Experimental Tests of a Novel Beam–Column Connection with Self-Centering Friction-Damping Haunches for Resilient Knee-Braced Steel Frames

This paper proposes a novel beam–column connection for resilient steel frames by integrating self-centering friction-damping (SCFD) haunches with T-stubs. In this connection, the SCFD haunches and T-stub collectively dissipate energy, and meanwhile the former additionally provides recentering capacity. The configuration and working mechanism of the proposed connection are first introduced in this paper. Subsequently, analytical equations are developed to describe the cyclic behavior of the SCFD haunch-pin assembly, T-stub, and total connection. In the experimental program, quasi-static cyclic loading tests were carried out on the haunch-pin assembly as the key component, and then the proposed connection was tested to investigate the hysteretic performance. On the basis of experimental observations and data, the cyclic behavior and key hysteretic parameters of the connection are analyzed. The work demonstrates that the knee-braced connection has excellent recentering capability and sound energy dissipation capacity. By explicitly taking into account the slippage between the column and SCFD haunches, the analytical method could well predict the cyclic behavior of the connection.