KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering (2018) 22(7):2344-2353 Structural Engineering

Copyright ⓒ2018 Korean Society of Civil Engineers

DOI 10.1007/s12205-017-1022-y pISSN 1226-7988, eISSN 1976-3808
www.springer.com/12205
TECHNICAL NOTE

Force Mechanism and Progressive Collapse of Steel Tube-coupler

Scaffold Under Local Load
Dong Chen*, Kewei Ding**, and Xiping He***
Received May 27, 2016/Revised January 8, 2017/Accepted July 6, 2017/Published Online September 15, 2017

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Abstract
The force mechanism and progressive collapse of steel tube-coupler scaffolds were studied under a local load. A distributed optical
fiber system was used to conduct experiments on four different scaffold erections. The stresses of the vertical rods, horizontal rods
and braces had ladder-like distributions; braces sustained most of the axial force, whereas vertical and horizontal rods sustained an
axial force and bending moment. A reasonable numerical analysis strategy is established on the basis of this research and a
comparison with experiments, and the progressive collapse process is simulated using ANSYS software. Horizontal rods and braces
not only provide auxiliary support for the vertical rods, but also contribute to forces throughout the scaffold; internal forces pass
through the two types of bar and are redistributed in each vertical rod such that all vertical rods are associated with forces in the
scaffold. Braces block the spread of local collapse within the same floor while bottom horizontal rods block that from one floor to
another. The addition of braces and bottom horizontal rods can therefore effectively prevent progressive collapse.
Keywords: steel tube-coupler scaffold, distributed optical fiber system, local load, numerical analysis strategy, force mechanism,
progressive collapse
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1. Introduction
Steel tube-coupler scaffold is one of the most widely used
construction support systems in China at present. It has a high
bearing capacity, it has a convenient assembly and disassembly,
it can be used repeatedly and it is easy to transport. The application
of this support system has increased with the continuous expansion
of infrastructure in China. According to the relevant provisions
of the State Council “Management Regulations of Safety Production
of Construction of Projects”, scaffold collapse is a major hazard
source in cities and it should be thoroughly researched.
There have been many studies on steel tube-coupler scaffolds.
These studies have investigated the effects of the lift height,
distance between vertical rods, building span number, brace
setting and extrusion length of vertical rods from top horizontal
rods on the stability of the overall frame (Lu et al., 2012; Peng et
al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2012); semi-rigid fasteners and their
simulation (Li, 2013; Chen et al., 2010; Pienko et al., 2012); the
effects of frame erection and steel-tube defects on the overall
stability of steel tubes (Yang, 2014; Liu et al., 2010); the stability
of steel tubes (Hu et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2016); and the
reliability and simulation of frame stability (Zhang, 2010; Beale
et al., 2014; Yue et al., 2015). Research has focused mainly on
the stability of the overall frame, and especially on vertical rods
and the factors that affect stability. Limited research has focused
on the transmission of internal forces within the frame and the
distribution of forces among vertical rods, horizontal rods and
braces; in particular, there has been little specialized research.
Because of the nature of pouring concrete, scaffolds do not exist
under a uniform load but are loaded locally in many cases. It is
therefore necessary to study the mechanical mechanism of
frames under local loads.
Research on continuous collapse has focused mainly on
structures of reinforced concrete and steel (Song et al., 2015; Xie
et al., 2010; Cai et al., 2015), and research on the continuous
collapse of temporary support systems, such as steel tube-coupler
scaffold, is rare.
We studied the effect of local loads on steel tube-coupler scaffold,
focusing on the transfer and distribution of internal forces for each
component. We conducted experiments and studied the continuous
collapse and its preventive measures using ANSYS LS-DYNA
software to combine the characteristics of scaffold internal forces.
2. Experimental Testing
2.1 Test Purpose
The aim of experimental testing was to study the transmission
and distribution of internal forces in each rod for different

*Associate Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230001, China (Corresponding Author, E-mail: chenchenchu@163.com)
**Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230001, China (E-mail: dingkw@ahjzu.edu.cn)
***Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230001, China (E-mail: 1047080558@qq.com)

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 Force Mechanism and Progressive Collapse of Steel Tube-coupler Scaffold Under Local Load

erections of steel tube-coupler scaffold (Fig. 1(a)) where the The frame displacement was measured using an HYD-200
frame is under local loads (Fig. 1(b)). displacement meter.

