Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126

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Journal of Constructional Steel Research

Design of X-shaped double split tee joints accounting for

moment–shear interaction
M. Latour ⁎, G. Rizzano
University of Salerno, Civil Engineering Department, Salerno, Italy

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Dealing with steel moment resisting frames (MRFs), the latest version of Eurocode 8 allows us to dissipate the
Received 3 March 2014 seismic input energy in connections provided that their characteristics under cyclic loads are certified by
Accepted 10 October 2014 means of experimental testing. Within the beam-to-column joint typologies to be used in seismic resistant
Available online 29 October 2014
steel frames, the double split tee joint (DST) represents an interesting solution due to its easy fabrication and re-
pair after a destructive seismic event. Nevertheless, the cyclic behavior of this joint typology is usually character-
Keywords:
ADAS
ized by pinching and strength degradation phenomena due to the plastic engagement of the rectangular T-stubs
Experimental which compromises the use of DST joints as dissipative elements. Within this framework, in this paper, in order
Moment–shear interaction to improve the hysteretic behavior of this connection typology, a new type of dissipative DST joint is presented. In
Shape particular, the proposed dissipative T-stub is designed substituting the rectangular T-stubs with the so-called X-
Steel joints shaped T-stubs, whose flange plates are cut into an hourglass shape similar to that of ADAS dampers. In particular,
Dissipative in the paper, a model that is able to predict the resistance of the proposed X-shaped T-stubs accounting for
moment–shear interaction is developed and rules for designing the optimum shape of dissipative DST joints
are proposed. Finally, the results of an experimental activity on real scale joints are presented aiming to verify
the reliability of the proposed design approach and to compare the cyclic behavior of classical and X-shaped
DST joints evidencing the benefits provided by the proposed dissipative joint.
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction Therefore, as an alternative to the classical approach the design phi-

In order to assure a satisfactory behavior under severe seismic
events, the modern design procedures are based on the selection of
the so-called dissipative zones which have to provide, through their
plastic engagement, the dissipation of the earthquake input energy.
Dealing with the seismic design of steel moment resisting frames
(MRFs) it is well known that the dissipation of the energy at beam
ends is commonly considered the best way to provide frames with ade-
quate response under seismic actions. In particular, in order to reach
this scope EC8 [6] requires the adoption of full-strength joints [18]
and, aiming to prevent the plastic engagement of the columns, the
adoption of a members' hierarchy criterion. It is due to this last reason
that, as already demonstrated by [10] the classical design philosophy,
in some cases, can be onerous and not cost/effective. In fact, promoting
the development of plastic hinges at beam ends can lead to columns
oversizing and to the adoption of expensive joints, characterized by
the use of welded connections, continuity plates, ribs and/or supple-
mentary web plates.
⁎ Corresponding author at: University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132 - Fisciano
(SA). Tel.: +39 089964342.
E-mail addresses: mlatour@unisa.it (M. Latour), g.rizzano@unisa.it (G. Rizzano).
losophy of strong column–weak connection–strong beam has been re-
cently introduced [11,20–22,25,28]. Such design approach is
particularly cost/effective in the case of low-rise frames characterized
by long spans, where the design of beams is governed by dead loads
and, by adopting partial strength joints, only a part of the bending mo-
ment is transferred to the columns. The growing interest of the scientific
community to solutions adopting partial strength joints is reflected also
in last versions of Eurocode 8 and Eurocode 3 [4–6]. In fact, the codes
have opened the door to the use of partial strength joints in MRFs con-
centrating the dissipation of the seismic input energy in the connecting
elements and, with some limitations, in panel zones. Nevertheless, it has
to be noted that, even though in the present framework the use of par-
tial strength joints is already possible, its practical use is strongly limited
because the dissipative capacities of joints have to be certified by means
of experimental testing. Therefore, in order to provide specific rules for
the design of dissipative joints to be used in the seismic zone new efforts
are needed even though, in past decades, a great work of the scientific
community has already been devoted to the analysis of the hysteretic
behavior of connections [2,3,7,14,16,19,23,27].
In particular, in a past work of the same authors an experimental
analysis devoted to evaluate the cyclic behavior of beam-to-column
joints characterized by the same plastic resistance but designed in
order to engage in plastic range different joint components has been

