Seismic behavior and resilience assessment of prefabricated beam-column joint with replaceable graded-yielding energy-dissipating connectors

Conventionally assembled monolithic concrete frame structures achieve structural ductility through beam-end failure, which results in structures that are difficult to repair after an earthquake. To improve the seismic and resilience performance, a prefabricated concrete beam-column joint with replaceable graded-yielding energydissipating connectors (RGECs) is introduced. The connectors assembled on the upper and lower sides of the beam end dissipate energy and transfer the beam-end load with the steel hinge device. By adjusting the design bearing-capacity coefficient of RGECs to precast beams, the plasticity and damage of the structure can be centered on the core energy-dissipation bending-shear components (BSCs) and buckling segment (BS) of the RGEC, and the structural function can be quickly recovered by replacing only the damaged RGECs after a seismic disaster. Moreover, compared to the conventional joints, the joint with RGEC can achieve target seismicperformance goals at different seismic-risk levels by designing BSCs and BS with graded yielding. Low-cyclicloading tests were performed on seven full-scale beam-column joint specimens to investigate the effects of different core energy-dissipating member thicknesses, beam reinforcement ratios and loading protocols on the seismic behavior of the proposed joint. Subsequently, the damaged RGECs were replaced, and the structuralfunction resilience performance was evaluated in terms of the function-recovery efficiency and quality, indicated by the hysteresis response, strain development, and component energy dissipation. The experimental results proved that the beam-column joint exhibited excellent seismic performance and could realize gradedyielding energy dissipation. The damage to the specimens was concentrated in the RGECs, the key members (beams and columns) were in an elastic state, and the energy dissipation ratio of the RGEC was more than 97 %. This enables the rapid recovery of function after earthquakes. After replacing the RGEC, the hysteresis response, strain development, and component energy dissipation of the specimens were consistent with those of the initial specimens. Compared with the original specimen, the difference in each seismic index of the replaced specimen was less than 10 %. Additionally, the structural function recovered quickly, and the resilient performance was good.