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Procedia Engineering 40 (2012) 44 49

Steel Structures and Bridges 2012

Joint composed of various section

V.Kvoka, P. Bekea* and R. Vargova
a

Institute of Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering Faculty of Technical University in Koice

Vysokokolsk 4, Koice 04200, Slovakia

Abstract
The article presented focuses on the comparison of the measurement results obtained in laboratory experiments on
joints composed of rectangular hollow sections, circular hollow sections and rolled open cross sections. Special attention is
paid to T-joints that consist of the chord member of a single rectangular section and brace members of different kinds of
cross section. The evaluation procedure monitors the resistances and deformations of such joints.
2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and review under responsibility of University of ilina, FCE, Slovakia.
Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.

Keywords: T-joints; experimental models; circular or rectangular hollow sections; vertical deformation and horizontal deformation;

1. Introduction
The gradual increase in the production range of hollow sections has resulted in their more common
application in various areas and types of construction. This type of section has a number of applications in the
construction industry, especially in structures where aesthetic appeal is important [1]. From the point of view of
a structural designer, the application of hollow section joints presents relatively effective utilisation of the
material. The distribution of the material and its mass in hollow section joints carries several advantages for
various kinds of load. Their application is one of the best design solutions with regard both to buckling in
members under compression and to lateral-torsional buckling in members loaded in bending. As far as strain is
concerned, joints present the most exposed areas in structures composed of such types of section. Joints
composed of rectangular hollow sections have recently received close attention [2],[3],[4]. Our experimental
research programme concerns with the hollow-section joints combined with other kinds of section.
The article presents the results of the experimental programme that has been carried out at the Faculty of
Civil Engineering of the Technical University in Koice. Attention is paid to the joints composed of rectangular

* Tel.: +421-55-602 4243; fax: +421-55-633 7435

E-mail address: palo.beke@gmail.com

1877-7058 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2012.07.053

V. Kvok et al. / Procedia Engineering 40 (2012) 44 49

and circular hollow sections, and the HEA open sections. These are all T-joints where the continuous chord
member is made of a rectangular hollow section in each type of specimen. The brace members vary in section
in terms of type and dimensions; as such, the authors of the article are planning to extend their research and
supplement the results gradually by using some other combinations and types of sections in the future [5], [6],
[7]. In future authors would like to deal with fire resistance of observed joint. Nowadays a collaboration is
prepared with Institute of Architectural Engineering focused on this problematic [8].
2. Preparation of the experiment and performed laboratory measurements
A lot of factors that influence the stiffness of the joint need to be taken into account in the design. These
include its geometry, the material used, stress application, welding etc. As regards the geometry of the joint,
three different types of joint were compared. In the first type of joint, both the chord and brace members were
composed of rectangular hollow sections. In the second type of joint, the chord member was composed of a
rectangular hollow section as in the first case; however, the brace member was made of a circular hollow
section. In the third type, the brace member was composed of an open HEA-type rolled section while the chord
member remained the same as in the other two types.
Another variable that can characterize the joint is a -parameter. It is the ratio of the mean diameter or width
of the brace members to that of the chord. Our aim was to cover as wide a range of -parameters as possible.
To this end, the constant section of RHS 140x140x4mm was selected as the chord. Rectangular hollow sections
of RHS 60x60x3, RHS 100x100x3 and RHS 140x140x4mm were used as the brace members in the first type of
section, circular tubes of CHS 60x3mm, CHS 100x3mm and CHS 140x3mm in the second type of joint, and, in
the third open type of joint, HEA 100, HEA 120 and HEA 140 mm were used. The -parameter for all types of
sections ranged from 0.42 to 1.00. The above parameters made it possible to create a total of nine experimental
types of joint (three joints consisting of circular sections, three joints consisting of square sections, and finally,
three joints with open brace members). For each test type/set of joints there were subsets of three identical test
specimens. Geometry of test specimens is shown in the figure 1.

RHS 140x4

RHS 140x4

RHS 140x4

A-A
RHS 60x3

RHS 100x3

RHS 140x4

CHS 60x4

CHS 100x4

CHS 140x5

HEA 100

HEA120

HEA 140

Fig. 1. Geometry of test speciments

All the models were made of steel S235 and a specimen of each model was taken to analyse its material
characteristics. The yield strength in all specimens did not exceed the one declared by the steel manufacturer
and it varied between 290 and 320MPa.

45

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V. Kvok et al. / Procedia Engineering 40 (2012) 44 49

