Experimental and numerical appraisal of steel joints integrated with single- and double-angles for transmission line towers

摘要

The transfer joint is the key structurally functioning part of the transmission tower. The reliability of the transfer joint directly affects the stress and deformation characteristics of the whole tower structure. This paper studies experimentally and numerically the performance of a novel steel transfer joints formed with the integration of single-and double-angles respectively at the upper and lower parts of the connection. Two specimens with different sizes of gusset plates have been designed and tested with tensile loading. Moreover, finite element models have been constructed and validated with experimental findings for a detailed behavior analysis of yielding. The mechanical behavior in terms of stress distribution contours, deformation, yield locations, and failure mode of the gusseted steel joint has been evaluated. Combining observations made from simulation and test results, existing theoretical models for the design of the gusseted plate are discussed and improved. For engineering design convenience, the existing theoretical model is then updated to be experimentally-complying.