Investigation into the behaviour of shear stud applied weak column–strong beam connections

The behaviour of weak column–strong beam reinforced concrete (RC) connections with the application of specially manufactured steel plates with shear studs (SPwSS) under cyclic loads was investigated, both experimentally and analytically. The aim of the work was to improve the seismic behaviour of the joint by using SPwSS. In total, 15 full-scale RC connections were tested under reversed-cyclic lateral loads. The specimens were formed as an exterior joint of a frame. The compressive strength of concrete, the width of the shear stud heads and their spacing on the steel plates were adopted as the main test parameters, whose effects on the weak columns were investigated. It was observed that plastic hinges occurred at the beams after SPwSS application. The obtained experimental results were compared with analytical results and similarities in the behaviours were observed.