A uniform approach for the design of 100% CHS overlap joints

Abstract

In the framework of updating the IIW recommendations for the design of hollow section joints several design strength formulae are being reanalysed. At the ISOPE 2005 and ICASS 2005 new design strength formulae for overlap joints between rectangular hollow section (RHS) joints were presented. The design is based on a brace effective width check, a chord member yield interaction check and for large overlaps an additional brace shear check. In a companion paper the second author has reanalysed the experimental data for circular hollow section joints with 25% ≤ Ov < 100% overlap. In that reanalysis, it is shown that for overlap joints between circular hollow sections in principle a similar approach can be used as for overlap joints of rectangular hollow sections. This means that the design recommendations for overlap joints between circular or rectangular hollow sections or combinations of hollow section braces with open section chords can be based on the same philosophy. In this paper based on the same philosophy the proposed criteria for partially overlapped circular hollow section (CHS) joints are checked with the available numerical data and further, additional recommendations are given for 100% CHS overlap joints.