Collapse test on rectangular steel beam with different support condition

The behavior of beams with different support condition was investigated through three-point bending test for the purpose of studying difference of maximum load and catenary action of a beam. Beams are made of SPSR400 which has 245MPa of nominal yield strength and 400MPa of nominal tensile strength. The parameters of the supports condition are simple support and rotationally semi-rigid connection with different horizontal reaction strength applied by anchors. The support boundary conditions of beams were classified into three types; (A) simply supported with no anchors, (B) embedded anchors with 50mm depth of 10mm, and (C) embedded anchors with 80mm depth of 10mm. Both ends of the beams were connected by fillet welded angles and supported on a rigid concrete wall through anchors. The test result shows how much the load carrying capacity is increased by catenary action after large deflection at the center of the beam. First peak loads from each types are the loads when first plastic hinge occurs at the mid-span. There were no significant differences among the first peak loads measured from three types. After that, tensile force at anchors due to catenary action increased the load carrying capacity by approximately 55%, which is called as the second peak load. However, second peak load happens when the anchors at a support fully resist a tensile force, therefore it doesn’t happen with type (A) and (B). In conclusion, support boundary conditions of a beam don’t have an effect on the first collapse load, but the second collapse load is increased as embedded length of an anchor becomes deeper.