Abstract
This paper describes a nonlinear numerical investigation into the inelastic cyclic response of beam-column connections of hybrid steel-timber moment frames incorporating steel reduced beam section (RBS) welded joints connected to steel columns and timber beams. A design procedure for the timber-steel transfer region is proposed and validated through numerical modelling. Detailed three-dimensional finite element procedures are assessed against the results from experiments on steel RBS connections and timber elements. Further to validating the numerical procedures to simulate closely the full inelastic cyclic response, several parametric investigations on the proposed hybrid connections are carried out. Particular emphasis is given to the influence of key geometric parameters, such as the size of the RBS cut and the details of the timber-steel splice, on the overall hysteresis and stress distributions within the main connection components. Numerical results showed that the hybrid connections had generally a stable hysteretic behaviour characterised by hardening. All connections designed with the proposed approach maintained expected levels of moment resistance and showed high rotation capacities in agreement with ductility requirements from existing codes. Key observations from the numerical simulations, which are relevant to the design of such configurations are highlighted within the discussions.