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Semi-rigid connections between steel I-beams and elliptical hollow section columns

Researcher: Majd Khador
Project duration: 2010-2013
Supervisor: Dr Tak-Ming Chan
Funding body: Syrian Ministry of Higher Education

Background

Hot-finished Elliptical Hollow Sections (EHS) have been recently considered for use in tubular construction after it was limited to Square, Rectangular and Circular hollow sections. (EHS) has got this recognition in steel work as it provides different flexural rigidities about the two principal axes, offers high torsional stiffness and gives architects a new option to consider in their designs. Thus, many recent researches have been focusing on developing design guides for elliptical hollow sections and their connections.

Methodology

The research is going to include both numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. The numerical simulations will be run using a suitable software package like "Abaqus", and their results should be compared with the ones from the experimental work done in the lab. This comparison helps to validate the computational outputs, so that they become reliable especially for models which cannot be tested in the lab.

Aims

The objective of this project is to develop the rules required to design an efficient semi-rigid joint that connects a steel I-beam to an elliptical hollow section column and performs partial strength actions under static, dynamic and impact loads.

References

Aly, T. and Thayalan, P. and Elchalakani, M. and Patnaikuni, I. (2009) Theoretical Study on Concrete-Filled Steel Tubes under Static and Variable Repeated Loadings. Science Direct.

EN 1993-1-8 (2005) Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures - Part 1-8- Design of joints. CEN. Nethercot, D. A. (2007) Semi-Rigid and Partial Strength Joint Action: Then, Now, When? The Third International Conference on Steel and Composite Structures, Manchester, United Kingdom, 30 Jul - 1 Aug, pp. 3-9, Taylor & Francis.

Orton, A. H. (2008) Behaviour of Semi-Rigid Steelwork Connections of I-section Beams to Tubular Columns. The Twelfth International Symposium on Tubular Structures - ISTS 12, Shanghai, China, 8-10 Oct, pp. 201-208, Taylor & Francis.

Packer, J. A. (2006) Tubular Brace Member Connections in Braced Steel Frames. Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium on tubular Structures, Québec City, Canada, 31 Aug - 2 Sep, 3-11, Taylor & Francis.

Warenier, J., Kurobane, Y., Packer, J. A., Dutta, D. and Yeomans, N. (1991) For Circular Hollow Sections (CHS) Joints under Predominantly Static Loading. CIDECT Guide, CIDECT.