineering, June 1995: 925-931.
TS0696
Tsai, K.C. and Chen, C.Y. "Performance of Ductile Steel Beam-Column Moment Connections," Paper No. 405 in Eleventh World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Acapulco, June 1996.
TR0897
Tremblay, R. et al. "Seismic Performance of RBS Connections for Steel Moment Resisting Frames: Influence of Loading Rate and Floor Slab." Submitted for possible presentation at STESSA `97: Second International Conference on the Behaviour of Steel Structures in Seismic Areas, Kyoto, August 1997.
U0396
Uang, C.M. and Bondad, D. "Static Cyclic Testing of Pre-Northridge and Haunch Repaired Steel Moment Connections," in Technical Report: Experimental Investigations of Beam-Column Subassemblages (SAC 96- 01, Part 1). SAC Joint Venture Partnership, March 1996. Video of some tests also available.
U0696
Uang, C.M. and Bondad, D.M. "Dynamic Testing of Full-Scale Steel Moment Connections," Paper No. 407 in Eleventh World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Acapulco, June 1996. Video of 2 of the tests also available.
U0896
Noel, S. and Uang, C.M. Cyclic Testing of Steel Moment Connections for the San Francisco Civic Center Complex (Report TR-96/07). Division of Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego. August 1996.
U0497
Uang, C.M. and Noel, S. "Testing of Retrofitted Steel Moment Connections." Prepared for ASCE Structures Congress 1997, Portland. Results for 6 of 8 tests; two others due for testing in early 1997.
W0396
Whittaker, A. et al. "Seismic Testing of Full- Scale Steel Beam-Column Assemblies," in Technical Report: Experimental Investigations of Beam-Column Subassemblages (SAC 96-01, Part 1). SAC Joint Venture Partnership, March 1996.
W0596
Whittaker, A. et al. Washington High School Reconstruction: Cyclic Testing of Steel Beam-Column Connections (Report EERCL-STI/96-04). University of California, Berkeley. May 1996. Listed data is from a SAC Summary of this report. Also discussed in August 1996 SEAONC News, p.10.
X0196
Kaufmann, E.J. et al. "Achieving Ductile Behavior of Moment Connections." Modern Steel Construction, January 1996: 30-39.
X0696
Xue, M. et al. "Achieving Ductile Behavior of Moment Connections - Part II." Modern Steel Construction, June 1996: 38-42.
Z0896
Zekioglu, A. et al. "Development and Testing of Moment Connections for City of Hope National Medical Center." In-house report for Ove Arup & Partners California, August 7, 1996.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following engineers and researchers provided test data and background information for this project: Jay Allen, Jim Anderson, Lauren Carpenter, Peter Clark, Mike Engelhardt, Jerry Hajjar, Mark Jokerst, Kaz Kasai, Hratch Kouyoumdjian, Tom Lauck, Roberto Leon, Jim Malley, Hossein Mozaffarian, Kamal Obeid, Ken O'Dell, Jim Passaglia, Mark Saunders, Ray Tide, and Chia-Ming Uang.