Improvement Study of the Proposed Beam-Column Carbon Minimized Dismantle Connection (CNDC) using Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

An innovative concept design of a “carbon-neutral, easy-to-dismantle beam-column connection” was previously proposed for an environmentally friendly construction. Full-scale test and three-dimensional finite element (3D-FE) analysis had been conducted to investigate how the so-called Carbon Minimized Dismantle Connection (CNDC) would behave. Accordingly, the CNDC met the stiffness for the rotation angle of moment frame similarly as a conventional beam-column connection. However, in terms of energy dissipation, it showed relatively low performance due to pinching of moment-rotation hysteresis. Numerical modeling showed local bulging-and-dimpling of column face due to the pulling of shear tab by the beam. Hence, an improvement study on the design and configuration of the CNDC by 3D-FE analysis was carried out. Numerically, the new design of the CNDC with the added fillet plate and increased column thickness has a better performance than the originally proposed design. © 2025 IABSE Symposium Tokyo 2025: Environmentally Friendly Technologies and Structures: Focusing on Sustainable Approaches - Report All rights reserved.