Study on failure criterion of thin-walled steel frame structures based on the ESED parameter

Abstract The aim of this paper is to propose a new failure criterion for thin-walled steel frame structures based on the sum of the structural exponential strain energy density (ESED) parameters, by analyzing the whole behavior of thin-walled steel frame structures under static and seismic loads. Firstly, the strain energy variation of the thin-walled steel member and structures before and after buckling failure is studied theoretically by introducing the thin-walled theory, after this the ESED failure criterion is proposed to estimate the seismic failure loads of thin-walled steel frame structures. Secondly, a one-story thin-walled steel framework, a five-story thin-walled steel framework and a single-layer spherical reticulated shell separately subjected to different waves were selected on which to carry out the nonlinear time-history response analysis to obtain the ESED model to verify the new failure criterion. Finally, some discussions, comparison between the numerical solution and the analytical solution, the distinction of the ESED between pre- and post-structural failure and failure modes corresponding to the failure load, on the new failure criterion are conducted to a certain extent to prove its rationality. The research on the new failure criterion will provide a new approach to carrying out the structure failure mechanism analysis and contribute to the structural design with more overall confidence.