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2014.10.015
0143-974X/© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
116 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126
developed [12]. Within this work, the double split T-stub joint has been
recognized as an interesting joint solution from the seismic point of
view, due to its simplicity and easy constructability. In fact, in this con-
nection the joint is realized fastening the beam to the column through
two bolted T-stubs (Fig. 1) and its production requires only shop-
welding and field-bolting. In addition, due to the simplicity of the detail,
frames adopting this joint typology are fast to erect and easy to restore
after a destructive seismic event because, if the design process is prop-
erly carried out, the only elements that undergo plastic deformations
are the upper and lower T-stubs. Another positive feature regards the
relatively easy modeling of the monotonic and cyclic response of DST
joints, which can be carried out by means of the already available me-
chanical and FE models for the T-stubs which are, in this joint typology,
the only source of energy dissipation [7,11,24,26].
On the other hand, DST joints, involved in plastic range bolted compo-
nents, are characterized by an energy dissipation capacity reduced by
pinching and strength degradation phenomena. Therefore, in order to im-
prove the dissipative capacity of bolted T-stubs, in a previous work of the
authors, an innovative approach applying the concepts governing the be-
havior of hysteretic metallic dampers working in double curvature
(Added Stiffness and Damping — ADAS) to the T-stubs has been present-
ed (Fig. 2) [17]. In particular, within this past work the cyclic behavior of
classical and innovative T-stubs characterized by equal stiffness and resis-
tance has been compared showing that the proposed dissipative T-stub
allows obtaining a stable hysteretic behavior combined with a high ener-
gy dissipation capacity, ductility supply and fatigue-life.
Therefore, starting from the results already obtained in the past
experimental activities, the scope of this paper is to propose the applica-
tion of X-shaped T-stubs to partial strength DST joints in order to over-
come, without any significant additional cost, the limited energy
dissipation and ductility provided by the classical double split tee joint
with rectangular T-stubs.
In order to use X-shaped DST joints, first of all, reliable rules for design-
ing the shape of the dissipative DST joints are necessary. To this scope,
particular attention has to be focused on the moment–shear interaction
effects, which are usually neglected in all the classical theories developed
for ADAS devices, because they can provide a significant reduction of the
resistance of the X-shaped T-stubs in the case of thick plates. Therefore, in
this paper a theoretical analysis for designing the optimum shape of dis-
sipative DST joints accounting for the effects of moment–shear interaction
has been performed and design rules have been carried out. Finally, in
order to validate the proposed design approach and to verify the advan-
tages provided by the dissipative joints, the results of an experimental
analysis carried out at the laboratory on materials and structures of the
University of Salerno are presented comparing the hysteretic behavior
Fig. 1. Double split tee joint [12].
Fig. 2. Left: rectangular T-stub; right: X-shaped T-stub.
of classical rectangular DST joints and innovative X-shaped DST joints in
terms of energy dissipation capacity.
2. Prediction of X-shaped T-stub resistance accounting for
moment–shear interaction
As aforesaid, the idea to improve the hysteretic behavior of T-stubs
by tapering their flange plate comes from an intuition classically applied
to ADAS (Added Stiffness and Damping) [8,13,29]. They are usually
located in high displacement zones and composed by a stack of carved
plates loaded out of plane, which are tapered following approximately
the shape of the diagram of the bending moment.
The device suggested in [17] is based on the same principle and, in
particular, it is characterized by a flange plate which is tapered according
to an hourglass shape in the zone between the bolt and the plastic hinge
arising at the T-stub web (Fig. 3). The reasons of the advantages obtained
by adopting the dissipative T-stubs can be easily understood by compar-
ing the dissipative mechanism of classical and X-shaped T-stubs. Under
the hypothesis of weak plate–strong bolt (mechanism type-1) (Fig. 4),
according to the classical T-stub theory, the bending moment diagram
acting on the plate is linear with point of contraflexure in the middle sec-
tion between the bolt and the stem. Due to the external actions, in the
case of rectangular flange plate, the T-stub plastic mechanism is charac-
terized by the development of four plastic hinges, arising in correspon-
dence of the bolt lines and of the tee stems that, under cyclic loads,
have to provide the energy dissipation through alternate rotations. Due
to the high demand of plastic deformation in small plate regions, i.e. the
plastic hinge zones, the behavior of classical rectangular T-stub under cy-
clic loads is usually affected by significant pinching and/or strength deg-
radation phenomena, which may lead to poor energy dissipation
capacity and limited ductility supply.
Conversely, aiming to obtain a uniform spread of the plasticization
through the whole T-stub flange plate, X-shaped T-stubs are character-
ized by a flange plate which is cut following the distribution of the bend-
ing moments, providing ideally the contemporary plasticization of all
cross-sections. In this way, as well as the ADAS devices, an improved re-
sponse of the plate in terms of fatigue-life, energy dissipation capacity
and ductility supply under cyclic loadings is obtained.
Dealing with the prediction of the force–displacement response of
classical rectangular T-stubs, in [11], a mechanical model that is able
to predict the plastic resistance of T-stubs accounting also for the mo-
ment–shear interaction has been proposed. In particular, starting from
the definition of an approximate moment–shear interaction domain,
Faella et al. [11] have determined that for the classical rectangular T-
stub, when the ratio between the lever arm and the plate thickness is
greater than 2.5, the reduction of resistance due to the moment–shear
interaction is less than 10% in the case of mechanism type-1, while in
the case of mechanism type-2 is lower than 4%. On the base of these
 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126 117

s
b(z)
a

Beff
B
z
b

B
s
m
M*

M*

Fig. 3. Bending moment diagram arising on the tapered flange.

results the authors have recognized that, in current applications, the
effect of moment–shear interaction on the resistance of rectangular T-
stubs is negligible.
In the case of dissipative X-shaped T-stubs the same result cannot be
taken for granted. In fact, while the rectangular T-stub is subjected to a
distribution of tangential stresses constant along the plate extension, in
the X-shaped T-stub, due to the particular hourglass shape, the tangential
stresses are higher in the middle zones of the plate. As a consequence,
even though the normal stresses due to bending are constant because
the plate width follows the distribution of the bending moment, if the
shape of the plate is not properly designed a substantial decrease of resis-
tance may arise. Therefore, before providing a design criterion of the dis-
sipative DST joint, in order to avoid a significant reduction of the T-stub
resistance due to shear, a specific criterion able to define the plate shape
and the minimum width has to be established. Therefore, it is worth not-
ing that the classical models for designing ADAS dampers, which are suf-
ficiently slender to allow the design of the shape accounting only for the
bending moment actions arising in the plate, cannot be extended to dissi-
pative T-stubs that have to carry high shear forces.
The effect of moment–shear interaction is a complicated phenome-
non which depends on the constraints and on the shape of loads on
the entire element under consideration. In general, the solution in a
closed form of the problem is not trivial and, as observed by [9], the mo-
ment–shear interaction problem does not possess a unique solution
expressed in the form:


