Static and Dynamic Cycling Yielding of Steel Beams

The cyclic yielding of steel girders in a frame is investigated experimentally. Three sets of frames are subjected to static as well as dynamic cyclic horizontal loading at rates varying from 0.1 cycle/sec. to 3/4 cycle/sec. The first set, free of vertical loads, is forced horizontally into a sinusoidal type motion. The second set is loaded vertically at the beam third points and forced horizontally in a manner similar to the first set. The last set, in addition to vertical load, is forced into a horizontal time deformation similar to that generated by an earthquake. It is concluded that the rate of loading, for the previously mentioned rates, seems to have no significant influence on the response of the frames under all cases of loading.