Progressive collapse of a steel frame with column removal method Abaqus

Product Overview

In this project, the progressive collapse behavior of a steel frame with a WUF-FW (Welded Unreinforced Flange–Fillet Welded Web) connection is simulated using the Abaqus software.

The numerical model is developed to investigate the structural response of the frame under a middle-column removal scenario. The model reproduces the experimental steel frame and its beam-to-column connections, and the response is evaluated through the applied vertical load and middle-column displacement.

Model Description

The numerical model represents a one-story, two-bay steel frame with WUF-FW beam-to-column connections. The model includes the columns, beams, Continuity Plate, shear plates, and high-strength bolts used to reproduce the configuration of the experimental specimen.

The beam flanges are connected to the column flange by fillet welds, while the beam web is connected to the shear plate using high-strength bolts. These connection details are modeled to reproduce the behavior of the WUF-FW connection under the column-loss scenario.

Column Removal Method

The middle column removal scenario is used to investigate the progressive collapse response of the steel frame. The support provided by the middle column is released, allowing the beams to deform downward under the applied vertical displacement.

After the middle-column support is released, a downward displacement-controlled loading is applied at the middle-column location. This loading simulates the column-loss scenario and allows the development of the structural response following the loss of the middle column.

Experimental Model

The experimental specimen reported in the reference article is used as the basis for developing the numerical model in Abaqus.

The experimental configuration is reproduced in the numerical model to investigate the behavior of the steel frame after column removal.

Comparison of Abaqus and Experimental Results

As shown in the figure, the load–displacement curve obtained from Abaqus is compared with the experimental results reported in the reference article.

The numerical results show good agreement with the experimental results, indicating that the Abaqus model can appropriately reproduce the structural response of the steel frame after column removal.

Numerical Results

The results obtained from the Abaqus analysis are used to investigate the behavior of the steel frame following the removal of the middle column.

The deformation, stress distribution, and structural response of the frame can be investigated from the numerical results.

Validation

This project has been validated by comparing the results obtained from Abaqus with the results reported in the reference article.

The numerical results are concordant with the experimental results reported in the article, demonstrating that the Abaqus model can appropriately reproduce the behavior of the steel frame after column removal.

Key Features

• Progressive collapse analysis of a steel frame.
• Column removal method.
• Removal of the middle column.
• Application of vertical loading after column removal.
• Steel column and beam modeling.
• Shear plate and continuity plate modeling.
• Bolt modeling.
• Nonlinear finite element analysis in Abaqus.
• Load–displacement diagram obtained from Abaqus.
• Comparison between Abaqus and experimental load–displacement results.
• Investigation of the structural response after column removal.
• Validated Abaqus model.
• Complete Abaqus CAE and INP files.
• Excel results file.
• Reference research paper.
• Step-by-step video tutorial.

What You Will Learn

• How to model a steel frame for progressive collapse analysis in Abaqus.
• How to model the column, middle column, beam, shear plate, continuity plate, and bolts.
• How to define the material properties of the structural components.
• How to model the connections between the structural members.
• How to simulate the column removal method.
• How to remove the middle column from the model.
• How to apply a vertical load after column removal.
• How to define the required boundary conditions.
• How to perform nonlinear analysis of the steel frame.
• How to investigate the behavior of the frame after column removal.
• How to obtain the load–displacement response from Abaqus.
• How to compare Abaqus results with experimental results.
• How to validate an Abaqus model using experimental results.

Reference

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