Experimental and numerical assessment of CHS-RHS T-joints with chords subjected to axial tensile forces

Abstract

Hollow steel sections are widely used in the construction industry due to their mechanical properties. Joints used in these structures are the subject of research because of their singular and critical behavior. Joints containing chords with more slender cross-sections and axially loaded are still a challenge for design, especially in joints with circular hollow sections (CHS) in the braces and rectangular hollow sections (RHS) in the chords. In this context, this work aimed to study joints formed by a combination of CHS braces subjected to compression loads and RHS chords axially loaded with tension, welded as T-joints. Experimental tests, a numerical model using finite elements, and a parametric analysis were developed. A new equation for the chord stress function was proposed, including joints containing chords with semi-compact sections in tension. The joint resistance values obtained through the numerical models were compared with the equations from ISO 14346:2013 and with the proposed equation. It was observed that, for the numerical models with geometric properties inside the normative validity ranges of ISO 14346:2013, the mean rate of analytical by numerical joint resistance results was equal to 68%, using either the normative or the proposed equation. In the same way, for models outside the current validity ranges, either the proposed equation or the modified equation from ISO 14346:2013 could be used to design CHS-RHS T-joints with the geometric and material properties analyzed.