• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.379-395
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• 2013

Aim of this paper is to apply to a steel truss bridge a methodology that takes into account the consequences of extreme loads on structures, focusing on the influence that the loss of primary elements has on the structural load bearing capacity. In this context, the topic of structural robustness, intended as the capacity of a structure to withstand damages without suffering disproportionate response to the triggering causes while maintaining an assigned level of performance, becomes relevant. In the first part of this study, a brief literature review of the topics of structural robustness, collapse resistance and progressive collapse takes place, focusing on steel structures. In the second part, a procedure for the evaluation of the structural response and robustness of skeletal structures under impact loads is presented and tested in simple structures. Following that, an application focuses on a case study bridge, the extensively studied I-35W Minneapolis steel truss bridge. The bridge, which had a structural design particularly sensitive to extreme loads, recently collapsed for a series of other reasons, in part still under investigation. The applied method aims, in addition to the robustness assessment, at increasing the collapse resistance of the structure by testing alternative designs.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.19-28
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• 2018

The progressive collapse resistance performance of a steel structure constructed using the moment frame with the WUF-B connection and the composite slabs was evaluated. GSA 2003 was adapted for the evaluation. Additionally the structural robustness and the sensitivity against the progressive collapse were analyzed. In the numerical analysis, a reduced model comprised of the beam and spring elements for WUF-B connection was adapted. The composite slab was modeled using the composite-shell element. Instead of the time-consuming dynamic analysis for the effect of the sudden column removal, the equivalent energy-based static analysis was effectively applied. The analysis results showed that the structure was the most vulnerable to in the case of the internal column removal, however it satisfied the chord rotation criterion of GSA 2003 due to the contribution of the composite slab which improved the stiffness of structure. In the robustness evaluation, the structural performance showed more than 2.5 times of the requirement according to GSA 2003, and the structural sensitivity analysis indicated the decrease of 33% of the initial structural performance.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.417-426
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• 2021

Recently, use of the precast concrete (PC) system, which can increase economy by minimizing field work, has rapidly increased. However, the PC system cannot exhibit structural performance under construction, specifically before integration between members. Furthermore, since it is difficult to secure the structural integrity of beam-column joints even after construction, the PC system is vulnerable to progressive collapse. In the PC system, various types of details for PC beam-column joints have been proposed, while the structural/construction details of PC system generally used in Korea differ from those of overseas PC systems. However, studies on the progressive collapse of the domestic PC system are limited. Thus, in this study, we investigated the structural/construction details of PC beam-column joints mainly used in Korea. Based on the investigation, for the prototype PC system with typical joint details, a nonlinear finite element analysis was carried out to evaluate its structural performance under progressive collapse. Further, a parametric study was performed, and the effect of the design parameters was investigated, to recommend a method to improve the progressive collapse resistance of the PC system.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.108-116
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• 2017

In this study, the prototype structure of seismically designed steel moment frame was analyzed statically and dynamically in order to demonstrate the applicability of energy-based approximate analysis with the dynamic effect of sudden column loss in the evaluation of the collapse resistance and a method for assessing the sensitivity to progressive collapse was proposed. For the purpose of comparing the structural behavior of buildings with different structural systems, the sensitivity of the structure to the sudden removal of vertical members can be used as a significant measure. The energy-based approximate analysis prediction for the prototype structure considered in the study showed good agreement with the dynamic analysis result. In the sensitivity evaluation, the structural robustness index that indicates the ability of a structure to resist collapse induced by abnormal loads was used. It was confirmed that the proposed methods can be used conveniently and rationally in progressive collapse analysis and design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.383-399
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• 2021

In the study, three 1:3-scale unequal span steel-concrete composite substructures with top-seat angle and double web angle connection were designed and identified as specimens GTSDWA-0.6, GTSDWA-1.0, and GTSDWA-1.4. Pseudo-static tests and refined numerical model analysis were conducted to examine the anti-progressive collapse performance of a semi-rigid steel-concrete composite substructure. The results indicated that the failure modes of the three specimens revealed that the fracture occurred in the root of the long leg of the top/seat angle in tension at the connection. With increases in the span ratio of the left and right composite beams, the bearing capacities of the composite substructures decreased, and the corresponding displacement increased. With respect to GTSDWA-0.6 and GTSDWA-1.4, the resistance due to the short composite beam corresponded to 62% and 60%, respectively, and the total resistance provided by the short composite beam exceeded that of the long composite beam. With respect to GTSDWA-1.0, the resistance due to the left and right composite beams was similar. All three specimens underwent the flexure mechanism and flexure-axial mixed mechanism stages. They resisted the external load mainly via the flexure mechanism. Moreover, the addition of stiffeners on both sides of the top and seat angles is advantageous in terms of improving the collapse resistance and ductility of unequal span composite substructures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.663-679
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• 2021

