Structural behavior of RC High performance fiber reinforced cement composites (HPFRCC) exterior beam column joints under reversed cyclic loading

High performance fiber reinforced cement composites (HPFRCC) are a class of fiber cement composites that exhibit post-cracking strain hardening response when subjected to direct tension. While undergoing this hardening behavior, the composite experiences the formation of multiple cracks prior to damage localization.
In the present study, This paper investigates the effects of HPFRCC on the behavior of RC exterior beam–column joint under reversed cyclic loading. HPFRCC using tow different types of fiber namely hooked end steel fiber and polypropylene fiber are explored in this study. The main parameters considered include the load–deflection relationship, crack propagation, moment–rotation relationship at the joint, and energy absorption capacity. half-scale external RC beam–column joints were subjected to lateral cyclic loading of increasing amplitudes.. The specimen was subjected to reverse cyclic loading under controlled deformation at the tip of the beam until failure. At post cracking stages, the HPFRCC joint showed significant improvement in the ultimate shear and moment capacities, as well as in the deformation behavior and damage tolerance, compared with the NC specimen at ultimate and failure stages.