M V
f ; ¼0 ð1Þ
MRd V Rd
because the variables moment (M) and shear (V) are dependent. De-
spite this, in technical literature usually simplified models based on
the application of the static theorem are proposed in order to define,
even though in approximate way, the influence of shear on the
resistance.
Within this paper, an approach similar to that followed by [11] for
rectangular T-stubs is adopted. In particular, it is assumed that a stat-
ically admissible field of stresses acts on the cross-section, with the
external fibers withstanding the bending moment and the internal
ones withstand the shear stresses only (Fig. 5). Starting from this
stress distribution the following moment–shear interaction domain
is obtained:

M V2
þ 2 ¼1 ð2Þ
MRd V Rd

where M and V are the internal bending moment and shear force acting
on the plate respectively, while MRd and VRd are the pure plastic mo-
ment and the pure plastic shear of the whole section respectively, as-
suming that the moment–shear interaction
 pffiffiffi is negligible. Therefore,
being Mrd = (bt 2/4)fy and V rd ¼ bt f y = 3 , the relationship between
the pure plastic
pffiffiffi moment and the pure plastic shear can be written as
MRd ðzÞ ¼ 3=4V Rd ðzÞt which has been introduced in Eq. (2) together
with the expression of the shear V(z) as a function of the corresponding
bending moment M(z) distributed according to Fig. 5. Therefore, Eq. (2)
has been rearranged in the following way:

2
V ðzÞ 2  ðm−2zÞ V ðzÞ
 pffiffiffi þ 2 ¼1 ð3Þ
V Rd ðzÞ 3t V Rd ðzÞ

which expresses the domain of resistance of the plate along its exten-
sion as a function of the external shear force and of the internal shear re-
Fig. 4. Failure mode of a bolted T-stub under type-1 mechanism. sistance. In order to obtain the force F(z) = 2V(z) carried by a
118 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126

σ τ
fy
a f y/ 3
t

a
fy
b(z)

Fig. 5. Distribution of internal stresses under bending moment and shear.

dissipative T-stub with two dampers at the generic abscissa z, the last is similar to the case of a rectangular plate subjected to double curva-
equation can be solved with respect to V(z)/VRd(z) obtaining: ture, the section of minimum resistance is located at the fully restrained
section either considering only bending actions or considering both
2 vffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi bending and shear. Conversely, in the case of hourglass T-stubs, that is
u !3
2  V Rd ðzÞ  ð2z−mÞ 4 u 3t 2 equivalent to the case of ADAS devices, the section of minimum resis-
F ðzÞ ¼ pffiffiffi 1− t 1þ 5: ð4Þ tance, accounting both for bending and shear, can be located some-
3t ð2z−mÞ2
pffiffiffi where in between the fully restrained section and the middle section
Considering that V Rd ðzÞ ¼ bðzÞt f y = 3, where fy is the material yield of the plate. From the reported expressions it follows that the position
stress and b(z) is the width of the X-shaped T-stub along its longitudinal of the section of minimum resistance is a parameter that depends only
development, Eq. (4) provides the force F(z) carried by a dissipative T- on the geometrical properties of the device. In Fig. 6 a representation
stub as a function of only the geometrical and mechanical properties. in non-dimensional form of abscissa z* is delivered. From the figures
According to the classical ADAS theory, the width b(z) can be defined depicted, it is possible to observe that as the plate slenderness increases
by means of an exponential function [30,31]: the range of s/B values which lead to the formation of the plastic hinge in

 an intermediate zone of the plate increases.
−αz 2 B On the base of the obtained results, the approach proposed in this
bðzÞ ¼ B  e with α¼ ln 0≤z ≤m=2 ð5Þ
m s paper to account in a simplified form for the moment–shear interaction
effect is to express the resistance of the plate as the product of the resis-
where s is the width of the mid-section, B is the maximum width and m tance evaluated accounting only for bending moment already devel-
is the lever arm which is represented by the distance between the bolt oped in a previous work [17] multiplied for a coefficient accounting
axis and the section corresponding to the flange-to-web connection. for the reduction of resistance due to the moment–shear interaction.
This distance can be assumed, according to Eurocode 3 [5], equal to The resistance neglecting the moment–shear interaction can be defined
m = d − 0.8r, where d is the distance between the bolt axis and the as follows [17]:
T-stub web and r is the radius p offfiffiffithe flange-to-web connection in the
case of rolled T-stub or r ¼ ac 2 in the case of welded T-stub with ac 2
4  M Rd;X Beff t f y
equal to the weld throat thickness. Substituting the shear plastic resis- F Rd;X ¼ ¼ ð9Þ
m m
tance in Eq. (4), the following equation is obtained:
2 vffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
!3 where the plate effective width Beff, is equal to [15,17]:
u
2  B  e−m ln ð s Þz  f y  ð2z−mÞ
2 B
u 3t 2


