Progressive collapse risk of 2D and 3D steel-frame assemblies having shear connections

Abstract In this research, the risk of progressive collapse of 2D and 3D single story one-third scale steel frame assemblies having shear beam-column connections was experimentally investigated under middle column loss event. The 2D assembly comprised two beams and three columns; whereas the 3D assembly was the same as the 2D assembly except with the addition of a transverse beam at the inner beam-column connection. A vertical quasi-static loading was placed on the middle column of the assembly in order to represent the event of progressive collapse. The two test frames together with another 2D steel frame assembly having simple joint, tested previously by other researchers, were employed to validate 3D finite element (FE) analysis created with the help of ABAQUS software. Thereafter, the calibrated models were utilized to study the progressive collapse risk for eight steel simple beam-column connections due to removal of the center column. Specimens were divided into two groups (4 specimens in each group), which were 2D and 3D steel frame assemblies. Behavior of different joints was numerically compared with respect to their failure modes and load versus displacement characteristics.