Investigation of different steel intermediate moment frame connections under column-loss scenario

Abstract

Abstract This paper investigated experimentally the progressive collapse risk of three one-third scale single story, two-bay steel frames under column-loss event. Progressive collapse was simulated by applying a vertical loading on the middle column. In these tests, three different types of steel beam-to-column connections were studied. These included: one shear-connection specimen that signified the prevalent type of steel beam-column joints, and two different steel intermediate moment frame (IMF) connections conforming to ANSI/AISC 358–16. The three tested specimens along with another two 2D steel frames with IMF connection, tested in the literature, were used to calibrate 3D finite element (FE) models prepared using ABAQUS software. The validated FE models were then employed to investigate the risk of progressive collapse for eleven different types of steel IMF beam-column joints under middle column-loss scenario. Out of the eleven specimens, eight connections were designed as per ANSI/AISC 358–16; two joints were in accordance with EN 1993-Eurocode 3 and the last connection was in conformance with the 2007 Turkish-Earthquake Code (TEC-2007). Performance of different IMF connections was compared based on their modes of failure and load-displacement response in both flexural and catenary action stages.