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

Abstract 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 three-dimensional 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 AISC-LRFD approach does not consider the inelastic moment redistribution but the experiment includes the inelastic redistribution effect.