## 4 Results and Discussion
### Experimental Results and Comparison
#### 4.1.2 Comparison Between FEM and Experimental Data for the 180 mm Frame  
Figures 24-26 present the relationship between simulated (FEMC) and experimental (EXPC) displacements as a function of the applied force for the 180 mm frame. Similar to the larger frame, the FEMC curves (dashed lines) and EXPC curves (solid lines) exhibit a high correlation, exceeding 97% for all tested configurations. The strong agreement between numerical and experimental results reinforces the reliability of the computational model in predicting mechanical behavior. This high correlation was quantitatively confirmed through statistical analysis. The coefficient of determination (R\({}^{2}\)) values ranged from 0.9986 to 0.9996, and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values varied between 0.1561 mm and 0.3322 mm across the different test configurations. These results validate the strong alignment observed between finite element simulations and experimental measurements under service-level loading conditions. Figure 23: Von Mises stress fields for the 260 mm frame under a constant load of 29,392 N, shown for configurations with (**a**) 4, (**b**) 3, and (**c**) 2 clamps. As observed in the 260 mm frame, minor deviations occur at higher force levels, particularly beyond 80% of the total load capacity. These variations remain within an expected range and are more noticeable in configurations with fewer clamps, such as the two-clamp setup. The increase in displacement in these cases suggests a reduction in overall system stiffness, which is expected as the number of clamping points decreases. Despite these small deviations, the overall behavior of the 180 mm frame closely follows the trend observed in the larger frame. This consistency further validates the FEM model's accuracy across different frame sizes and configurations, demonstrating its robustness in capturing the structural response under varying loading conditions. Figure 24: Force (N) vs. displacement (mm) for frame 180 mm with four-clamp configuration. Figure 25: Force (N) vs. displacement (mm) for frame 180 mm with three-clamp configuration. Influence of Clamps and Load Capacity  
The analysis of the load-bearing capacity of the second set, with a 180 mm frame, also indicated a nonlinear relationship between the number of clamps and structural performance. The maximum applied loads recorded were 32.06 kN for four clamps (Figure 24), 29.39 kN for three clamps (Figure 25), and 24.00 kN for two clamps (Figure 26). Reducing the number of clamps from four to three resulted in an 8.33% decrease in load capacity, while the transition from three to two led to an 18.35% reduction. Overall, the removal of half of the clamps resulted in a cumulative 25.15% decrease in system load capacity. These findings exhibit a similar trend to the previously tested configuration with a 260 mm frame, suggesting that initial reductions in the number of clamps cause moderate proportional decreases, whereas further reductions lead to more pronounced losses in load-bearing capacity. The decrease in the number of clamps directly affects load capacity and induces an internal stress redistribution due to the modified fastening system, influencing overall structural behavior. Therefore, an exact delineation of both the quantity and strategic placement of clamps is essential for achieving optimal structural efficiency under loading scenarios. Stress Distributions and the Influence of the Number of Clamps  
The Von Mises stress distribution for the different configurations using the 180 mm frame shows that the regions of the highest concentration occur near the connections (clamps) on the beam and along the web of the column, corresponding to the compressed zones of the structure. The configuration with four clamps (Figure 27) presents higher stress concentrations at specific points on the beam, particularly in the compressed regions (Figure 7b), located in the web and flange of the beam, as well as in the column, also in the web and flange. Red-colored regions visually represent these critical areas.