Abstract
The current recommendations for the design of monolithic reinforced concrete beam–column joints allowed for the provision of transverse reinforcements at the joint to avoid brittle shear failure of the joint during seismic events but neglected the effect of plastic hinge penetration in the joint leading to bond deterioration and shear failure, especially for external frames. In this paper, previous studies conducted by different authors using the seismic design recommendations are reviewed for failure modes and the effectiveness of the code recommendations to avoid joint failure. Various retrofitting strategies to upgrade nonseismically designed beam–column joints are also reviewed. Methods of plastic hinge relocation in beam–column joints of new construction were proposed and verified with numerical simulation. This study contributes to knowledge by highlighting areas of concern in current design guidelines and a call for further research on code compliant exterior beam–column joint for better seismic performance.