Small Scale Models for Steel Frameworks

THE ANALYSIS AND DESIGN of steel structures has become
increasingly sophisticated and efficient in the last decade.
For conventional structures, present methods of analysis can
be employed with confidence with the proportioning of
members based upon some prescribed criteria, such as
building and bridge construction codes. When these methods
can be employed, there can be no economic justification for a
model study of a structure. Some aspects of both member and
whole structure behavior, however, are still not well
understood for these conventional structures and as new
design criteria are developed for these situations, testing
programs will be required. For unconventional structures,
mathematical analyses that appropriately account for the
complex geometries and behavior may not be available. It is
in these areas, the development of design criteria for
conventional structures and the study of unconventional
structures, that model analysis can be useful.
The use of experimental methods has already been
demonstrated in tests carried out on full scale sections at
Lehigh University and other schools. These tests have
effectively contributed to the incorporation of plastic design
into building codes. On the other hand, full scale tests have a
number of limitations. To date tests have been restricted to
simple members and simple one, two or three story plane
frames. While more complex structures, in many cases,
would have masked the phenomenon under study there are
situations where tests on larger or more complete structures
would have been appropriate. Even in those situations where
full scale study is feasible, the same total investment in small
scale study would often permit a more comprehensive
investigation.
The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the
first phase of a study aimed at establishing a reliable small
scale ultimate strength modeling technique for wide-flange
steel frameworks. This paper will cover the
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