Failure Prediction, Testing, and Retrofit of Open Web Steel Joists in an Undergraduate Curriculum

This paper provides an overview of how failure prediction of critical members in an open web steel joist is used in multiple courses in a structural engineering curriculum. The forensic example is used in an introductory engineering mechanics course to demonstrate how the method of sections and joints can be used to analyze a truss system widely used in practice. Combining the concepts of steel yielding, column buckling, and factor of safety allows the students are tasked to predict the critical members in the joist. Immediately, following the analytical exercise, students experimentally verify their predictions. Later in the curriculum, students revisit their analysis in a steel design course. The students are posed with a retrofit competition where groups compete to increase the load carrying capacity of the joist and changing the failure mode of the joist. The group that completes this task for the least costs (material and labor) is crowned class champion. Students often conduct an analysis to determine forces in members; however, rarely do they predict critical member and failure mode in an assembly and then verify their results in real time. Even more rarely does this experience carry through multiple courses. The format of the lectures, laboratory exercises, laboratory execution, assignments, and competition are presented. Additionally, the paper includes discussion on how the experience was altered due to COVID considerations. Assessment data, student feedback, and recommendations for additional expanded assignments are presented.