Irregular Welded Rectangular Hollow Section Truss-type Connections

This thesis presents research on four welded rectangular hollow section truss-type connections. Each type of connection was mainly investigated using numerical methods, with finite element models validated against experimental tests that were performed by either the author or other researchers. Design recommendations are proposed based on the numerical results. In addition, a numerically based failure mode is verified using the results from each study. For longitudinally offset X-connections, 264 numerical models were analysed with the end distance varied, along with other geometric parameters. By comparing the strength of longitudinally offset models and corresponding control models, a required minimum chord end distance is proposed, along with a strength reduction factor in case the minimum end distance is not satisfied. For laterally offset X-connections, a set of 504 numerical analyses was used to evaluate the validity of two analytical models. By performing a series of reliability analyses, one of the analytical models – a combined yield-line mechanism – is recommended to be used for the design of laterally offset RHS X-connections. For overlapped K-connections, the effect of hidden toe welds was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Five full-scale welded specimens with high overlap ratios were designed and fabricated for experimental testing in the laboratory, and for validation of numerical models. 628 numerical analyses were considered for a series of parametric studies and design recommendations on the inclusion of hidden toe welds are proposed for various contemporary codes and guides. Meanwhile, revised design equations for overlapped K-connections are also proposed. For zero-gap K-connections, a new chord face shear analytical model is proposed, based on a yield-line mechanism. Two full-scale connections were tested in the laboratory and were also used to validate corresponding numerical models. Then, 171 numerical models were analysed and were used to verify the proposed analytical model for different gap sizes.

Department dc:contributor.department

Civil Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Bu, Xiao-Ding

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Packer, Jeffrey

• Connections
• Design recommendations
• Experiments
• Finite element models
• Hollow structural sections
• Structural Engineering

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1807/125384

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/125384