Research Initiation Award: Energy Based Damage Model and Procedure for Safety Analysis of Structural Systems In Steel Buildings

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Most engineering structures are being designed to carry specified service or normal loads. However, recent developments in computer technology have created a potential for design of structures against the loads expected during the whole cycle of their life. The structures designed by using this approach will have improved durability, maintainability and damageability. Herein, an energy based damage model will be developed for computation of residual strength and stiffness of damaged steel structural members. The residual strength computations will utilize yield, limit and failure surfaces of the member which will be defined in terms of generalized forces for steel structural members. For safety evaluation of structural systems, a damage analysis computer code is to be developed. For increasing the efficiency of the safety analysis procedure, a stiffness matrix will be derived for the damaged member by employing a deflected shape which varies with increasing deformations. The safety of structural systems will be evaluated by utilizing a procedure developed by modifying the existing reliability technique. The whole procedure of determining probabilities of damage and failure of structural systems will be automated. The above developments will be validated by comparisons with existing experimental and analytical results. The developed damage model and safety analysis algorithm will aid in design of structural systems based on desired probability of damage and failure. They will also aid in design of steel structural systems which, under the extreme loads, will avoid concentration of damage and premature failure.