Abstract

A new boundary condition is proposed in this paper to simulate the axially compressive loading case of the circular hollow section (CHS) T-joint. The chord ends are retrained in radial directions but free in axial direction. The chord bottom line is restrained in the brace axial direction. The brace end is restrained in radial direction. The finite element model of the T-joint is established by ANSYS. To verify the numerical method, the axial compressive strengths of 13 T-joints are calculated and compared with the experiments. A good agreement between the numerical and experimental results is achieved. Then a comprehensive numerical parametric analysis is carried out to evaluate the effect of this boundary condition on the axial compressive strength of T-joints. Four β (the brace/chord diameter ratio, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) values and four 2γ values (the chord diameter to thickness ratio, 18.75, 25, 37.5, 50), i.e., 16 T-joints are investigated. Five α (ratio of chord length to radius, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36) values are considered. The finite element results show that the axial strength of each T-joint changes with a very slightly. Therefore this boundary condition is effective to exclude the effect of the chord length on the axial compressive strength of T-joints.

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