Large-Scale Experimental Evaluation of Steel Gravity Framing Structural Integrity

Abstract

An ongoing collaborative research project is studying the structural integrity of steel gravity framing systems composed of steel beams and girders with composite slab on metal deck. A major contribution of this project is large-scale testing of critical components in gravity systems subjected to severe demands consistent with column loss scenarios. Detailed component tests of the steel-concrete composite floor slab and simple beam-column connection are complemented by complete floor system tests. Component tests on the concrete slab on metal deck include uniaxial tests to evaluate behavior in both orthogonal directions with respect to the deck corrugations, and shear and tension tests of the sidelap splices. Parameters include metal deck thickness and type of sidelap (e.g., button punch, screw, weld). The full-scale beamto-column connection tests consider a wide range of parameters, including connection type, number of bolts, edge and gap distances and slab effects. The floor system tests are being conducted at half scale on a three-bay square configuration that considers interior, exterior and corner column loss scenarios.