CALCULATION OF THE RESISTANCE WITH DIFFERENT STIFFNESS CONNECTIONS AGAINST PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSE BASED ON THE COMPONENT METHOD

"The collapse performance of steel frames generally depends on their ability to resist local damage, however, this ability depends on the behaviour of beam-to-column connections that have not yet to be identified in a methodical and reliable manner. Thus, it is critical to develop a simplified joint model, which could predict the structural collapse resistance to prevent progressive collapse. In this study, component models with different stiffness connections, namely the double web angle (DWA) connection, top-seat with double web angle connection (TSDWA) and welded flange-bolted web connection (WUF) were constructed based on the component method by simplifying its geometry and dividing into a number of basic springs. The proposed component-based connections models with detailed components were implemented within the finite element programme ANSYS, and the models were validated against previously experimental tests. The analysis results show that the component models can accurately reflect the load response and post-fracture path of the substructures with a cost-effective solution, which indicated that the component method has great theoretical significance and applicable value in progressive collapse analysis, and provided a simple and effective tool for the engineers to calculate the progressive collapse resistance."