Experimental and numerical investigations into seismic behavior of corroded steel frame beams and columns in offshore atmospheric environment

• Published in: Journal of constructional steel research 2023-02, Vol.201, p.107757, Article 107757
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xiaohui, Zheng, Shansuo, Zhao, Xuran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Corroded steel frame beam and column; Corrosion level; Finite element analysis; Parametric analysis; Quasi-static cyclic loading test; Seismic performance
• ISSN: 0143-974X; 1873-5983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcsr.2022.107757

With the strong promoting of “national carbon peak and carbon neutrality” strategy and the continuous deepening of “performance-based seismic design” concept, the seismic performance evaluation field of Chinese steel structures has developed rapidly. Nevertheless, previous studies are generally aimed at new building structures, ignoring the seismic performance degradation characteristics caused by the durability loss of existing structures under environmental erosion. Thus, in this paper, accelerated offshore atmospheric corrosion and quasi-static cyclic loading tests were carried out on five steel frame beams and four steel frame columns. The effects of corrosion level on the failure mechanism, hysteretic behavior, skeleton curve, bearing capacity, ductility, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation of steel frame members were revealed and analyzed in detail. The test results indicate that with an increase in corrosion level, the appearance of plate local buckling, steel cracking and final failure shows a forward tendency, and all seismic performance indexes significantly decrease. Moreover, the deterioration models of the maximum load, ultimate displacement and cumulative energy dissipation with weight loss rate for corroded steel frame beams and columns were proposed. In addition, a finite element analysis method for corroded steel frame members was established and validated, which considered the corrosion damage and introduced a nonlinear mixed hardening constitutive model and a stress triaxiality dependent ductile damage criterion. On this basis, the parametric analysis was further presented to systematically study the influence of corrosion level, plate width - thickness ratio and its assembly factors, and stress conditions on the mechanical performance of H-shaped steel members, then obtaining the regular expressions of bending capacity and plastic rotation capacity. •The effects of corrosion level on the failure mechanism and seismic behavior for steel frame members were revealed.•The deterioration models of the seismic performance indices with weight loss ratio were proposed.•A finite element analysis method for corroded steel frame members was established and validated.•The parametric analysis was conducted to obtain the regular expressions of bending capacity and plastic rotation capacity.