2.2 Test Equipment
A loading frame and hydraulic jack were used to provide a
static load (Fig. 1(b)), and the size of the loading force was
controlled using a computer.
A single measurement made using a distributed optical fiber
test system (BOTDA) provided stresses over the coverage area
of an optical fiber. The main instruments used were a single-
mode optical fiber and optical-fiber data-acquisition instrument
(Fig. 2). The resolution for static strain measurement is 2(µε).
2.3 Configuration of the Test Frame and Layout of Optical-
fiber Measurements
The test frame had three layers and three spans, with a vertical
rod spacing of 950 mm, a lift height of 1300 mm and bottom
horizontal rods located 100 mm from the ground along two
directions of the frame setting braces. The frame erection and
fiber layout are shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and Table 1. The average
external diameter of rods was 24.159 mm while the average
internal diameter was 20.855 mm. The Q235 steel had yield
strength of 235 MPa, a Poisson ratio of 0.3 and a Young modulus
of 2.06 × 105 MPa.

Fig. 4. Profile View Showing the Layout of Optical-fiber Measure-

Fig. 1. Scaffold and Loading System: (a) Scaffold Erection, (b) Load- ments
ing System

Fig. 2. Distributed Optical Fiber System Fig. 5. Layout of Displacement-meter Measurements

Fig. 3. Plan View Showing the Layout of Optical-fiber Measurements

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 Dong Chen, Kewei Ding, and Xiping He

Table 1. layout of Optical-fiber Measurements

Rod code Fiber code
1# horizontal rod 18# fiber/19# fiber
2# horizontal rod 16# fiber/17# fiber
3# horizontal rod 10# fiber/11# fiber
10# vertical rod 5# fiber/6# fiber/7# fiber
1# brace 1# fiber/2# fiber/3# fiber/4# fiber

Horizontal and vertical rods were connected with right-angle

fasteners. Braces and vertical rods were connected with rotating
fasteners. All fastening was completed with a torque wrench to
40 N·m.
The test points in Figs. 3 and 4 are selected representative
Fig. 7. Schematic of the Fastener Torsion Test
points on the optical fiber for which test results were obtained.
A displacement meter was arranged at the top end of the 10
vertical rods to monitor the inclination displacement of the entire
frame (Fig. 5).
Four frame-loading tests were carried out. The first test was of
the complete frame shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the second test
was of the same frame but with brace #2 removed. The third test
was of the frame in the second test but with all rods of one layer
(i.e., bottom horizontal rods) dismantled. Test four was of the
frame in the third test but with brace #1 removed.

2.4 Loading Scheme

A hydraulic jack provided the load in the experiment (Fig. 1(b)).
The jack was located at the top of the scaffold. The load was
transferred from the hydraulic jack to the I-beam, to the steel
plate, to the wood plate, to the wooded frame bar and to the
horizontal rods of scaffold. Fig. 8. Site of the Fastener Torsion Test
The loading were divided into preload step and formal load
step. Formal loading was divided into 17 levels (Fig. 6), with the
maximum loading being 135 kN. Each level of load was applied
for 15 min.
Only nondestructive testing was carried out. The displacement
met the standard technical code for the safety of a steel tubular
scaffold with couplers in construction (2011) when the maximum
load was 135 kN.

2.5 Fastener Torsion Test

Fasteners are important components in scaffold and are classified Fig. 9. Results of the Torsion Test for Four Fasteners

as semi-rigid connections (Chen et al., 2010). A torsion test was

Fig. 6. Load Applied by the Hydraulic Jack
conducted for four fasteners with an initial torsional moment of
40 N·m to obtain the M–θ curve of the fasteners.
Details of the fastener torsional test are shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
A vertical steel pipe was fixed to a universal testing machine
using hydraulic jacks to load one side of the horizontal steel pipe.
Horizontal and vertical steel tubes were provided with a dial
indicator. Each level load was 0.1 kN, L = 1000 mm and La = Lb
= 200 mm. The test data of four coupler test are shown in Figs. 9.
Average values of test data are given in Table 2.

