PSI - Issue 47

Calin-Ioan Birdean et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 47 (2023) 87–93 Author name / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

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5. Conclusions Aesthetic considerations are imposing structural components to be designed in uncommon aspect. Usually, continuity connections for hollow sections use end plate connected by bolts in the outer perimeter of the profiles. An in-line connection for hollow sections is studied in this paper. Starting from experimental results, a finite element model was validated. The 3D model is rather simple but it captures the failure mode and the response of the specimen. A parametric study was performed to highlight the influence of the man hole that provides access to the bolted connection, the preload and the thickness of the end plate. The study shows a small decrease in the rigidity of the assembly due to the cut in the RHS profile. A small influence is also shown by the preload level, due to the distance between the connection end plates. This distance is set such that the RHS profiles to be in contact for a continuous aspect of the joint. A great influence in both rigidity and capacity is assigned to the thickness of the end plate. The end plate thickness, due to its deformation, leads to major bending imposed to the bolts thus, a smaller capacity of the connection. If a criterion for the joint separation is established, these connection are not economically as the plasticization in the joint occurs at less than half of the maximum capacity. Aknowledgement This paper was financially supported by the Project “Network of excellence in applied research and innovation for doctoral and postdoctoral programs / InoHubDoc”, project co -funded by the European Social Fund financing agreement no. POCU/993/6/13/153437. T he research was financed by “Internal program for stimulating and rewarding the teaching activity” 2021, Universitatea Politehnica Timisoara, contract no. 10165/11.06.2021. References ARCAT. Building Product: Cast Steel Fittings - DiabloTM Bolted Splices. https://www.arcat.com//product/Cast-Steel-Fittings-188197 (accessed Nov. 05, 2022). Both, I., Nunes, D. L., Ivan, A., and Vucicevic, D., 2019. The Response of In-Line Connection of RHS Sections Subjected to Bending and Shear. Pianoro: Editografica S R L,pp. 117 – 122. Garifullin, M., Pajunen, S., Mela, K., Heinisuo, M., and Havula, J., 2017. Initial in-plane rotational stiffness of welded RHS T joints with axial force in main member. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 139, pp. 353 – 362. doi: 10.1016/j.jcsr.2017.09.033. Gee, A. F. , “Device for Connecting Two Metal Pipes,” 7,513,538 B1 Havula, J., Garifullin, M., Heinisuo, M., Mela, K., and Pajunen, S., 2018. Moment-rotation behavior of welded tubular high strength steel T joint. Engineering Structures, vol. 172, pp. 523 – 537. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.06.029. Liu, X. C., He, X. N., Wang, H. X., and Zhang, A. L., 2018. Compression-bend-shearing performance of column-to-column bolted-flange connections in prefabricated multi-high-rise steel structures. Engineering Structures, vol. 160, pp. 439 – 460. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.01.026. Liu, X. C., He, X. N., Wang, H. X., Yang, Z. W., Pu, S. H., and Ailin, Z., 2018. Bending-shear performance of column-to-column bolted-flange connections in prefabricated multi-high-rise steel structures. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 145, pp. 28 – 48. doi: 10.1016/j.jcsr.2018.02.017. Urbonas, K. and Daniūnas , A., 2006. Behaviour of semi-rigid steel beam-to-beam joints under bending and axial forces. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 62, no. 12, pp. 1244 – 1249, doi: 10.1016/j.jcsr.2006.04.024. Urbonas, K. and Daniūnas , A., 2003. Numerical tests of steel beam-to-column semi-rigid connections. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 292 – 296. doi: 10.1080/13923730.2003.10531342. Stephan, S. and Stutzki, C., 2002. A General Method for the Design of Bolted Connections for Space Frames. Fifth International Conference on Space Structures, Guildford, UK, , vol. V. Szlendak, J., 1991.Beam- column welded RHS connections,” Thi n-Walled Structures, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 63 – 80, Jan. 1991, doi: 10.1016/0263 8231(91)90027-G.