Experimental full-scale tests on steel portal frames for development of diaphragm action – Part II Effect of structural components on shear flexibility

Abstract

The Part II of this two-part paper evaluates the results of the experimental test series introduced in Part I. This research aimed to examine the major influencing parameters of stressed skin effect in industrially applied, nonstandard diaphragm configurations. As no international study was executed in state of art, in order to study the role of different variables to shear flexibility, a full-scale test series was executed at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Structural Engineering Department. In Part I the experimental test arrangement and shear flexibility results are introduced in comparison with the results derived from the ECCS formulae. This paper, denoted as Part II details the evaluation of full-scale test results by underlining conclusions regarding the effect of change in section size of structural components and the number of fixings, and the effect of variation in structural arrangements. The results of this investigation shows that in nonstandard cases the stiffening effect of diaphragms are comparable to the stiffening effect of bracing.