Evaluation of numerical investigations on static behaviour of slender RHS K-gap joints

Abstract

To extend the range of the chord slenderness in EN 1993-1-8 from 2γ < 35 up to 2γ < 50 and shift the allowable gap size in K-joints down to the smallest value necessary for welding, modifications of existing design models for EN 1993-1-8 have been proposed for failure modes visually observed in experimental investigations (Fleischer & Puthli 2008). For chord face failure, which has been based on the deformation criterion of Lu et al. (1993), the correlation between the experimentally and analytically determined joint resistances is not satisfactory. Numerical investigations have therefore been carried out since then. Modifications of the basic yield line mechanism (Packer 1978 and Wardenier 1976, 1982) are proposed on the basis of evaluation of the numerical work. Additionally, other possible, but not visually observed failure modes in K-joints are described. The results presented in this paper in combination with the modified design models already published (Fleischer & Puthli 2008) can now be used as a basis for the design of K-joints made of slender chord sections and small gaps between the braces. © 2010 The University of Hong Kong.