Effect of Support Conditions and Geometrical Imperfections on the Strength of CHS Uniplanar X-Joints

摘要

The main objective of the current study is to investigate the influence of various aspects, such as geometrical imperfections of a joint and the support conditions at the chord ends, on the static strength of uniplanar X-joints, since some experiments recently carried out (Noordhoek et al., 1996) showed unexpected low results. The results indicate that the joint strength of an uniplanar X-joint subjected to bracing compression could be strongly effected by geometrical imperfections, if the chord ends are not sufficiently restrained to prevent a rotation and a sideways deflection from the chord.