This study developed numerical simulation models for the beam–column joints extracted from the 10-story RC buildings adopted in the 2015 and 2018 E-Defense tests. The flexural yielding failure at the beam–column joint was reproduced by a series of FEM analyses. A smeared crack model represented the effect to deteriorate the compressive stress in concrete strut, given the perpendicular cracks expanding after the yielding of main reinforcement bars in both beams and columns. Practical methods for the failure prevention were considered in terms of the high column-beam strength ratio as well as the dense hoops.