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 Force Mechanism and Progressive Collapse of Steel Tube-coupler Scaffold Under Local Load

Table 2. Torsion Test Data for Fasteners Table 3. Change in Stress Acting on Vertical Bars
Tightening torque values of Fastener bolt 40N·m Stress rate of change for 10 vertical rod (135KN)
Moment Sa Sb θ Bottom stress Top stress
Test Stress change
(kN·m) (mm) (mm) (rad) (Mpa) (Mpa)
0.1 1.370 0.732 0.003 one −40 −92.2 130.5% (rising)
0.2 2.297 0.874 0.007 two −41.5 −92.8 123.6% (rising)
0.3 2.988 1.011 0.010 three −56.2 −94.3 67.8% (rising)
0.4 4.147 1.246 0.015 four −62.2 −91.4 46.9% (rising)
0.5 6.106 1.484 0.023
0.6 7.797 1.592 0.031
0.7 10.297 1.632 0.043
gradually increased the overall stress acting on vertical rod #10.
0.8 15.297 1.832 0.067
Table 3 shows the percentage change in stress from the bottom to
0.9 21.297 2.732 0.093
top of the rod was a maximum (130.5%) in the first test and a
minimum (46.9%) in the fourth test. The percentage changes in the
The tests reveal that the right-angle fastener does not completely second and third tests were intermediate of these two values, which
prevent rotation between the two steel tubes linked with the indicates that the braces and horizontal rods transfer stress in the
fastener, although it does restrain the rotation. The right-angle vertical rod that connects them, and reduce the stress acting on the
fastener is thus a semi-rigid node rather than a rigid node. corresponding vertical rod. Fig. 11 shows that the stress and load
had a linear relationship for vertical rod #10, and the force acting on
3. Test Results the rod #10 increased from the first to fourth test.
The vertical rod stress was not uniform but had a ladder
3.1 Scaffold Stress distribution from the bottom to top. The stress also increased
Figure 10 shows the curve of the stress gradient for vertical rod gradually in the optical fiber coverage, which indicates that the
#10 from the bottom to top for a hydraulic jack load of 135 kN. vertical rod bore an axial force and a bending moment. The
In a single trial, the overall vertical rod stress had a ladder removal of the brace and the bottom horizontal rod reduced the
distribution, increasing gradually from the bottom to top. The stress difference of vertical rod #10 but a ladder-shaped distribution
stress decreased gradually for each fiber. Comparison of the remained.
results of the four frame-loading tests reveals that the sequential Figures 12, 14 and 16 respectively show changes in the stress
removal of brace #2, bottom horizontal rods and brace #1 gradient for horizontal rods #1, #2 and #3 from left to right, for a
135-kN load. In a single test, the stress of the entire horizontal

Fig. 10. Stress Gradient of Vertical Rod #10 Fig. 12. Stress Gradient of Horizontal Bar #1

Fig. 11. Twenty-eight-point Load–stress Curve Fig. 13. Three-point Load–stress Curve

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 Dong Chen, Kewei Ding, and Xiping He

Table 4. Stress of the Horizontal Bar in the Four Experiments

Stress for horizontal rod (MPa)
Load
Test 27# Stress 14# Stress
(KN)
point change point change
one 135 −28.5 −28.7
7.3% 6.6%
two 135 −30.6 −30.6
(rising) (rising)
17.1% 20.2%
three 135 −33.4 −34.5
(rising) (rising)
31.9% 22.2%
four 135 −37.6 −35.1
(rising) (rising)
Fig. 14. Stress Gradient of Horizontal Bar #2

