Large-scale testing of space steel frame subjected to non-proportional loads

This paper presents large-scale testing of a space steel frame. Considering a majority of large-scale frame tests in the past, only two-dimensional frames are experimentally studied. Therefore, three-dimensional experiment is needed to extend the knowledge of this field. A two-story, single-bay, and sway allowed frame subjected to non-proportional vertical and horizontal load was tested. Details of the test frame, test instruments, set-up and test procedures and the load–displacement curve of the test frame are presented. The experimental results are useful in the verification of threedimensional analytical models. Non-linear numerical analysis was also performed, and its results compared well with the experimental results. It was observed that the load carrying capacity calculated by the AISC-LRFD method was 28% conservative when compared with that by the experiment. This difference is attributed to the fact that the AISCLRFD approach does not consider the inelastic moment redistribution but the experiment includes the inelastic redistribution effect.