| Steel and Composite Structures Volume 15, Number 4, October 2013, pages 357-377 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12989/scs.2013.15.4.357 | |
Degradation and damage behaviors of steel frame welded connections | |
Meng Wang, Yongjiu Shi, Yuanqing Wang, Jun Xiong and Hong Chen
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| Abstract [Full Text] | |
| In order to study the degradation and damage behavirs of steel frame welded connections, two series of tests in references with different connection constructions were carried out subjected to various cyclic loading patterns. Hysteretic curves, degradation and damage behaviours and fatigue properties of specimens were firstly studied. Typical failure modes and probable damage reasons were discussed. Then, various damage index models with variables of dissipative energy, cumulative displacement and combined energy and displacement were summarized and applied for all experimental specimens. The damage developing curves of ten damage index models for each connection were obtained. Finally, the predicted and evaluated capacities of damage index models were compared in order to describe the degraded performance and failure modes. The characteristics of each damage index model were discussed in depth, and then their distributive laws were summarized. The tests and analysis results showed that the loading histories significantly affected the distributive shapes of damage index models. Different models had their own ranges of application. The selected parameters of damage index models had great effect on the developing trends of damage curves. The model with only displacement variable was recommended because of a more simple form and no integral calculation, which was easier to be formulated and embedded in application programs. | |
| Key Words | |
| welded connection of steel frame; degradation and damage behaviours; low-cycle fatigue; damage index model; failure mode | |
| Address | |
| 1) Meng Wang: School of Civil Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China; 2) Yongjiu Shi, Yuanqing Wang and Jun Xiong: Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; 3) Hong Chen: Architectural Design and Research Institute, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. | |