moment. A comparison of the results obtained in the four tests

Fig. 15. Fourteen-point Load–stress Curve
Fig. 16. Stress Gradient of Horizontal Bar #3
shows that the effect of stress on the horizontal rod was not great
when brace #2 (which was vertical to the vertical plane in which
horizontal rods #1, #2 and #3 were located) was removed. When
brace #1 (which was in the same vertical plane as horizontal rods
#1, #2 and #3) was removed, the stress acting on the horizontal
rod increased. The brace position affected the stress acting on the
horizontal rod, and it had the greatest effect on the horizontal rod
in the same plane.
Figures 13, 15 and 17 show a linear relationship between the
stress and load during the early loading stages and that the stress
fluctuated with increasing load.
Table 4 shows that the stress acting on the horizontal rod increased
gradually with the removal of the braces and the bottom horizontal
rods. The stress acting on the corresponding horizontal rod reached a
maximum when the brace and bottom horizontal rods were
removed.
The above results indicate that the stress acting on the horizontal
scaffold rod was not distributed uniformly; one side was pulled
and the other side was compressed, such that the stress values
were not equal. The connecting fastener under a shear force and
the horizontal rod bore an axial force and the corresponding
bending moment. The brace that was in the same vertical plane
as the horizontal rod had a stronger effect on the mechanical
properties of the horizontal rod. The horizontal rod stress
increased after removal of the brace.
Figure 18 shows the stress gradient of brace #1 from the bottom to
top when the hydraulic jack load was 135 kN. In a single test, the
stress acting on brace #1 had an obvious ladder distribution,

Fig. 17. Twenty-seven-point Load–stress Curve

rod was bound by vertical rod #10; one side was pulled and the
other was in compression. The stress values were not equal, and
the stress did not have a uniform distribution within the optical-
fiber coverage but was higher near vertical rod #10 (fastener)
than in regions away from the fastener. This indicates that the
horizontal rod bore not only an axial force but also a bending Fig. 18. Stress Gradient of Brace #1

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 Force Mechanism and Progressive Collapse of Steel Tube-coupler Scaffold Under Local Load

Fig. 19. Twenty-point Load–stress Curve Fig. 20. Scaffold Lateral Displacement

Table 5. Change in Brace Stress

ladder distributions. In each step, the stress distributions of the
Stress rate of change for 1# brace (135KN) vertical and horizontal rods were not uniform whereas the stress
Bottom stress Top stress Stress rate of distribution of the brace was uniform, which indicates that the
Test
(Mpa) (Mpa) change
vertical and horizontal rods bore not only an axial force but also
one 18.4 27.4 48.9% (rising)
two 19.4 31.1 60.3% (rising)
a bending moment and that the brace was subjected only to an
three 22.9 32.8 43.2% (rising)
axial force.
In the standard technical code for safety of steel tubular
scaffold with couplers in construction (2011), horizontal rods
increasing gradually from the bottom to top, but the stress tended and braces are considered as auxiliary support members.
to cover the optical fiber uniformly. A comparison (Table 5) of However, the tests conducted in the present study show that the
the three tests shows that the overall stress of brace #1 increased horizontal rods and braces were associated with all scaffold
gradually with the sequential removal of brace #2 and the bottom internal forces. Fig. 10 shows that the vertical rod stress
horizontal rods. decreased in segments from the top to bottom, mainly owing to
Figure 19 shows that the stress acting on the brace increased internal forces of the scaffold being transferred to other vertical
linearly with the hydraulic jack load and gradually from the first rods by the horizontal rods and diagonal braces. The removal
to the third test. of the braces and bottom horizontal rods reduced the number of
When brace #2 and the bottom horizontal rods were removed, horizontal rods and braces that could transfer and redistribute
the stress of brace #1 increased; however, Table 5 shows that the stress, and the gradient difference of the stress acting on the
removal of brace #2 had the strongest effect on the size of the vertical rod was thus reduced. The ability of each vertical rod
stress change for brace #1. in the scaffold to redistribute internal forces was reduced. The
The above results reveal that the stress acting on the braces was internal forces throughout the frame were concentrated in the
not distributed uniformly but had a ladder-shaped distribution, and vertical rods in the coverage of the local load, and the overall
the connecting fastener bore a corresponding shear force. In each frame stability was reduced.
fiber segment range, the brace stress tended to be uniform, which The gradual removal of a rod resulted in a gradual increase in
indicates that the brace mainly bore an axial force. The stress of lateral displacement, which shows that the lateral frame stiffness
brace #1 increased with the removal of brace #2 and the bottom reduced gradually. The braces and horizontal rods were involved
horizontal rods, but continued to present a characteristic ladder- in the transmission and redistribution of internal forces of the
like distribution. entire frame and affected the lateral stiffness of the frame.

