Hybrid simulation of the seismic response of a steel moment frame building structure through collapse

The overarching objective of this dissertation is to advance knowledge on collapse assessment of structures through the development and implementation of an experimental framework for improved large-scale system-level testing of frame structures to simulated dynamic earthquake loading. Hybrid simulation with substructuring was investigated as a cost-effective alternative for large-scale testing. Through the use of substructuring techniques in hybrid simulation, only key subassemblies of a frame structure can be physically tested in a laboratory while the rest of the frame is simulated in a computer model to capture the complete system behavior. Considerable efforts were made to implement the substructuring hybrid testing approach to examine frame structures through collapse. Such efforts included evaluating the performance of integration methods and substructuring techniques for hybrid simulation which were greatly challenged when employed with large and complex numerical sub-structures exhibiting large levels of nonlinear response. After addressing these concerns, the experimental framework was implemented to examine the seismic response of two half-scale subassemblies of a moment and a gravity frame from the onset of damage through collapse. The physical subassemblies spanned one and one half bays and one and one half stories of the frame structures. These tests were conducted in response to the need for large-scale system-level testing for collapse assessment since only a few experimental programs in the past have subjected the test specimens to large levels of loading near collapse.