Investigation of Corrosion Effects on Collapse of Truss Structures

Corrosion damage is a serious problem in steel structures. The cross-sectional loss in the structural members due to corrosion reduces the load-carrying capacity of the members and the stability of their structures. In this study, the main reasons for the collapse of three steel sports infrastructure facilities after moderate snowfall were investigated by conducting field observations and detailed numerical analyses. Finite element models of the structures were developed by considering the effects of different rafter systems and corrosion damage at their columns’ support regions. The load-carrying capacity ratios and stress distributions of the structural members were determined under the effect of the snow load at the time of the collapse. The analysis results were consistent with the damage modes observed during site inspections. The snowfall was not the primary cause of the collapse; however, the section and joint losses due to excessive corrosion, improper erections, and discrepancies between the design project and the as-built project were the main reasons for the collapse.

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