Experimental validation of steel post-tensioned connections with web hourglass pins

Self-centering steel moment resisting frames have been developed as an alternative to conventional steel moment resisting frames aiming to eliminate structural damage and to minimize residual drifts under the design earthquake. In this paper, a new self-centering beam-to-column connection typology is proposed. The connection uses post-tensioned high strength steel bars to provide self-centering capability and a new energy-dissipation system consisting of yielding web hourglass pins which can be very easily replaced if damaged. The connection performance is experimentally validated under quasi-static cyclic loading. The experimental results show that the proposed connection exhibits stable self-centering behaviour and energy dissipation. The connection specimens are imposed to drift levels far beyond the expected design ones in order to identify all possible failure modes.