Behaviour of Steel Frames with Partial-Strength Beam-To-Column Connections

Abstract

A large number of studies have been carried out to incorporate the nonlinear representation of connection behaviour into the analysis and design of steel structures. In the companion paper, a nonlinear analysis method is proposed for the load-deformation analysis of steel frames. The method is applicable to rigid and semirigid (with partial-strength beam-to-column connections) structures. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influences of connection rigidities on the behaviour of steel frame under the combination of geometric and material nonlinearity effects. The adopted analysis method is based on the four basic principles, namely, structural discretisation, static-kinematic duality, constitutive reciprocity and mathematical programming formulation. The method is capable of capturing the development of plastic hinge formations throughout the loading history. The ultimate load, the plastic hinge development and the frame behaviour based on the holonomic (path independent) and nonholonomic (path dependent) solutions of the analysed frame will be investigated and presented. Based on the numerical study, the effects of the geometric nonlinearity and partial-strength connections on the strength and stability of the frame structures will be highlighted.