F ðzÞ ¼ 41−t 1 þ 5: ð6Þ s B s
3 ð2z−mÞ2 Beff ¼ B  e   ln b 0:368 ð10Þ
B s B

Eq. (8) provides the force carried by the flange plate at the generic
abscissa z. Therefore, as far as the external shear force acting on the de- s
Beff ¼ B N0:368: ð11Þ
vice is constant, the total force carried by two bolts T-stub, accounting B
both for bending moment and shear, is given by the minimum of func-
tion F(z) in the range 0 b z b m/2: Therefore, according to the proposed approach, the T-stub resistance
vffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi can be defined correcting the resistance obtained with Eq. (9), through
u 2 !3
   2  B  e−m ln ð s Þz  f y  ð2z −mÞ
B 
2
u 2 the following coefficient lower than one, which depends only on the
41−t 1 þ 3t 5
F z ¼ ð7Þ damper geometrical properties:
3 ð2z −mÞ2
  
F ðz Þ F ðz Þm F ðz Þm
η¼ ¼ ¼
where z* individuates the section of minimum resistance defined as: F RD;X 4M f ;Rd Beff t 2 f y
2 vffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
!3
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi u
 
2  m  bðz Þ  ð2z −mÞ 4 u 3t
2
 B m 21 2 ¼ 1− t 1þ 5: ð12Þ
z ¼0 if be m þ3t
s
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi 3Beff t 2 ð2z −mÞ2
2 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
 α m− 4α 2
−3α 4 2
t m 1 B pmffi ð8Þ
z ¼ if e m2 þ3t 2 b b e 3t
2α 2 s
 B pmffi The magnitude of the reduction coefficient η is depicted in Fig. 7. It is
z ¼ m=2 if Ne 3t possible to observe that, as expected, for low values of m/t, the influence
s
of the moment–shear interaction is significant, especially in the case of
where α is given by Eq. (5). Last equations define the value of the abscis- low s/B ratios. In particular, it is possible to observe that, for values of m/t
sa of the cross-section of minimum resistance accounting both for shear lower than 5, as far as a significant reduction of resistance may arise, a
and bending moment that is, from the theoretical standpoint, the sec- proper definition of the mid-section is necessary. Conversely, it is also
tion where plasticization begins. This result points out an important dif- possible to observe that for values of m/t greater than 5, the effect of
ference in the behavior of rectangular and dissipative T-stubs. In fact, in shear forces on the resistance can be neglected if s/B is greater than
the case of classical T-stubs failing according to mechanism type-1, that 0.1 because the reduction of resistance is lower than the 15%. In other
 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126 119

Position of the Section of Minimum Resistance Position of the Section of Minimum Resistance
1 1
0,9 0,9
m/t=2 m/t=6
0,8 0,8
0,7 0,7
0,6 0,6
s/B

s/B
0,5 0,5
0,4 0,4
0,3 0,3
0,2 0,2
0,1 0,1
0 0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1 0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1
2z*/m 2z*/m

Fig. 6. Influence of hourglass geometry on the position of the section of minimum resistance.

cases moment–shear interaction should be properly accounted for. Fur-
thermore, it is worth to note that the obtained results considering s/B =
1, i.e. the case of rectangular T-stub, are in agreement with those already
found in [11].
3. Optimum shape of dissipative T-stubs
In the previous paragraph a procedure that is able to evaluate the ef-
fect of the moment–shear interaction on the resistance of the X-shaped
T-stub has been described but, in order to provide a complete procedure
to establish the damper's geometry in the design phase, it is necessary to
specify a criterion that is able to determine the geometrical characteris-
tic of the plate, i.e. the plate thickness, the width at the clamped section
(B) and the width at the mid-section (s), starting from the design force
acting on the X-shaped T-stub. As already underlined, following the ap-
proaches already available in technical literature, it is possible to estab-
lish thickness and maximum plate width (B) of an hourglass damper,
but no criteria are usually given to define the width of the plate at the
mid-section (s).
Analyzing the procedure reported before, it can be observed that the
equations defining the plate resistance could be exploited also to obtain
a criterion to define the width at the mid-section and also to optimize
the shape of the device accounting for moment–shear interaction. pffiffiffiIn
particular, substituting in Eq. (4) the shear resistance V rd ¼ btðf y = 3)
and assuming now that the width b(z) is the unknown of the problem,
it is possible to define the variation law of the plate width, which leads

Reduction of Resistence due to Moment-Shear Interaction Reduction of Resistence due to Moment-Shear Interaction
1 1
0,9 0,9
0,8 m/t=2
0,8 m/t=3
0,7 0,7
0,6 0,6
0,5 0,5
η

0,4 0,4
0,3 0,3
0,2 0,2
0,1 0,1
0 0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1 0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1
s/B s/B

Reduction of Resistence due to Moment-Shear Interaction Reduction of Resistence due to Moment-Shear Interaction
1 1
0,9 0,9
0,8 m/t=5
0,8 m/t=10
0,7 0,7
0,6 0,6
0,5 0,5
η

0,4 0,4
0,3 0,3
0,2 0,2
0,1 0,1
0 0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1 0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1
s/B s/B

Fig. 7. Influence of moment–shear interaction on T-stub design resistance.

