Experimental Research on the Seismic Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Column–Beam Joints Connected by Π-Shaped Steel Plates

The mechanical performance of existing buildings degrades over time, and even if the mechanical performance meets the requirements, some buildings will have new usage needs, necessitating the reinforcement and renovation of buildings. Therefore, this paper conducted experimental research on the reinforcement and renovation of reinforced concrete joints that could simultaneously meet the requirements for seismic performance and new usage needs. Firstly, the reinforced concrete columns are produced, and the treatment of the wrapped steel plate is conducted. Then, the Π-shaped steel plate is welded onto the wrapped steel of the column, and the longitudinal bars of the beam and the Π-shaped steel plate are connected through the weld seam. Finally, we proceed with pouring the concrete for the beam and wrapping the beam with the steel plate. After the completion of specimen production, a cyclic loading test is conducted to compare and analyze the hysteresis curve, ductility, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation of the new specimen type and cast-in-place specimen. The steel plate thickness, including the wrapped steel of the beam and the Π-shaped steel plate, is designed as a variable for the experiment. The results indicate that the seismic properties of the specimen are effectively improved after reinforcement with a steel plate. At the same time, the seismic performance of the specimen improves with an increase in the thickness of the steel plate wrapping the beam, while the impact of the Π-shaped steel plate is relatively minimal. The research results show that compared with the cast-in-place specimen, the reinforcement and renovation method proposed in this paper can significantly improve the seismic performance of the specimen and can help promote the development of urban reinforcement and renovation work.

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