Abstract: (9308 Views)
Steel frames with Khorjeeni connections have been widely used in the traditional construction
of buildings in Iran during the past decades. In the traditional form of Khorjeeni connections,
double section beams are not cut at the intersection with columns, rather they are connected to
the column by means of two angles places over the top and bottom of the beam flanges. This
type of connection offers advantages for frames, wich carry gravity loads, but it has
deficiencies when the frames are subjected to lateral loads.
Like other structural frames, there are masonry infills in many frames with Khorjeeni
connections. The behavior of composite frames subject to lateral loads differs from that of
bare steel frames. In this paper, positive and negative effects of masonry infills were studied
on the behavior of steel frames with Khorjeeni connections. Finite element method was used
to carry out nonlinear static analysis of subassemblages of this type of frames. Initially, the
results of some experiments were utilized to verify the details of the model. Then numerical
models of toe span or four span frames with different configuration of bracings and masonry
infills were studied. The results showed that infill frames increase the stiffness and strength of
frames in the absence of bracing considerably. Even when bracings are present, the increase
in stiffness and strength is significant. Simplified compressive strut models proposed in recent
guidelines for seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings are also utilized to analyze the
models. The results show agreement with the results of more sophisticated FE models.
The masonry infills, however, have some negative effects on the behavior of Khorjeeni
frames. Parts of the column in the vicinity of connections are prone to plastic damage,
particularly when the infills are relatively strong. The Khorjeeni connections are subjected to
vertical forces and tortional moments. Due to limited vertical strength of these connections,
top stories of this type of frames may suffer when compressive action of strut is mobilized for
other bays. This action introduces additional moments, which may damage the connections.
Therefore, considering of these negative effects of infills is very important when seismic
behavior of the existing frames is assessed, because these effects limit the interstorey drift
ratios.
Received: 2009/09/29 | Accepted: 2011/10/19 | Published: 2012/01/30