Affected by the multi-dimensionality and randomness of earthquake motion, as well as structural asymmetry, beam-column joints are frequently subjected to complex dynamic loads with variable strain rates and axial forces. In order to investigate the dynamic performance of beam-column joint under such condition, a restoring force model for beam-column joint is established through the force equilibrium condition, the strip integration, the parametric analysis, and the mean value theorem. Research shows that the proposed restoring force model can effectively predict the dynamic performance of beam-column joint. The yielding carrying capacity, the ultimate carrying capacity, and the secant stiffness of beam-column joint increase as strain rate increases. Among which, the secant stiffness can be increased by 22.9%. However, the extent of increased ultimate carrying capacity is more obvious than that of increased yielding carrying capacity. Within a certain range of strain rate level, the cumulative energy dissipation and the equivalent viscous damping of beam-column joint are increased with the increasing strain rate. Specifically, the cumulative energy dissipation and the equivalent viscous damping can be increased by 33.34% and 22.73%, respectively. In addition, the displacement ductility coefficient decreases with the increasing strain rate. Compared with that under fixed axial force, there is no significant difference in the dynamic performance of beam-column joint under variable axial force. The hysteresis behavior of beam-column joint remains almost unchanged, except for displacement ductility. The displacement ductility coefficient is slightly reduced. From the above, it can be seen from that the proposed restoring force model can comprehensively evaluate the dynamic performance of beam-column joint.
