Tubular Web RBS (TW-RBS) connection under cyclic loading Abaqus

Product Overview

In this project, a Tubular Web RBS (TW-RBS) connection is modeled in Abaqus and its hysteretic behavior under cyclic loading is investigated.

The Tubular Web Reduced Beam Section (TW-RBS) is a modified reduced beam section connection in which a portion of the beam web in the expected plastic hinge region is replaced by a steel pipe.

The tubular web has relatively low longitudinal stiffness and contributes little to the flexural strength of the beam, while providing adequate shear capacity. This configuration is intended to concentrate inelastic deformation within the reduced section and move the plastic hinge away from the beam-to-column connection.

The numerical model is developed based on an experimental study. The Abaqus results are compared with the experimental results to evaluate the accuracy of the numerical model and its ability to reproduce the behavior observed in the experiment.

Model Description

As shown in the model, the main components include the beam, column, tubular web (pipe), and continuity plates.TW-RBS connections are constructed by replacing a specified length of the beam web with a pipe. The tubular web forms the reduced section of the beam and is intended to concentrate the inelastic deformation away from the beam-to-column connection.

As you observe in this picture, the model is composed of a beam, column, pipe, and continuity plate.

The required material properties, interactions, boundary conditions, and analysis settings are defined in Abaqus to reproduce the behavior of the experimental connection.

Experimental Test Setup

The numerical model is based on an experimental study of the Tubular Web RBS connection. The experimental test setup is used as a reference for defining the configuration and loading conditions of the Abaqus model.

Cyclic Loading

A cyclic loading is applied to the top of the column according to the loading protocol used in the experimental study.

The loading history is defined using the Amplitude option in Abaqus. The connection is then analyzed under repeated loading and unloading cycles.

Results and Hysteresis Response

The Abaqus results are extracted and processed to evaluate the structural response of the TW-RBS connection under cyclic loading.

The resulting response is used to obtain the Force–Drift hysteresis diagram of the connection.

The hysteresis diagram obtained from the Abaqus analysis is compared with the experimental results reported in the reference study.

Deformation Under Cyclic Loading

The Abaqus results show the formation of the plastic hinge in the tubular web region. As cyclic loading progresses, local buckling develops in the beam flanges and becomes more pronounced with increasing deformation. This deformation pattern is consistent with the flange buckling behavior observed experimentally in the reference study.

Experimental Validation

The numerical results obtained from Abaqus are compared with the experimental results reported in the reference article.

The comparison focuses on the Force–Drift hysteresis response and the overall structural behavior of the Tubular Web RBS connection under cyclic loading.

This project has been validated, which means that the results obtained from Abaqus are similar to the results reported in the reference article. In other words, this project is based on the experimental study.

Key Features

• Numerical modeling of a Tubular Web RBS (TW-RBS) connection.
• Modeling of the beam, column, pipe, and continuity plate.
• Cyclic analysis of the beam-to-column connection.
• Nonlinear analysis under cyclic loading.
• Force–Drift hysteresis analysis.
• Evaluation of deformation under cyclic loading.
• Comparison with experimental results.
• Validated Abaqus numerical model.
• Complete Abaqus model files.
• Excel file for amplitude loading.
• Excel file containing numerical results.
• Reference research paper.
• Step-by-step video tutorial.

What You Will Learn

• How to model a Tubular Web RBS (TW-RBS) connection in Abaqus.
• How to define the geometry of the beam and column.
• How to model the pipe used in the TW-RBS connection.
• How to model the continuity plate.
• How to define the material properties of the structural components.
• How to define the required interactions and constraints.
• How to define the boundary conditions of the model.
• How to apply cyclic loading to the column.
• How to define cyclic loading using the Amplitude option in Abaqus.
• How to perform nonlinear analysis under cyclic loading.
• How to obtain a Force–Drift hysteresis diagram.
• How to evaluate the deformation of the model during cyclic loading.
• How to extract and process Abaqus results using Excel.
• How to compare numerical and experimental results.

Reference

This project is based on the experimental study provided in the reference research paper. The paper is included with the project files and can be used to review the experimental configuration, loading protocol, and reported results.