Cyclic behavior of moment frame in Abaqus

Product Overview

In this example, we intend to simulate the steel moment frame under cyclic loading in the Abaqus software.

The numerical model is developed based on the configuration of the frame-only experimental specimen reported in the reference study.

Model Description

The experimental specimen was a single-story, single-bay steel moment frame with a story height of 1220 mm and a column centerline spacing of 1440 mm.

The frame consists of steel beams and columns with fully restrained beam-to-column connections. The model is developed to reproduce the structural response of the frame under quasi-static cyclic loading.

Cyclic Loading

The moment frame is subjected to quasi-static cyclic loading according to the loading protocol used in the experimental study.

The loading history is defined in Abaqus using an amplitude curve so that the numerical model follows the cyclic loading applied to the laboratory specimen.

Comparison of Abaqus and Experimental Results

In this picture, the force-displacement hysteresis diagram obtained from the Abaqus software is compared with the experimental results.

This comparison is used to evaluate how accurately the numerical model reproduces the cyclic behavior of the experimental moment frame.

Deformation of the Moment Frame

As the cyclic loading increases, yielding and local buckling develop in the beams, particularly in the regions near the beam-to-column connections.

Plastic hinges develop in the beams near the beam-to-column connections, resulting in significant inelastic deformation of the moment frame.

The columns remain mainly elastic during the cyclic loading, while the main inelastic deformation is concentrated in the beams.

Validation

This project has been validated, which means that the results obtained from the Abaqus software are similar to the results reported in the article.

In other words, this project is based on the reference article and the numerical model has been developed to reproduce the cyclic behavior reported in the experimental study.

Key Features

• Moment frame modeling in Abaqus.
• Cyclic loading analysis.
• Cyclic loading amplitude definition.
• Displacement-force hysteresis diagram.
• Comparison between Abaqus and experimental results.
• Investigation of moment frame deformation.
• Validation against the reference article.
• Complete Abaqus CAE file.
• Abaqus INP file.
• Excel amplitude loading file.
• Excel results file.
• Reference research paper.
• Step-by-step video tutorial.

What You Will Learn

• How to model a moment frame in Abaqus.
• How to define the required steel components.
• How to assemble the moment frame.
• How to define the material properties of the steel components.
• How to define the boundary conditions.
• How to apply cyclic loading to the model.
• How to define the cyclic loading amplitude.
• How to obtain the displacement-force hysteresis diagram.
• How to compare the Abaqus results with experimental results.
• How to investigate the deformation of the moment frame under cyclic loading.
• How to validate the numerical model using the reference article.

Reference

This project is based on the reference research article. The paper is included with the project files and can be used to review the experimental model, loading protocol, and reported results.