Finite element analysis assessing partial catenary action in steel beams

• Assesses connection demands for achieving full and partial catenary action
• Presents combined tension, moment, and rotation that future connections could target
• Suggests a rotation metric revealing the influence of cross-sectional area
• Discusses the influences of modeling decisions on results

One potential means for designing steel structures for progressive collapse resistance is to include considerations of catenary action in order to efficiently and economically allow beams to be designed to resist increased levels of load relative to what is currently considered in practice. However, the current inventory of typical girder-to-column connections limits the capability of girders to achieve their peak post-flexural capacities. Given this limitation, a finite element analysis (FEA) parametric study of steel girders containing idealized connections was conducted to better understand connection demands in this situation. The results are compared to existing FEA and experimental work documented in available literature and combinations of tensile force, moment, and rotation at various levels of applied vertical load are generated, which can inform benchmarks that future connections could be designed to provide in order for steel beams to provide capacities intermediate to their flexural and full catenary capacities, i.e., partial catenary action. A relatively simple metric for normalizing rotation data from disparate girder designs is also introduced and recommended for consideration in any future connection rotation demand benchmarks. The influences of residual stresses and geometric imperfections on the FEA results are also discussed.