Study on uneven settlement and correction of steel frame structures based on numerical simulation method

Abstract

Lifting-correction is a technique to restore buildings experiencing uneven settlement, while ensuring the safety and integrity of the main structural system. This study was based on a real light-steel building structure and provided a detailed description of scenarios involving uneven settlement and the process of lifting and correction. Additionally, a sophisticated finite element (FE) model was established using the generic FE software ABAQUS, with refined material constitutive models to ensure the accuracy of simulation results. Firstly, the impact of uneven settlement on the structure was examined, including modal and stress field analyses. Different methods of breaking column (BC) and lifting column (LC) were compared and scrutinized to identify optimal approaches and minimize damage and disturbance to the building. Four methods have been proposed and compared, including simultaneously breaking columns, breaking columns with chessboard style, simultaneously lifting columns and lifting columns in multiple stages. The four methods were comprehensively evaluated from the perspectives of stress fields, displacement responses, damage and energy dissipation. The results indicated that after uneven settlement, the eigenvalues and frequencies of the structure decrease, the structure tended to be unstable. Simultaneously, as stress increases, some joints’ materials enter the yielding stage, affecting the overall structural stability and safety. When damage occurs in some joints, the structural safety was compromised. The comparison between the two BC methods, including the chessboard style and simultaneously BC methods, it was revealed that the former causes less disturbance to structural initial stress field. The comparison between the two LC methods, including, simultaneously and LC in multiple stages, it was revealed that the latter performs slightly better in terms of stress fields, displacement fields, damage, energy dissipation and internal forces. Therefore, the methods of BC in chessboard style and LC in multiple stages were recommended to use in engineering practice to ensure less structural disturbance. The findings obtained from this study can provide guidance for structural engineers to solve the uneven settlement of buildings.