120 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126

to the contemporary plasticization of all the plate sections. In particular, In Fig. 9 a comparison between exponential shape assuming a value
with reference to a single damper, Eq. (4) can be rearranged in the follow- of s/B equal to (s/B)opt and the optimum shape defined by Eq. (14) for
ing way: different values of m/t is reported.
2 v u
ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
!3
F ðzÞ bðzÞf y ð2z−mÞ u 3t 2 4. Prediction of the rotational stiffness

¼ V ðzÞ ¼ 41− t 1þ 5 ð13Þ
2 3 ð2z−mÞ2
In [17] the elastic response of the T-stub has been determined
therefore, by assuming that b(z) is the unknown and imposing that V⁎(z) starting from a simplified model based on the evaluation of the stiffness
is equal to a constant value V, results: of an equivalent cantilever beam loaded by the bolt force. Moreover, as
the initial stiffness of the T-stub is not easy to determine for the actual
opt 3V shape of the plate defined by Eq. (5) a simplified trapezoidal shape
bfs ðzÞ ¼ vffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
2 !3 : ð14Þ
u has been considered [17] (Fig. 10).
u 3t
2
4
f y  ð2z−mÞ 1−t 1þ 5 The elastic stiffness of the plate has been expressed in the same fash-
ð2z−mÞ2
ion usually adopted to define the stiffness of simple rectangular T-stubs.
The particular shape of the plate is accounted for by means of the coef-
Even though the last equation describes the variation law of the plate ficient ζ which depends only on the geometrical characteristics of the
width which leads to an optimization of the shape providing the con- damper:
temporary plasticization of all the plate cross-sections accounting both
for shear and bending, in order to exploit all the past results and theories 3
EBt
and also to simplify the mathematical law describing the plate shape, it K 0;HS ¼ ζ ð16Þ
m3
could be of interest to define the exponential shape described by
Eq. (5) which best fits the optimum shape described by Eq. (14).
8
Aiming to reach this goal, it is necessary to find the correlation be- > 2ðB−sÞ 4ðB−sÞ2
>
> ζ ¼
tween the two parameters describing the exponential shape, namely s/B >
< 3B 4ðB−sÞA1 þ 4ðB−sÞA2 −2A3
and m/t, and the optimum shape described by Eq. (14). To this scope, by A1 ¼ ½ðB−sÞ þ ðB−2sÞ ln ðB=sÞ ð17Þ
>
>
means of Eq. (14), a numerical analysis has been carried out by varying >
> A2 ¼ ½ðs−BÞ þ B ln ðB=sÞ
:
the geometrical parameters m/t and s/B in the range 1 b m/t b 16 and A3 ¼ ½ð3s−BÞðB−sÞ þ 2BðB−2sÞ ln ðB=sÞ
0 b s/B b 1. Afterwards, the s/B values providing the best fitting between
the two shapes have been defined and correlated to the ratio m/t where t is the thickness of the T-stub plate and E is the steel elastic
(Fig. 8). From the obtained results, delivered in Fig. 8, it is possible to ob- modulus.
serve that, for values of m/t lower than 6, the s/B ratio providing the
highest correlation with respect to the optimum shape given by 5. Experimental set-up
Eq. (15) significantly depends on m/t while, for higher values of the
plate slenderness the optimum s/B ratio becomes equal approximately In this paragraph, an experimental work carried out at the Laborato-
to 0.18 independently on m/t. This is due to the fact that for low values ry of Materials and Structures of the University of Salerno dealing with
of m/t the shear forces provide a significant influence on the flexural be- the cyclic behavior of dissipative T-stub joints is presented. The scope
havior of the plate while, for high values of the plate slenderness, the of the study is comparative. Starting from the experimental results on
bending moment is prominent and the ratio between the minimum and classical rectangular T-stub joint (TS-CYC 04) [12], in this paper a partial
maximum width becomes almost constant. Through regression analysis strength dissipative DST joint with T-stubs as the weakest component
of the obtained numerical data the following relationships needed in has been designed in order to verify the reliability of the proposed ap-
the design phase to determine the damper geometry have been deter- proach for predicting the joint mechanical properties and to compare
mined (correlation factor equal to 0.991): the behavior of rectangular double T-sub joints (TS-CYC 04) with that
of X-shaped double T-stub joints (TSJ-XS-CYC 07).
m s m−0;64 During the tests two constraining devices have been employed: a re-
if ≤6 ¼ 0:5634
t
m  sB opt t ð15Þ action wall and a carriage base. In addition, two steel hinges fastened to
if N6 ¼ 0:18: the base sleigh have been used in order to reproduce the desired testing
t B opt scheme (Fig. 11). Specimen is assembled with the column (HEB 200) in
horizontal position, connected to the hinges, and the beam (IPE 270) in
vertical position. Two hydraulic actuators have been employed: a MTS
s/B Optimum vs m/t
0,6
243.60 actuator to apply the load in the column (650 kN) and an MTS
243.35 to apply a horizontal action at the beam end. The bottom actua-
0,5
tor, having a ±1000 kN load capacity, has been governed under force
control in order to load the column with a constant axial compression
equal to 650 kN, that is equal to the 30% of the column squash load.
0,4
The top actuator, having a ± 250 kN load capacity and piston stroke
equal to ± 500 mm has been fastened at the beam end in order to
s/B

