Influence of the stiffness of beam-column connections on the structural analysis of reinforced concrete buildings

Conventional structural analysis of buildings in reinforced concrete is performed considering beam-column connections as rigid. However, experimental results prove the existence of relative rotations in beam-column connections of reinforced concrete structures, showing the partial transfer of bending moment. In this study the influence of the stiffness of beam-column connections on the global stability and in the column bending moments of buildings in reinforced concrete was investigated. A building was designed with rigid connections and deformable connections to identify the importance of considering the influence of the stiffness of the beam-column connections in the overall stability of monolithic and in the redistribution efforts in reinforced concrete structures. In order to determine the stiffness rotation of deformable connections, two analytical models available in literature were used, and a comparison between the results obtained by each analytical model was also performed. Based on the results, it is concluded that neglecting the influence of the stiffness of the beam-column connections on the analysis of monolithic reinforced concrete structures may result in different solutions compared to the real behavior of the structure. The stiffness values obtained with the analytical models usually differ from the condition of rigid connections, suggesting an adjustment on the standard consideration of rigid connections adopted by the computer programs of structural calculation.