Experimental and numerical study of prefabricated steel frame with integrated wall panels

Abstract

The suitability of external integrated lightweight thermal insulation decorative wall panels as a fully bolted prefabricated steel frame enclosure system was studied. The test on the fully bolted prefabricated steel frame with the external integrated lightweight thermal insulation decorative wall panels was completed under quasi-static cyclic loading, and the impact of the beam-column joint types were investigated. The failure mode, lateral stiffness, bearing capacity, energy dissipation capacity, ductility, and strain distribution were analyzed, and the internal forces of the steel frame were calculated. Experimental results show that the external integrated wall has minimal effect on the stiffness and bearing capacity of the fully bolted prefabricated steel frame. Furthermore, the L-shaped angle joints can increase the bearing capacity, energy dissipation capacity, and lateral stiffness evidently and move the joint plastic hinge outwards. The differences between the experimental bearing capacity and the theoretical value of the steel frame were minimal. Significant buckling deformation was observed at the beam-end, and progressive full-field strain at the plastic hinge were distributed in a band shape. The corresponding improved design was proposed. In addition, the failure mode and hysteretic behavior of the structures were studied by finite element analysis, and the influence of the main parameters, such as the number of horizontal and vertical plate bolts, the types of L-shaped angle stiffeners, and the height-span ratio and axial compression ratio of steel frame were discussed. The finite element analysis results were consistent with those of the test. It provided theoretical evidence for the design and application of fully bolted prefabricated steel frame with external integrated lightweight wall panels.