A STUDY OF STEEL MOMENT CONNECTIONS FOR STRUCTURES UNDER BLAST AND PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSE LOADING RATES
Open Access
- Author:
- Yim, Hyun Chang
- Graduate Program:
- Civil Engineering
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- January 11, 2007
- Committee Members:
- Theodor Krauthammer, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Mian C Wang, Committee Member
Bohumil Kasal, Committee Member
Ali M Memari, Committee Member
Serdar Astarlioglu, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Blast
Steel Moment Connection
Progressive Collapse - Abstract:
- Connections are one of the most significant contributors to decide the ductility and robustness of a steel framed structure. Particularly, moment connections have been used in lateral loading resistant frame design due to their ability to reduce the relative rotation between beams and columns. However, they are vulnerable to static and dynamic loads, such as progressive collapse rate, earthquake, and blast-rate loads. Therefore, it is essential to understand and determine the steel connection behaviors in order to offer the necessary structural capabilities in design for resisting blast and progressive collapse. In present study the welded-unreinforced flange-bolted-web connections (WUF-B), one of the commonly used moment connections, were characterized with respect to the quasi-static and blast-rate pressure loads. The characterization process was carried out by finite element analyses of a full three-dimensional connection assembly. Moment-rotation curves, moment-tip displacement relationships, rotation dynamic increase factors, and moment-impulse diagrams were utilized as static and dynamic connection properties. The complicated connection configurations were simplified using infinitesimal point element with the mechanical properties. Other possible configuration of WUF-B connections were designed and analyzed in both quasi-static and short duration loading environment. The characterized resistant functions were compiled in the database.