Catenary Action during Collapse of Steel MRF Buildings

Detailed finite element simulations are used to investigate the large deformation behavior of seismically designed beam-column subassemblies. The numerical model employs a micromechanical fracture model for steel that is calibrated to existing test results. The developed simulation tools are used to understand the role of a number of parameters that influence the formation of catenary action in steel moment resisting frame (MRF) connections.