0,3
apply the displacement loading history. Loading history has been de-
fined according to AISC provisions (2005) [1].
0,2
In order to evaluate the displacements due to only the joint
Short Plates Slender Plates deformability, the displacement at the beam end acquired during the
0,1 (s/B)opt =0,5634(m/t) ^(-0,64) (s/B)opt =0,18
test, δT, has been corrected by subtracting the elastic contribution due
to the beam and column flexural deformability according to the follow-
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 ing relationship:
m/t
2

FL3b FL L2 Lc 6a
δ j ¼ δT − − c b þ ð18Þ
Fig. 8. s/B optimum vs m/t. 3EIb 12EIc Lc þ 2a Lc þ 2a
 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126 121

Optimum Shape vs Exponential Shape Optimum Shape vs Exponential Shape

40 150
m/t=2 m/t=4
m/t=2
30
100
20
50
Plate Width

Plate Width
10

0 0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1 0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1
-10
-50
-20
Exponential Exponential
-100
-30 Optimum shape Optimum shape
-40 -150
z/m z/m

Optimum Shape vs Exponential Shape Optimum Shape vs Exponential Shape

400 2500
m/t=6
m/t=2 m/t=16
m/t=2
300 2000
1500
200
1000

Plate Width
Plate Width

100 500
0 0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1 0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1
-100 -500
-1000
-200
Exponential -1500 Exponential
-300 Optimum shape -2000 Optimum shape
-400 -2500
z/m z/m

Fig. 9. Optimum shape vs exponential shape.

where a = 350 mm is the length of the rigid parts, due to the steel
hinges, Lb and Lc are the beam and column length respectively as
depicted in Fig. 11, Ib and Ic are the inertia modulus of the beam and col-
umn respectively and E is the steel modulus of elasticity.
6. Design of tested X-shaped double split tee joint
Within this section a design procedure based on the proposed model
that is able to account for the moment–shear interaction is applied. In
particular, as already pointed out in [12] with reference to rectangular
b(z)
s
B
T-stubs, the design procedure can be based on the application of a hier-
archy criterion at the level of the joint components. Therefore, the dissi-
pative joint component is designed in order to be the weakest one
providing to all the other components an adequate overstrength in
order to prevent their plastic engagement.
In particular, in the case of the proposed dissipative DST joint, aiming
to concentrate the plasticization in the bolted T-stub the connecting tee
element is designed in order to be the weakest joint component with a
desired value of the resistance. In addition, in order to satisfy serviceabil-
ity limit condition, in the structural design also a desired value of the joint
stiffness has to be guaranteed. In the present experimental activity, the
DST joint with X-shaped T-stubs is designed imposing the same resis-
tance and stiffness of the rectangular double split tee joint TS-CYC 04
[12] so that the comparison between the behaviors of the two joint
solutions is governed only by their energy dissipation capacity (Fig. 12).
The design of the DST joint can be easily governed by calibrating the T-

z stubs geometrical parameters. In fact, it is possible to easily govern stiffness,

resistance and ductility supply of the joint by varying the bolt position,
the plate thickness and the plate width. In the current case, as far as the de-
sign requirements are two, i.e. stiffness and resistance, the damper width
and length are chosen as design parameters, while the thickness of the
flange plate is assumed equal to that of rectangular T-stub, i.e. 25 mm. Pro-
m vided that the X-shaped T-stub in tension is the weakest joint component,
multiplying the resistance of the T-stub provided by Eqs. (9)–(12) for the
joint lever arm, the following expression can be written:
t

2ηBeff t 2ep  
Fb MjR;d ¼ f y db −t b f ¼ 100 kNm ð19Þ
m

where Beff is the effective width of the damper composing the T-stub
Fig. 10. Simplified shape for the prediction of the stiffness [17]. flange defined by Eqs. (10)–(11), fy is the plate yield strength (S275
122 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126

Vertical frame
IPE270 IPE270
L=170cm

Horizontal frame
Hydraulic Actuator
max load: +/- 250 kN
max disp.: +/- 500mm

JOINT

Hydraulic Actuator Left hinge Lb

max load: +/- 1000 kN
max disp.: +/- 125mm Right hinge

a
Lc
HE200B
L=200cm

Carriage Base

Sleigh base Concrete floor

Fig. 11. Experimental equipment.

steel grade), db is the beam depth and tbf is the thickness of the beam The system cannot be solved in a closed form because η, which accounts
flange. In addition, equating the stiffness SjR,d of the rectangular T- for M–V interaction, depends on s/B and m/t. Therefore, taking into
stubs of joint TS-CYC 04 estimated according to [26] model and the stiff- account that the optimum design of the s/B ratio can be chosen accord-
ness of the hourglass T-stubs given by Eq. (16), the following design ing to Eq. (15), the following solution, iteratively found, has been
condition has been obtained: determined:
8
>
> η ¼ 0:827 ; s=B ¼ 0:325 sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
vffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
EBeff t 3ep >
> u ζ EtM
>
> u 0:25  210; 000  25  100; 000; 000
ζ ¼ SjR;d ¼324737 N=mm: ð20Þ >
> t  j;Rd
¼
m 3 >m ¼
> 20:827  275ð270−10Þ
¼ 58:45≅59 mm
>
> 2η  f d −t
>
> y b bf
>
>
>
< SjR;d m 324; 737  58:453
Beff ¼ ¼ ¼ 79:77 mm
As a consequence, a system composed by Eqs. (19)–(20) can be writ- > ζ  E  t 3 0:25  210; 000  253
>
>
ten. The unknowns are the bolt position and the damper effective width. >
> Beff
>
> B ¼  
 ¼ 80:34≅81 mm
>
> s B
>
> e ln
>
> B s
>
>  
>
> s
:s ¼ B ¼ 26:4 mm:
B
ð21Þ

