Response of Stainless Steel Bolted Beam-column Connections under Column Removal
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Preventing progressive collapse in steel-framed structures under extreme loading conditions requires the development of alternative load paths to maintain structural continuity. The resilience of a structure in such scenarios critically depends on the ductility and strength of its connections. Notional column-loss analysis is commonly used to assess the robustness of steel-framed structures. A new experimental study on stainless steel beam-to-column connections under static column removal conditions is presented. The design of the experimental setup, details of the tested specimens and the testing methodology are described. The results of two large-scale experiments on top-and-seat angle connections – representative of semi-rigid joints – using stainless steel EN 1.4307 angle cleats with A4-70 bolts and carbon steel S275 angle cleats with Grade 8.8 bolts are reported and discussed. The results indicate that the high ductility and strain hardening capacity of stainless steel make it a promising material for critical joint components, enhancing the robustness of steel-framed structures.