Abstract

Reduced Beam Section (RBS) moment connection is one of the several connection types prequalified for new Steel Moment Resisting Frames (SMRF’s). Now-a-days, hot rolled parallel flange I beam sections, as per Indian Standards (IS) having yield stress, 300 MPa, 350 MPa and 410 MPa are available. These sections can be used for SMRF’s and prequalified connections as per American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) codes. In this paper, for sections with 300MPa, a) suitability of these parallel flange sections for use in Special Moment Frames (SMF) as per width-to-thickness limitations of AISC provisions is studied, b) RBS study is carried out, the trendline is obtained which gives guideline about use of continuity plates and doubler plates, and c) nonlinear finite element analysis is carried out for selected joints.