Shaking table test of a prefabricated steel frame structure with all-bolted connections

Abstract

To study the seismic performance of an all bolt-connected prefabricated steel frame structure (ABPSFS), a shaking table test was conducted of a 1:4 scaled ABPSFS model in which high-strength bolts were used for column-to-column and beam-to-column connections. The dynamic properties, seismic responses, and failure mechanisms of the ABPSFS under different peak ground accelerations (PGAs) were analysed. This research also examined the dynamic failure mechanism of column-to-column bolted flange connections and proposed corresponding performance objectives in the seismic design of ABPSFS. The results indicated that the failure modes of ABPSFS were the warping of flange plates, the slipping of washers in bolted joints, and the cracking of concrete floors. With an increase in PGA, the fundamental frequency and stiffness of the structural model decreased while the damping ratio increased. The splicing layer became the weak layer of the entire structure and its acceleration amplification coefficient significantly increased in line with PGA. The dynamic failure mechanism of column-to-column bolted flange connection (CBFC) was buckling of the flange plate, opening of flange gap, and bolt fracture. For ABPSFS, 1/350 rad is recommended as the elastic storey drift angle and 1/70 rad as the elastic–plastic storey drift angle.