The T-stub elements have been fastened to the column through four
bolts M30 of class 10.9, which have been designed in order to be over-
resistant with respect to the ultimate force transferred by the T-stubs.
In particular, their size has been selected in order to allow the higher
ductility and strain-hardening behavior expected for the X-shaped T-
stub joint.
Therefore, in order to assure a type-1 mechanism leading to a bend-
ing moment distribution linear with point of contra-flexure at the mid-
section, the following limitation has to be checked [12]:
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
4BRd nm 4  505; 000  50  59
t ep ≤ ¼ ¼ 41 mm: ð22Þ
beff f y ðm þ 2nÞ ð81Þ  275ð59 þ 2  50Þ

As a result, for the specimen TSJ-XS-CYC 07, a thickness of the flange

plate equal to 25 mm has been adopted, which provides a type-1 failure
mechanism. The other joint components, i.e. the shear panel, the col-
umn flanges in bending and the panels in tension and compression
have been designed with an adequate overstrength, following the
same procedure already applied in [12]. In particular, in order to avoid
the plastic engagement of the components on the panel zone, supple-
mentary web plates and continuity plates have been welded on the col-
umn according to the detail reported in Fig. 13.
It has to be noted that the adoption of bigger bolts in the case of the
X-shaped T-stub joint provides an increase of the cost of the dissipative
connection (of about 4 Euro for each bolt, i.e. about 32 Euro for the
Fig. 12. Experimental setup. whole joint) but, such an increase is quite limited if referred to the
 t=25 mm 41 41
bolt M20 (10.9) 30 30
94 Bolts M30 class 10.9 81
t=10 mm

M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126

40

40

59 50
295
75 60 60 60

173
177
252

50 59
40

400

538
400

542

40

59 50
t cp = 10 mm

81

173
257

50 59
IPE270
81
t=15 mm
IPE270
Bolts M20 class 10.9
40

t wp= 10 mm 81 81
162
154
HE200B
170 293 HE200B
t ep = 25 mm
25 25 25 40
120 73 60 60 60 170 293 ep
25 25 25 40
30

120 73 60 60 60

30
200

135
75

200

135
75
30

0
Fig. 13. Tested specimens (TS-XS-CYC04 on the left, TSJ-XS-CYC07 on the right).

123
124 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126

Fig. 14. Thermal state of the X-shaped specimen during first cycles.

whole cost of the connecting elements. In fact, in the examined case, the
weight of the plates used to realize the connection (continuity plates,
supplementary web plates and T-stubs) is, for both T-stub joints, of
about 50 kg, that means a cost of the plates of about 200 Euro (consid-
ering an average market price of the steel of 4 Euro/kg). Therefore, if
we consider the cost of the plates and of the bolts, it will result to a
cost increase of the X-shaped T-stub joint of about 15%.
7. Experimental results of the X-shaped double split tee joint
The behavior of the specimen during the test has been the one
expected according to the design criteria. In fact, only the plastic en-
gagement of T-stubs has been observed with the development of plasti-
cization in the dissipative elements. The spread of the plasticization
within the flange plate of the T-stub has been pointed out through
shots took by means of thermal camera during the test. A sequence
that shows the specimen thermal state during the first cycles of
plasticization is reported in Fig. 14. From these pictures, it is easy to un-
derstand that plasticization begins in a zone contained between the
damper mid-section and section of maximum width and then propa-
gates through the whole plate. Furthermore, a greater plastic engage-
ment of the dampers located externally to the beam flanges is shown.
This behavior is obviously due to the beam rotation. In fact, when isolat-
ed T-stubs are studied under uni-axial loads their plastic engagement is
symmetrical with respect to the T-stub web. Conversely, when T-stubs
are employed as connecting elements to fasten the beam to the column,
during the loading process, as a result of compatibility requirements,
their flange plates are subjected to an axial displacement equal to the
joint rotation multiplied for the beam depth and to a rigid rotation
equal to the beam rotation. Such behavior leads to a higher plastic en-
gagement of the dampers located outside the beam flange.
The hysteretic behaviors of specimen TS-CYC 04 and specimen TSJ-
XS-CYC 07 are depicted in Fig. 15, evidencing the higher energy dissipa-
tion capacity of the dissipative DST joint. In particular it is possible to

Hysteretic Curve M-θ TS-CYC 04 Hysteretic Curve M-θ TSJ-XS-CYC 07

250 300
M max = 186.3 kNm M max = 237.1 kNm
M min = -197.5 kNm M min = - 257.4 kNm
200
200
150
100
Moment [kNm]

Moment [kNm]

100
50
0 0
-0,100 -0,075 -0,050 -0,025 0,000 0,025 0,050 0,075 0,100 -0,12 -0,10 -0,08 -0,06 -0,04 -0,02 0,00 0,02 0,04 0,06 0,08 0,10 0,12
-50
-100
-100
-150
-200
-200 Serie1
Envelope

-250 -300

Joint Rotation [rad] Joint Rotation [rad]

Fig. 15. Hysteretic curves. Left: TS-CYC-04; right: TSJ-XS-CYC 07.