To elucidate the differences in the collapse behavior between a single-story beam-column assembly and multi-story frame, two 1/3-scale two-bay composite frames, including a single-story composite beam-column assembly and a three-story composite sub-frame, were designed and quasi-statically tested. The load-displacement responses, failure modes, and internal force development of the two frames were analyzed and compared in detail. Furthermore, the resistance mechanisms of the two specimens were explored, and the respective contributions of different load-resisting mechanisms to the total resistances were quantitatively separated to gain deeper insights. The experimental tests indicated that Vierendeel action was present in the two-dimensional multi-story frames, which led to an uneven internal force distribution among the three stories. The collapse resistance of TSDWA-3S in the flexural stage was not significantly increased by the structural redundancy provided by the additional story, as compared to that of TSDWA-1S. Although the development of the load response was similar in the two specimens at flexural stage, the collapse mechanisms of the multi-story composite frame were much more complicated than those of the single-story beam-column assembly, and the combined action between stories was critical in determining the internal force redistribution and rebalancing of the remaining structure.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.309-325
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• 2012

The risk of progressive collapse in steel framed buildings under fire conditions is gradually rising due to the increasing use of combustible materials. The fire resistance of such steel framed buildings is evaluated by fire tests. Recently, the application of performance based fire engineering makes it easier to evaluate the fire resistance owing to various engineering techniques and fire science. The fire resistance of steel structural members can be evaluated by the comparison of the limiting temperatures and maximum temperatures of structural steel members. The limiting temperature is derived at the moment that the failure of structural member results from the rise in temperature and the maximum temperature is calculated by using a heat transfer analysis. To obtain the limiting temperatures for structural steel of grades SS400 and SM490 in Korea, tensile strength tests of coupons at high temperature were conducted. The limiting temperatures obtained by the tensile coupon tests were compared with the limiting temperatures reported in the literature and the results of column fire tests under four types of loading with different load ratios. Simple limiting temperature formulas for SS400 and SM490 steel based on the fire tests of the tensile coupons are proposed. The limiting temperature predictions using the proposed formulas were proven to be conservative in comparison with those obtained from H-section and hollow section column fire tests.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.387-394
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• 2010

The alternative load path method based on a column removal scenario has been commonly used to protect building structures from being progressively collapsed due to probable blast loading. However, this method yields highly conservative result when the columns still have substantial load resisting capacity after blast. In this study, the behavior of RC columns with rectangular and circular sections under the blast loading was investigated and the remaining capacity of the partially damaged columns was compared. AUTODYN which is a hydrocode for the analysis of the structure on the impact and blast loading was used for this study. The blast loading was verified with the experiment results. The analysis results showed that the circular columns are preferable to the rectangular ones in respect of the blast resistance performance.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.31-38
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the seismic performance of gravity-designed post tensioned (PT) flat plate frames with and without slab bottom reinforcement passing through the column. In low and moderate seismic regions, buildings are often designed considering only gravity loads. This study focuses on the seismic performance of gravity load designed PT flat plate frames. For this purpose, 3-, 6- and 9-story PT flat plate frames are designed considering only gravity loads. For reinforced concrete flat plate frames, continuous slab bottom reinforcement (integrity reinforcement) passing through the column should be placed to prevent progressive collapse; however, for the PT flat plate frames, the slab bottom reinforcement is often omitted since the requirement for the slab bottom reinforcement for PT flat plates is not clearly specified in ACI 318-08. This study evaluates the seismic performance of the model frames, which was evaluated by conducting nonlinear time history analyses. For conducting nonlinear time history analyses, six sets of ground motions are used as input ground motions, which represent two different hazard levels (return periods of 475 and 2475 years) and three different locations (Boston, Seattle, and L.A.). This study shows that gravity designed PT flat plate frames have some seismic resistance. In addition, the seismic performance of PT flat plate frames is significantly improved by the placement of slab bottom reinforcement passing through the column.