Shaking table test and numerical damage behaviour analysis of a steel portal frame with bolted connections

This paper presents shaking-table test results of a two-story steel portal frame with bolted connections. The aim of these tests is to understand the inelastic behaviour of frame structures subjected to dynamic loads. Moreover, the purpose of these tests is to study changes in modal parameters due to the development of Low-Cycle Fatigue damage in frame connections. A nonlinear numerical simulation is performed using a Fatigue Damage-Based Hysteretic model. A comparison of results obtained from numerical analysis and those of shaking-table tests is presented. The paper concludes that the proposed numerical method can predict the response of the damaged frame.

► Shaking-table test results of a steel frame with bolted connections are presented.
► A model based on Low-Cycle Fatigue damage index is developed.
► Experimental and numerical results are compared to validate the proposed model.
► Results confirm the changes in frequencies because of the damaged connections.
► The proposed method can predict the responses of the damaged steel portal frame.