SP 123-10 Mechanisms of Slab Contributions in Beam-Column Subassemblages by PC. Cheung, T. Paulay, and R. Park Synopsis: Mechanisms of the transfer of forces to beam-column joints, generated under typical seismic actions in cast in place reinforced concrete slabs are proposed. One of the main objectives of the paper is to review behavioural models which should assist designers in visualizing the flow of internal forces in beam-column- slab subassemblages. It is postulated that membrane forces play a dominant role and that contributions of other actions, such as bending in slabs and torsion in transverse beams are relatively unimportant, particularly when significant ductility demands arise during seismic motions. Locations at which slab reinforcement transmits tensile forces by means of bond to the surrounding concrete, is considered to be particularly important in the assessment of the enhancement of beam flexural strength. The description of phenomena is related to observations made during the testing of isolated reinforced concrete beam-column subassemblages with slabs simulating one and two-way cast in place floor systems. Subsequently the findings are extended to describe the perceived behaviour of continuous floor slabs supported by beams of multi-bay ductile frames. The relevance of the flexural strength enhancement of beams to the design of beam-column joints and columns is briefly examined. Design recommendations are made, particularly with respect to the effective width of the tension flanges. Keywords: Beams (supports); columns (supports); cyclic loads; ductility; earthquake-resistant structures; frames; hinges (structural); joints (junctions); reinforced concrete; shear strength; slabs; structural design; tests260 Cheung, Paulay, and Park P.c. Cheung is a Ph.D, student in the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He had several years of structural design experience with consulting engineers in Hong Xong prior to undertaking Ph.D. studie: T Paulay is an Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. His major interest has been the design of ductile reinforced concrete buildings for earthquake resistance. Apart from several papers he is the coauthor of two books on reinforced concrete. Amongst several awards he was recipient of the Raymond C. Reese Research Award of the ACI in 1982 and 1983. He is an Honorary Member of ACI. R. Park is Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He is the author or coauthor of several technical papers and two books on aspects of reinforced concrete, particularly seismic design. He has received several awards, including the 1984 and 1989 Raymond C. Reese Research Award of the ACI. He is a Fellow of ACI. 1. INTRODUCTION The contribution of a floor slab, acting as a compression flange of a cast in place reinforced concrete beam, has been recognized for a long time. Appropriate recommendations with respect to a dependable effective width of such flanges are incorporated in buildings codes (i,3) throughout the world. The contribution of slabs in beam-column subassemblages which are subjected to seismic forces, acting as both compression and tension flanges, is generally less well understood in design practice. A special feature of flange response in frames subjected to earthquake forces stems from the requirement that beams at both sides of an interior column must introduce bending moments with the same rotational effects. Consequently on one side of a column compression strains develop at the level of the flange while on the opposite side tensile strains are generated at the same level (Figure 3(a)). The contributions of slabs acting as tension flanges has been recognized in recent years, and accordingly extensive research was undertaken in various countries. Definitive design recommendations were made in 1982 in New Zealand 1) for the estimation of the effective width of tension flanges. These were based on engineering Judgment rather than on experimental data. They are critically examined here in the light of experimental evidence obtained subsequently.Seismic Resistance 261 The material presented in the following sections is based Predominantly on the study of one-way and two-way cast in place reinforced concrete beam-column-slab subassemblages (2), tested in New Zealand. However, the emphasis is placed on the identification of features of behaviour and/or the mechanisms which are perceived to be mobilized in both slabs and beams to enable flange forces to be introduced to beam-column joint cores, rather than on the Presentation of detailed experimental evidence. The aim is thus to contribute to better understanding by the design engineer of a common structural problem, which at first sight might appear to be rather complex. 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE sTUDY In attempting to develop a design strategy for the incorporation of slab contributions to the seismic response of reinforced concrete frames, particularly in the inelastic range, a number of questions are posed, to which a satisfactory answer is sought. (1) To what extent is the flexural strength of a beam, considering the presence of horizontal slab bars parallel to such a beam, enhanced by a tension flange? In simple terms, what may be taken as the effective width of a flange in tension? (2) Having identified the fact that the enhancement of the flexural strength of flanged beams will be greater when curvature ductility demands increase during a major earthquake, what magnitude of strength enhancements should a designer rely on, and what magnitude should be used when considering force input to joints and columns? (3) How important are the contributions of transverse beams, cast monolithically and hence interacting with the floor slab, in torsion, flexure and shear, in terms of the enhancement of the lateral force resistance of ductile frames? (4) To what extent does increased beam flexural strength affect the desired resistance of beam-column joints? Does the increase of joint shear force due to flange contributions in beams warrant the use of additional joint shear reinforcement? (5) Does a slab, surrounding partly or fully the top region of a beam-column joint, contribute to the strength and performance of such a joint? (6) To what extent are slab contributions affected when ductility demands on two-way frames arise simultaneously in both principal directions of the framing system during skew earthquake attacks?