Behavior of Reduced Beam Section Moment Connections under Fire

Structural collapses that are caused by fire have always attracted the attention of researchers concerned with fire safety in building design. In its latest statement of research interests, the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) lists connection performance and safety as one of the fields in need of further exploration. This study investigates the behavior of steel beam-to-column moment connections under fire using a numerical simulation. Fire is always a concern after earthquakes and understanding the behavior of structural components during a possible after shock is essential for making sound engineering decisions. The study reported herein focuses on Reduced Beam Section (RBS) moment connections. This type of connection can be used to mitigate seismically induced failure as per the recommendations of the AISC seismic provisions. The study is conducted using the finite element modeling software ABAQUS, which can account for material and geometric nonlinearities and contact behavior. This type of modeling can provide a better understanding of the complex 3D behavior of steel joints under fire loading. The RBS moment connection is experienced many deformations under the fire loading. This study introduces preliminary results of ongoing research regarding the RBS moment connections under fire.