3.2 Scaffold Displacement 4. Stability Analysis of the Test Frame

The scaffold displacement in Fig. 20 is the resultant combined
displacement measured by displacement meters #1 and #2.
Figure 20 shows the lateral displacement of the frame. During
loading, the frame did not undergo completely linear deformation
but had nonlinear characteristics. With the continuous removal of
the braces and bottom horizontal rods, the lateral frame stiffness
reduced.
3.3 Analyses of Test Results
Under a local load, the stresses acting on the vertical rods,
horizontal rods and braces of the steel tube-coupler scaffold had
4.1 Numerical Model
The static stability of the steel tube-coupler scaffold was
previously simulated by assuming that the horizontal and vertical
rods are hinged or rigid and the horizontal rods were simulated
using a two-force rod element or beam element with a rigid
connection. The experimental results obtained in the present
study show instead that the vertical and horizontal rods are
subjected to an axial force and bending moment and that the
fasteners are semi-rigid connection. A numerical model is
therefore built using ANSYS software as follows (Fig. 21).

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 Dong Chen, Kewei Ding, and Xiping He
Fig. 21. Finite Element Model
Using beam188 elements to simulate vertical and horizontal
rods, each rod is divided into three units. Link8 elements are
used to simulate the brace, and each rod is divided into one unit.
The material model and section size are given in Section 2.3
(with the actual frame size as the standard). Combin39 elements
are used to simulate the fastener, and the M–θ curve data are
given in Table 2. The lower end of the vertical rod is hinged as a
boundary condition. A perfectly elastoplastic mode and geometric
nonlinearity are considered in the analysis. We also conduct
secondary development of ANSYS.
4.2 Results of Analysis
A numerical simulation is carried out for the entire frame
Fig. 22. Twenty-eight-point Stress Contrast
Fig. 23. Displacement Contrast on the Top of Vertical Rod #10
− 2350 −
Fig. 24. One Stress Node
(corresponding to the first experimental test). Fig. 22 compares
load–stress curves obtained in the first experimental test and the
simulation for 28 test points on vertical rod #10. Fig. 23 compares
the load–displacement curves obtained in the experiment and
simulation for the top of vertical rod #10. The simulation and
experimental curves are consistent, demonstrating that the numerical
analysis method is reasonable.
Figure 24 shows the stress distribution map of node 1 (see Fig. 21)
when the hydraulic jack load is 135 kN. The vertical rod in the
drawing is on the side of the frame and not in the coverage of the
load of the hydraulic jack, but the vertical rod remains involved
through the transmission of internal forces in horizontal rods
throughout the framework.
4.3 Discussion Over Results
In summary, the numerical simulation and experimental tests
show that all rods in the scaffolding work together, and internal
forces are redistributed in vertical rods through horizontal rods
and braces. Even under a partial load, all vertical rods are
associated with forces in the frame.
5. Progressive-collapse Analysis of Test Frames
For safety reasons, we did not carry out continuous-collapse
tests. Instead, the ANSYS LS-DYNA module is combined with
static-test results to simulate the progressive collapse of the four
test frames.
5.1 Numerical Model
We use a numerical model based on that in Section 4.1, but
with beam188 elements replacing beam161 elements, link8
elements replacing link160 elements and combin39 elements
replacing combi165 elements. The material and loading parameters
are the same, and the LS-DYNA calculation module is used.
The above test results show that the top end of the vertical rod
bears a greater force under a local load. The rod on top of the
scaffold will thus experience the first unstable failure. The
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering
 Force Mechanism and Progressive Collapse of Steel Tube-coupler Scaffold Under Local Load

with the results given in this section.

