Experimental Study of Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Connection Behavior with Base Isolation Method Using Natural Rubber Pads
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69855/sipil.v2i2.798Keywords:
Reinforced Concrete, Beam-Column Joint, Base Isolation, Natural Rubber Pad, Cyclic Loading, Seismic PerformanceAbstract
Beam-column joints are widely recognized as the most seismically vulnerable components of reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frames, while conventional elastomeric base isolation systems remain cost-prohibitive for low-rise residential construction in developing regions. Purpose: This study experimentally investigates RC exterior beam-column connections incorporating a low-cost natural rubber (NR) pad isolator, comparing it against a fixed-base connection under quasi-static cyclic lateral loading. Methods: Two half-scale RC specimens were constructed identically: Specimen A (fixed-base control) and Specimen B (base-isolated with a 150 × 150 × 20 mm NR pad, Shore hardness 60A). Both were subjected to displacement-controlled cyclic loading (0.25%–5.0% drift, ACI 374.1 protocol). Results: Specimen B exhibited a 26.2% reduction in peak lateral load (31.6 kN vs. 42.8 kN) and a 39.3% reduction in initial stiffness (5.1 vs. 8.4 kN/mm), while achieving higher ductility (μ = 5.8 vs. 3.2) and drift capacity exceeding 5.0% without significant degradation, versus 3.5% for Specimen A. Crack patterns revealed extensive diagonal shear cracking in Specimen A, whereas Specimen B showed minimal joint cracking, with drift accommodated through rubber pad shear deformation. Energy dissipation at 3.0% drift was lower for Specimen B (1,120 vs. 1,850 kN·mm), reflecting reduced joint damage. Implications: These findings demonstrate that a simple NR pad isolator can reduce force demand and damage concentration while improving deformation capacity, offering a practical seismic protection strategy for low-rise RC construction in resource-constrained regions.
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