Assessing ductility behavior in beam web openings featuring double slotted holes under cyclic loading

Nine sets of specimens as reduced-beam-section (RBS) beam-column joints were planned to discuss the ductility performance of beam webs employing a double-slot opening-type configuration. These specimens were designed with varying parameters, including the distance from the center of the web opening to the beam-column surface (L), the depth from the outer edge of the beam web opening to the flange (d), and the opening depth (D v) of each single slot within the beam web. This study aimed to enhance the design of RBS beam-column joints with web openings, allowing the plastic hinges away from the column surface. Furthermore, to ensure compliance with the AISC seismic design provisions. Therefore, the ANSYS commercial software package was used to create a finite element analysis model based on the findings of non-RBS steel beam-column joint tests reported in the literature. The results showed that parameter d was significant, leading to improvements in moment strength and plastic hinge. The specimens L600-d108-Dv140 (L=600 mm, d=108 mm, D v=140 mm) emerged as the most optimal specimen. It demonstrated compliance with the AISC seismic design provisions and effectively achieved the plastic hinges away from the beam-column surface.