Abstract
A test rig with multi-functional purposes was specifically designed and manufactured to study the behavior of multi-planar welded tubular joints subjected to multi-planar concurrent axial loading. An experimental investigation was conducted on full-scale welded tubular joints with each consisting of one chord and eight braces under monotonic loading conditions. Two pairs or four representative specimens (two specimens for each joint type) were tested, in which each pair was reinforced with two kinds of different internal stiffeners at the intersections between the chords using welded rectangular hollow steel sections (RHSSs) and the braces using rolled circular hollow steel sections (CHSSs) and welded RHSSs. The effects of different internal stiffeners at the chord–brace intersection on the load capacity of joints under concurrent multi-planar axial compression/tension are discussed. The test results of joint strengths, failure modes, and load–stress curves are presented. Finite element analyses were performed to verify the experimental results. The study results show that the two different joint types with the internal stiffeners at the chord–brace intersection under axial compression/tension significantly increase the corresponding ultimate strength to far exceed the usual design strength. The load carrying capacity of welded tubular joints decreases with a higher degree of the manufacturing imperfection in individual braces at the tubular joints. Furthermore, the interaction effect of the concurrent axial loading applied at the welded tubular joint on member stress is apparent.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ABAQUS/Standard user’s manual-version 6.10, 2010.
Andrade, S. A. L. D., Vellasco, P. C. G. D., Silva, J. G. S. D., Lima, L. R. O. D., & Este, A. V. D. (2005). Tubular space trusses with simple and reinforced end-flattened nodes-an overview and experiments. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 61(8), 1025–1050.
Chan, T. K., Fung, T. C., Tan, C. Y., & Soh, C. K. (2001). Behaviour of reinforced tubular T-joints. Structures and Buildings, 146(3), 263–274.
Chen, Y. Y., Chen, Y. J., Zhan, C., Lin, Y. R., & Dong, M. (2003). Experimental research on multi-planar joints of steel tubular members. China Civil Engineering Journal, 36(8), 24–29.
Chen, Y., Feng, R., & Wang, J. (2015). Behaviour of bird-beak square hollow section X-joints under out-of-plane bending. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 106, 234–245.
Choo, Y. S., Liang, J. X., Van der Vegte, G. J., & Liew, J. Y. R. (2004). Static strength of double plate reinforced CHS X-joints loaded by in-plane bending. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 60, 1725–1744.
Choo, Y. S., Qian, X. D., Lies, J. Y. R., & Wardenier, J. (2003a). Static strength of thick-walled CHS X-joints—part I. New approach in strength definition. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 59, 1201–1228.
Choo, Y. S., Qian, X. D., Lies, J. Y. R., & Wardenier, J. (2003b). Static strength of thick-walled CHS X-joints—part II. Effect of chord stresses. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 59, 1229–1250.
Christitsas, A. D., Pachoumis, D. T., Kalfas, C. N., & Galoussis, E. G. (2007). FEM analysis of conventional and square bird-beak SHS joint subject to in-plane bending moment-experimental study. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 63, 1361–1372.
Davies, G., & Crockett, P. (1996). The strength of welded T-DT joints in rectangular and circular hollow section under variable axial loads. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 37(1), 1–31.
Ding, B. D., Lu, H. L., Zhou, S. C., & Ding, L. (2008). Experiments on bending resistance properties of tubular T-joint. Sichuan Building Science, 34(05), 13–16.
Feng, R., Chen, Y., Wei, L., & Ruan, X. F. (2015). Behaviour of CHS brace-to-H-shaped chord X-joints under in-plane bending. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 114, 8–19.
Hoon, K. H., Wong, L. K., & Soh, A. K. (2001). Experimental investigation of a double-plate reinforced tubular T-joint subjected to combined loadings. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 57(9), 1015–1039.
Lesani, M., Bahaari, M. R., & Shokrieh, M. M. (2013). Detail investigation on un-stiffened T/Y tubular joints behavior under axial compressive loads. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 80, 91–99.
Liu, S., Wang, H., Liu, J. H., & Jiang, G. Y. (2010). Experiment study on multi-tube intersection joint of Wuhan Railway Station. Construction Technology, 39(7), 7–9.
Ministry of Construction of the P.R. China. (2003). GB 50017-2003 Code for design of steel structures. Beijing, China.
Nassiraei, H., Lotfollahi-Yaghin, M. A., & Ahmadi, H. (2016a). Static strength of collar plate reinforced tubular T/Y-joints under brace compressive loading. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 119, 39–49.
Nassiraei, H., Lotfollahi-Yaghin, M. A., & Ahmadi, H. (2016b). Structural behavior of tubular T/Y-joints with collar plate under static in-plane bending. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 123, 121–134.
Paul, J. C., Makino, Y., & Kurobane, Y. (1993). Ultimate resistance of tubular double T-joints under axial brace loading. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 24, 205–228.
Peña, A., & Chacón, R. (2014). Structural analysis of diamond bird-beak joints subjected to compressive and tensile forces. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 98, 158–166.
Scola, S., Redwood, R. G., & Mitri, H. S. (1990). Behaviour of axially loaded tubular V-joints. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 16, 89–109.
Shu, X. P., Zhu, Z. R., & Wang, Y. Q. (2006). Full-scale experimental research on tubular N-joints of square chords with circular braces. Journal of Building Structures, 27(1), 66–70.
Shu, X. P., Zhu, S. N., Xia, X. H., & Yang, X. (2004). Full-scale experiment research on CHS joints of steel roof of He Long Stadium in Changsha. Journal of Building Structures, 25(3), 8–13.
Standardization administration of the P.R. China. (2008). GB/T 985.2-2008 Recommended joint preparation for submerged arc welding. Beijing, China.
Tong, L. W., Xu, G. W., Liu, Y. Q., Yan, D. Q., & Zhao, X. L. (2015). Finite element analysis and formulae for stress concentration factors of diamond bird-beak SHS T-joints. Thin-Walled Structures, 86, 108–120.
Van der Vegte, G. J., & Wardenier, J. (1998). The static strength of multi-planar tubular TX-joints under axial loading excluding the effects of overall chord bending moments. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 47, 141–168.
Wang, W., Gu, Q., Ma, X. X., & Wang, J. J. (2015). Axial tensile behavior and strength of welds for CHS branches to SHS chord joints. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 115, 303–315.
Wang, S., Zhang, G. J., Ge, J. Q., Chen, X., & Chen, Z. M. (2010). Full-scale model experiment and research of large diameter steel tubular spatial penetrated joint with chord bearing tension. Building Structure, 40(12), 19–24.
Yeoh, S. K., Soh, A. K., & Soh, C. K. (1995). Behaviour of tubular T-joints subjected to combined loadings. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 32, 259–280.
Zhao, X. L. (2000). Deformation limit and ultimate strength of welded T-joints in cold-formed RHS sections. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 53, 149–165.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the financial support provided by the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) through Grant No. 51578357, the Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi province of China through Grant No. 2015011062, and Talent Training Program in the postgraduate joint training base of Shanxi province of China through Grant No. 2016JD11.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jiao, J., Ma, X., Lei, H. et al. Experimental and Numerical Study on Complex Multi-planar Welded Tubular Joints in Umbrella-Type Space Trusses with Long Overhangs. Int J Steel Struct 18, 1525–1540 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-018-0064-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-018-0064-4