Experimental Study on the Progressive Collapse Resistance of a Two-Story Steel Moment Frame

AbstractIn this study, the progressive collapse resistance of a two-story steel moment frame was investigated after the sudden removal of a perimeter column in the first floor through an experimental study. Two finite-element models with and without concrete slabs were developed and compared with the experimental results. The results indicate that the numerical model with slabs agrees well with that of the experiment and the concrete slabs play a significant role during the process of load redistribution. After the removal of the column, the partial loads previously carried by the removed column were transferred to its adjacent columns by the slabs. In addition, the concrete slabs and steel beams formed composite beams through shear connectors to resist the loads after the removal of the column. As a result, the stresses in the beams and the vertical displacements above the removed column were reduced significantly.