Quantifying and Enhancing Robustness in Steel Structures: Part 1--Moment-Resisting Frames

Abstract

The objective of this two-part manuscript is to provide information that can lead to: (a) better understanding of disproportionate collapse in structural steel framing systems; (b) improved understanding of secondary load paths that form within structural steel framing systems in the event of a localized failure; (c) development of minimum general structural integrity provisions for structural steel framing systems analogous to those present in ACI 318; (d) recommendations for minimum tie forces that can be used as the basis of indirect design methodologies for structural steel framing systems; (e) an understanding of the distribution of tensile forces within typical steel floor framing systems to facilitate compartmentalization damage or collapse; and (f) identification of simple and economical means with which to enhance the robustness in the typical structural steel framing system.