Experimental and numerical study on the robustness of full-scale volumetric steel module under sudden support removal scenarios

This paper presents and discusses the experimental and numerical results performed on a 3D modular steel frame under sudden corner support removal scenarios. A modular steel frame was designed according to Australian standards and fabricated in full scale. An experimental testing program was developed in which the module was examined under some robustness scenarios as sudden loss of one or two corner supports. The 3D dynamic response of the module was captured during the robustness (loss) scenarios, and the possible damages are reported. In addition, the detailed numerical finite element micromodel of the module was created, employing continuum solid elements. The numerical model was verified against the experimental results; based on that, other numerical models were generated to study the effects of mass distribution and different boundary conditions in real modular assemblies under corner support loss scenarios.