Numerical study of slotted web drilled flange moment frame connection

Beam connections with reduced drilled section and slotted web have been presented after the Northridge earthquake (1994). Their new geometrical shapes have been resulted in weakening of beams and subsequently the bette rperformance of connections in the earthquakes. In this research, the advantages of both connections, mentioned above, have been studied in the Slotted Web Drilled Flange (SWDF) composite connections. Accordingly, the effects of different parameters of slot such as length, width and end hole dimension have been assessed as well. Based on the results obtained in this research,energy dissipation is reduced due to the increase of length of slot web in the SWDF connection, exceeded the values recommended in the codes. Besides, the stability of hysteresis curve decreases because of increasing in the width and end hole diameter of web slot.