C- Joints of Special Moment Frames

Requirements of ACI 21.7 are applicable for joints of special moment frames.
1- General Requirements:
Forces in longitudinal beam reinforcement at the joint face shall be
determined by assuming that the stress in the flexural tensile
reinforcement is 1.25 f y .
Beam longitudinal reinforcement terminated in a column shall be
extended to the far face the confined column core and anchored in tension
according to 21.7.5 and in compression according to chapter 12.
Where longitudinal beam reinforcement extends through abeam-column
joint, the column dimension parallel to the beam reinforcement shall not
be less than 20 times the diameter of the largest longitudinal bar.
1- Transverse Reinforcement:
Transverse reinforcement as discussed in B shall be provided
within the joint, unless the joint is confined by structural members
as shown below.
Within the depth of the shallowest framing member, transverse
reinforcement equal to at least the amount shown in B shall be
provided where members frame into all four sides of the joint and
where each member width is at least the column width. At these
locations spacing is permitted to be increased to 15 cm.
Transverse reinforcement as required in B shall be provided
through the joint to provide confinement for longitudinal beam
reinforcement outside the column core if such confinement is not
provided by a beam framing into the joint.

Effective area of joint

234

2- Shear Strength:
The nominal shear strength of the joint shall not be taken greater
than the values specified below:
- For joints confined on all four sides 5.3 f c Aj
- For joints confined on three faces or on two opposite faces 4 f c Aj
- For others 3.2 f c Aj
A member that frames into a face is considered to provide confinement
to the joint if at least of the face of the joint is covered by the
framing member. A joint is considered to be confined if such members
frame into all faces of the joint.
Aj is the effective cross-sectional area within a joint computed from

joint depth times effective joint width. Joint depth shall be the overall
depth of the column, h. Effective joint width shall be the overall width
of the column, except where a beam frames into a wider column,
effective joint width shall not exceed the smaller of (a) and (b):
(a) Beam width plus joint depth
(b) Twice the smaller perpendicular distance from longitudinal axis of
beam to column side.
3- Development length of bars in tension:
The development length ldh for a bar with a standard 90 degree
hook shall not be less than the largest of 8 db , 15 cm, and the length
required by the following equation which is applicable to bar
diameters ranging from 10 mm to 36 mm.
ldh =

f y db
17.2

f c

The 90-degree hook shall be located within the confined core of a

column.
For bar diameters 10 mm through 36 mm, the development length
ld for a straight bar shall not be less than (a) and (b):
(a) 2.5 times the length required by the previous equation if the
depth of the concrete cast in one lift beneath the bar does not exceed
30 cm, and
235

(b) 3.5 times the length provided by the same equation if the depth
of the concrete cast in one lift beneath the bar exceeds 30 cm.

Horizontal shear in beam-column connection

236

Example (10):
Determine the transverse reinforcement and shear strength requirements for the
interior beam-column connection shown in Example (9).
Solution:
A- ACI 21.7.1 "General Requirements"
Based on ACI 21.7.2.1, forces in longitudinal beam reinforcement at the joint
face shall be determined as assuming that the stress in the flexural tensile
reinforcement is 1.25 f y .

Based on ACI 21.7.2.3, where longitudinal beam reinforcement extends

through a beam-column joint, the column dimension parallel to the beam
reinforcement shall not be less than 20 times the diameter of the larger
longitudinal bar.
20 d b = 20 (2.5) = 50 cm < 70 cm (O.K)

B- ACI 21.7.4 "Transverse Reinforcement":

Based on ACI 21.7.3.1, transverse reinforcement shall be provided within the joint.
A sh = 2.88 cm 2

237

C- ACI 21.7.4 "Shear Strength":

Vcol. =

72.69 + 50.77
= 26.84 tons
4.6

Vu , jo int = T1 + C 2 Vcol.

= 154.61 + 103.06 26.84 = 230.83 tons

b j = b b + 2 x = 45 cm (45 + 70) cm

A j = b j h col = (70)(45) = 3150 cm 2

Vn = 4 300 (3150 ) / 1000 = 218.24 tons
Vn = 0.75 (218.24) = 163.68 tons
Vu > Vn and column dimension in the direction of shear force needs to be

increased.
For Vu = Vn , 0.75 (4) 300 (45)(hcol ) / 1000 = 230.83 tons and hcol = 98.72
Increase column cross sectional dimension to 45 cm x 100 cm.

Plan

238