Recent developments in welded hollow section joint recommendations

Abstract

This paper considers recent research results on hollow section joints and the effect on the current design rules and is an extended version of the ICASS keynote lecture [1]. Main attention is paid to Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) overlap joints, Circular Hollow Section (CHS) joints with thick-walled chords and the influence of the chord stress on the joint strength. Further' the effect of reinforcement plates on the strength of thinwalled joints is discussed. Also, some special aspects on elliptical hollow sections, stainless steel, high strength steel and delivery requirements for cold-formed hollow sections are considered. Finally, some developments regarding the fatigue design of hollow section joints are presented.