Seismic Design Enhancements and the Reduced Beam Section Detail for Steel Moment Frames

Abstract

An area of heightened interest after the 1994 Northridge earthquake damage was the seismic ductility of steel moment frame connections. Work conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the SAC Joint Venture, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the American Institute of Steel Construction Inc. (AISC), and many others in academia, industry, and the profession over the last few years has greatly expanded the knowledge base in a number of relevant areas. This resulting information has led to a set of new and modified steel moment connection details and accompanying design criteria for improved seismic performance. One of the more popular seismic connection types that has been prequalified in FEMA 350–353 is the new reduced beam section detail.