A Comparative Study of Data-Driven Analysis of Reduced Web Section (RWS) Connections

A Comparative Study of Data-Driven Analysis of Reduced Web Section (RWS) Connections | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A Comparative Study of Data-Driven Analysis of Reduced Web Section (RWS) Connections Meysam Bayat, Konstantinos Daniel Tsavdaridis, Andrés Alonso-Rodriguez This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8506924/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study presents a data-driven assessment of welded Reduced Web Section (RWS) beam-to-column connections subjected to the AISC 341 cyclic loading protocol. An ABAQUS finite element framework, validated against five full-scale subassemblies, then supported a parametric investigation of 7,575 simulations spanning IPE 270 to IPE 600 sections, steel grades S235 to S355, and span-to-depth ratios from 6 to 14. The results show that 98.5% of specimens achieve interstorey drifts above 4% with less than 20% strength degradation, satisfying AISC requirements for special moment frames. Furthermore, appropriate adjustment of the RWS geometric parameters can promote elastic, or near elastic, behaviour at the column face while maintaining a moment capacity close to that of the corresponding solid beam. However, large web openings located very close to the column face reduce peak moment and amplify local stress demand around web openings, particularly in heavier beams. Within a geometry corridor defined by opening diameters of 30% to 40% of beam depth and locations of 80% to 100% of beam depth from the column face, specimens exhibit the largest increases in cumulative dissipated energy, up to 39%, while satisfying the 4% interstorey drift criterion. Overall, a well-proportioned RWS geometry provides a viable option for the seismic retrofit of existing welded moment connections in post-Northridge and post-Kobe practice, with minimal impact on moment strength. Selection of geometries that satisfy specific performance targets is facilitated by an accompanying interactive dashboard presented in the Supplementary Material. Reduced Web Section (RWS) connections Cyclic loading Cumulative energy dissipation Seismic retrofit Optimisation of RWS connections RWS radar-chart dashboard Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 06 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 06 Feb, 2026 Editor invited by journal 15 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 15 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 13 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8506924","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":586924406,"identity":"b5b46a11-101d-4cb9-8b8d-a056149a53c0","order_by":0,"name":"Meysam Bayat","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"City University of London School of Mathematics Computer Science and Engineering: City University of London School of Science \u0026 Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Meysam","middleName":"","lastName":"Bayat","suffix":""},{"id":586924407,"identity":"257af8e9-5c33-4572-ba6f-2d66e9ba2f36","order_by":1,"name":"Konstantinos Daniel Tsavdaridis","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8349-3979","institution":"City University: City University of London","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Konstantinos","middleName":"Daniel","lastName":"Tsavdaridis","suffix":""},{"id":586924408,"identity":"a34db1f0-f01b-4545-b9a3-849bfbae44dc","order_by":2,"name":"Andrés Alonso-Rodriguez","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of La Gran Colombia: Universidad La Gran Colombia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Andrés","middleName":"","lastName":"Alonso-Rodriguez","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-03 12:50:44","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8506924/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8506924/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102962155,"identity":"1c979b63-fff0-4fa5-b91b-bcb182399ae2","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-19 04:04:09","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2573237,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"2601010Manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8506924/v1_covered_a257c169-08f7-4eef-99c0-c88ae4d0420c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"A Comparative Study of Data-Driven Analysis of Reduced Web Section (RWS) Connections","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bulletin-of-earthquake-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"beee","sideBox":"Learn more about [Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering](https://www.springer.com/journal/10518)","snPcode":"10518","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10518/3","title":"Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Reduced Web Section (RWS) connections, Cyclic loading, Cumulative energy dissipation, Seismic retrofit, Optimisation of RWS connections, RWS radar-chart dashboard","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8506924/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8506924/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study presents a data-driven assessment of welded Reduced Web Section (RWS) beam-to-column connections subjected to the AISC 341 cyclic loading protocol. An ABAQUS finite element framework, validated against five full-scale subassemblies, then supported a parametric investigation of 7,575 simulations spanning IPE 270 to IPE 600 sections, steel grades S235 to S355, and span-to-depth ratios from 6 to 14. The results show that 98.5% of specimens achieve interstorey drifts above 4% with less than 20% strength degradation, satisfying AISC requirements for special moment frames. Furthermore, appropriate adjustment of the RWS geometric parameters can promote elastic, or near elastic, behaviour at the column face while maintaining a moment capacity close to that of the corresponding solid beam. However, large web openings located very close to the column face reduce peak moment and amplify local stress demand around web openings, particularly in heavier beams. 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