Fig. 25. Model for Collapse Analysis
present paper therefore employs the method of removing columns
(Xie et al., 2010) (see Fig. 25) to simulate the continuous collapse
of the frame.
5.2 Results of Progressive Collapse
The continuous collapse of the four test frames is simulated,
According to the simulation process (Fig. 26), when the top
rod of the scaffold fails unsteadily, the top part of the scaffold
begins to move concavely downwards, which destroys the
surrounding rods and results in local collapse. During this process,
the frame shakes constantly and the spread of the local collapse
to the overall collapse is blocked effectively by the existence of
braces that maintain the integrity of the frame.
After the removal of brace #2, according to the simulation
process (Fig. 27), when the top layer of vertical rods
experiences unstable failure, the top part of the scaffold starts
to move concavely partially and the surrounding vertical rods
are then damaged. At the same time, the frame shakes
because of the removal of a brace, the local surroundings are
damaged and eventually half of the vertical rods on the top
collapse. Further spread is blocked effectively by the
existence of brace #1.
After the removal of brace #2 and the bottom horizontal rods,
as shown in Fig. 28, the initial failure mode of the frame is the
same as that in the second test, which occurs on the top floor.
Before 0.5 s, partial collapse only occurs at the top level because
of the lack of bottom horizontal rods, which weakens the
constraint at the bottom of the frame. At 0.5 s, therefore, the top
collapses and the collapse spreads downward throughout the
frame.

Fig. 26. Collapse Simulation of the First Test

Fig. 27. Collapse Simulation of the Second Test

Fig. 28. Collapse Simulation of the Third Test

Fig. 29. Collapse Simulation of the Fourth Test

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 Dong Chen, Kewei Ding, and Xiping He
After demolition of braces #1 and #2 and the bottom horizontal
rods, as shown in Fig. 29, because of the lack of bottom
horizontal rods and braces, which weakens the bottom restraint
of the frame, the collapse starts from the top of the local frame
and spreads rapidly to the top of the entire frame. At this time,
the frame shakes and local collapse spreads to the bottom of the
frame in a short time, which causes a rapid collapse of the entire
frame.
5.3 Analyses of Results
The above simulation results of continuous collapse reveal that
the frame collapse starts locally and spreads throughout the frame.
During this process, the frame shakes visibly. Braces block the
spread of collapse in the same layer when partial collapse occurs
at the top of the frame. The bottom horizontal rods block the
spread of layer-by-layer collapse and thus prevent the entire
body from collapsing.
Therefore, for steel tube-coupler scaffold, except when required
according to norms of conventional erection, additional braces
should be placed where local loads are expected, and a strengthening
of the setting of the bottom horizontal rods can prevent continuous
frame collapse.
6. Conclusions
We systematically studied the mechanical mechanism and
progressive collapse mode of fastener-style scaffolding under
local loading experimentally and by numerical simulation. We
draw the following conclusions from the results of the study.
1. Stress distribution in rods: Stresses acting on vertical rods,
horizontal rods and braces have ladder-like distributions.
vertical and horizontal rods bear an axial force and bending
moment, while the brace only bears an axial force.
2. Internal force transmission: Horizontal rods and braces not
only provide auxiliary support for the vertical rods but are
also associated with forces throughout the scaffold. Internal
forces of the frame are redistributed repeatedly among verti-
cal rods. Even for a local load, all vertical rods are associated
with forces throughout the frame. The brace and horizontal
rod affect the lateral stiffness of the frame, which in turn
affects the lateral stability of the frame.
3. Numerical simulation: Vertical and horizontal rods of the
steel tube-coupler scaffold should be simulated using beam
elements. A brace should be simulated using link elements.
Fasteners should be simulated using spring elements. The
effects of material nonlinearity and geometric nonlinearity
should be considered in analysis.
4. Progressive collapse: Frame collapse spreads gradually from
the local to the whole. Braces prevent the further spread of
collapse in the same layer, while bottom horizontal rods pre-
vent the spread of layer-by-layer collapse. Enhancing the
bottom horizontal rods in the frame and braces around the
local load can therefore prevent continuous collapse.
− 2352 −
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Anhui Universities Natural
Science Research Project (grant number KJ2015A046) and
Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 11472005).
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