Finite element model updating of a steel-concrete composite moment-resisting structure with partial strength joints

Dynamic and static identification of a full scale moment-resisting steel-concrete composite structure with partial strength joints that was tested by means of the pseudo-dynamic testing technique at the ELSA laboratory of the Joint Research Centre at Ispra, Italy, is the subject of this paper. The structure was subjected to pseudo-dynamic and dynamic tests at different damage and peak ground acceleration levels; and the results were used for identifying the behaviour of the structure. Two and three-dimensional refined finite element models of the structure accompanied by a robust nonlinear optimization method, the Powell's Dog Leg method, were updated in order to reproduce in an optimal fashion the experimental static and dynamic behaviour of the structure.