Flexibility analysis of typical roof diaphragms in steel structures using the equivalent connectors method

Steel structures are invariably analyzed and designed excluding the global stiffening effect of the roof cladding. Including this effect historically required complex design methods or deprecated standards. This paper presents a simplified numerical modeling method which allows this stiffening effect to be included. The method is an extension of the already established Component Method but utilizes only elements commonly available in typical design and analysis software. The results of the models were favorably compared to standardized test cases; an average difference of 0.24 mm maximum displacement was found, corresponding to a 3.4% discrepancy. The consistency of these results implies that the proposed model can be considered to be used for scientific and practical purposes when assessing a building's most realistic behavior is necessary.