 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126 125

Fig. 16. Joints after failure. Left: TS-CYC-04; right: TSJ-XS-CYC 07.

note that the X-shaped double split tee joint did not exhibit strength
degradation up to failure, which arose at the 44th cycle of loading at
an ultimate rotation of about 10% after the formation of a crack on the
flange plate (Fig. 16). Such a high cyclic rotational capacity, which is
much over the minimum code requirements provided by Eurocode 8
[4], evidences the potentialities of the proposed dissipative joint, that
is able to sustain a high number of plastic excursion without any
strength degradation even at very high values of rotation amplitudes.
It is the opinion of the authors that the advantages provided by this
kind of connection could be evidenced even in more challenging appli-
cations, such as that of connections fastening deep beams where, the
ductility required to the T-stubs located at the beam flanges increases
due to the increase of the joint lever arm. In these cases, the application
of highly dissipative joints, such as the one proposed in this paper, ap-
pears even more appropriate considering that, as already demonstrated
by [10], the adoption of partial strength joints leads to significant sav-
ings on the total structural cost especially when the beam design is
governed by gravity loads, which may be the structural situation
dissipation for the X-shaped T-stub joint has to be completely attributed
to the increased dissipation in the flange plate.
8. Conclusions
In this work the behavior of innovative double split tee joints charac-
terized by the adoption of dissipative X-shaped T-stub has been ana-
lyzed both from theoretical and experimental standpoint. In particular,
the main results can be summarized as follows:
• the resistance of X-shaped T-stubs is significantly reduced by the M–V
interaction in correspondence of low values of m/t and s/B ratios;
• by means of a mechanical approach based on the application of the stat-
ic theorem, a reduction coefficient depending only on the geometrical
Comparison TS-CYC 04 vs TSJ-XS-CYC 07
300

where beams of high depth are needed.

200
As expected, during this test the only components engaged in plastic
Moment [kNm]

range have been the hourglass T-stubs in tension and compression, 100
while the components on the column panel zone, according to the design
criterion, have not been significantly involved in the dissipation mecha- 0
-0,120 -0,095 -0,070 -0,045 -0,020 0,005 0,030 0,055 0,080 0,105
nism. The failure condition has been reached after the full development
of the cyclic ductility supply of the steel dampers. In particular, the col- -100

lapse occurred due to the formation of a crack, which started in the

-200
heat-affected zone and then propagated through the plate according to TSJ-XS-CYC 07
TS-CYC 04
a yield line with a circular pattern (Fig. 16). This particular failure mode -300
due to the interaction between bending moment and shear is different Joint Rotation [rad]
from that of classical T-stubs characterized by the formation of a straight
Energy dissipation
crack in correspondence of welds. The reason why the bolts are different 400
for the two joints is because, in the case of the test on the X-shaped T-stub
350
joint, due to the increased ductility and strain-hardening, a higher force
was obtained in the flange plate and, as a consequence, in the bolts 300 TS-XS-CYC 07
Energy [kNm]

(Fig. 17). TS-CYC 04

250
In Fig. 17 the comparison between test TS-CYC 04 and TSJ-XS-CYC 07
in terms of moment rotation curve and in terms of energy dissipation is 200

provided by overlapping the hysteretic curves. The significant improve- 150

ment of the cyclic behavior is shown. As observed from the experimen-
100
tal results, it is worth noting that the bolt size does not provide a
significant effect on the resistance of the two joints. In fact, since the 50
bolts are designed to be over-strength (mechanism type-1), the resis-
0
tance of the connections is governed by the failure of the flange plates. 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 41 46 51
Furthermore, also in terms of energy dissipation capacity, as far as the n°cycles
bolts are, in general, a component which provides a limited contribution
in terms of energy dissipation, the obtained increase of energy Fig. 17. Comparisons between tested specimen and joint TS-CYC 04.
126 M. Latour, G. Rizzano / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 104 (2015) 115–126
properties of the damper has been calibrated in order to account for the
influence of the moment–shear interaction;
• an optimum shape of the X-shaped T-stub providing the same resis-
tance in all plate sections accounting both for bending moment and
shear has been proposed;
• an approach for designing the DST joint with dissipative T-stubs has
been proposed, evidencing the possibility to calibrate the geometry
of the T-stub in order to reach a desired combination of stiffness and
resistance;
• the results of an experimental analysis devoted to investigate the hys-
teretic behavior of X-shaped double split tee joint have evidenced the
accuracy of the proposed design approach, which is able to concentrate
the plasticization in desired joint components by establishing a hierar-
chy criterion;
• the behavior of the proposed joint did not show a significant stiffness
and strength degradation up to collapse, leading to an amount of energy
dissipated at failure about two times greater than the classical T-stub
joint.
The obtained improvement in terms of cyclic behavior and the reli-
ability of the proposed design approach for the X-shaped T-stubs are
very encouraging about the possibility to employ such a kind of connec-
tion in dissipative semi-continuous MRFs. In particular, the proposed
damper leads to a substantial improvement of the hysteretic behavior
of the connection with a very low increase of the joint structural cost.
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