To simulate the real behaviour of the joint in a lattice structure, the chord member was assumed to act in
horizontal compression, while the brace members were compressed in a vertical direction. Horizontal
compression was actuated by means of an additional frame and pneumatic press. The numerical value of
horizontal load remained constant during the whole loading period. Each specimen type was tested at three
horizontal force levels: 68kN, 115kN and 192kN. Vertical load imposed on the specimens by the main
hydraulic press was gradually increased until the total failure of the specimen. With respect to the complexity
of the task, the length of the brace member was designed so as to prevent buckling of the member [5].
Measurement points on the individual specimens were then selected. Strain gauges were used to measure
stress in the specimens and inductive sensors to determine horizontal and vertical deformations. During the
strain-gauge measurements attention was focused on the chord member as, based on the calculation model, the
joints under investigation collapsed due to the failure of the chord member in particular. Stresses were
examined both in the horizontal and vertical walls of the chord and the strain gauges were attached in both
longitudinal and transverse directions. Deformation was measured mainly in the chord members, specifically in
the upper horizontal and vertical walls of the chord member section.
3. Obtained results
The types of joints selected were observed for both stress and deformation. In the following section of the
article, attention will be directed to the deformation of the joints. The following sections provide an exact view
of the real behaviour of the individual types of joint. The figures presented compare both vertical and
horizontal experimentally measured deformations of the joints.
3.1. Comparison of deformations in the joints consisting of the identical type of the brace member
The joints with the identical type of the brace member are compared, see fig. 2,3,4. First, when there is a
linear deformation, the joint is in the elastic range. Later, as the load is increased, the joint deviates from this
linear proportionality and the deformation goes through the elasto-plastic and eventually into its plastic range
of action. Of all the types of brace members, the most resistant certainly seem to be those with b 0=b1 (E=1).
From the deformation point of view, the joints with a width of 60 mm are the least suitable. These exhibited
excessive deformations even under minimal load.
22,5

8
7
6
R HS 60x3
R HS 100x3
R HS 140x3

5
4
3
2

vertic al deformation [mm]

horiz ontal deformation [mm]

20
17,5
15
R HS 60x3
R HS 100x3
R HS 140x3

12,5
10
7,5
5
2,5

0
0

50

100

150

200

250

v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

300

50

100

150

200

250

300

v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

Fig. 2. Comparison of the experimentally measured horizontal and vertical deformations in the joints composed of the brace members with
rectangular hollow sections

47

10

100

90

8
7

C HS 60x3
C HS 100x3
C HS 140x3

6
5
4
3
2

vertic al deformation [mm]

horiz ontal deformation [mm]

V. Kvok et al. / Procedia Engineering 40 (2012) 44 49

80
70
60

C HS 60x3
C HS 100x3
C HS 140x3

50
40
30
20
10

0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

50

100

150

200

250

300

v e rtic al forc e in the brac e me mbe r [kN]

v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

4,5

4
3,5
3
HE A 100
HE A 120
HE A140

2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0

vertic al deformation [mm]

horiz ontal deformation [mm]

Fig. 3. Comparison of the experimentally measured horizontal and vertical deformations in the joints composed of the brace members with
circular hollow sections

7
6
5

HE A 100
HE A 120
HE A 140

4
3
2
1
0

50

100

150

200

250

v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

300

50

100

150

200

250

300

v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

Fig.4. Comparison of the experimentally measured horizontal and vertical deformations in the joints composed of the brace members with
open HEA-sections

3.2. Comparison of deformations in the joints with the same widths of chord and brace members
The stiffness of the joint does not depend only on its dimensions but also on the type of the brace member
used. The comparisons are presented in the form of the following figures 5 to 7.
In the first type of joint (=1), the stability of the chord web (wall) was crucial for the overall resistance of
the joint. Figure 5 presents the distribution of values of vertical and horizontal deformation. Significant
deformation of the vertical chord web (wall) occurred even under a relatively light vertical load. The joint
collapsed completely with the gradual increase in load due to the buckling of the vertical web (wall) of the
horizontal chord member. When the resistance of rectangular, circular and open sections was compared, the
rectangular sections proved to be the stiffest.
As can be seen from the figure 6, the buckling effect of the chord web (wall) on the overall resistance of the
joint can be observed also in the joints with =0.714. The overall resistance of the joint was influenced by the
loss of stability of the vertical web (wall) although the difference between the vertical and horizontal
deformation was less significant than in the first case. When comparing the types of brace member used, the
rectangular section appeared to be the most resistant of all. However, the difference between the rectangular
and open HEA-section was minimal regarding vertical and horizontal deformation.

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V. Kvok et al. / Procedia Engineering 40 (2012) 44 49

horiz ontal deformation [mm]

7
6
5
HE A 140
R HS 140
C HS 140

4
3
2
1

vertic al deformation [mm]

In the third type of joint (figure 7) with the most slender brace members, the overall resistance of the joint was
to a great extent affected by the stiffness of the horizontal chord web (wall). The difference between the
horizontal and vertical deformation in this type of joint is the biggest and the vertical deformation the greatest.
The influence of the type of the brace member used on the overall resistance of such joints is virtually
negligible. Due to the limited possibilities of the HEA rolling programme, only circular and rectangular hollow
sections were compared. For = 0.714 the behaviour of open sections was identical to that of rectangular
sections and, obviously, it does not change for the lower -parameters.
4
3,5
3
HE A 140
R HS 140
C HS 140

2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0

0
0

50
100
150
200
250
300
v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

50

100

150

200

250

300

v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

Fig. 5. Horizontal and vertical deformation of the T-joint with =1.00 depending on the type of brace member used

horiz ontal deformation [mm]

HE A 100
R HS 100
C HS 100

vertic al deformation [mm]

5
4,5
4
3,5
3
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0

8
7
6

HE A 100
R HS 100
C HS 100

5
4
3
2
1
0

25
50
75
100
v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

25
50
75
100
v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

R HS 60
C HS 60

20

40

60

80

v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

100

vertic al deformation [mm]

horiz ontal deformation [mm]

Fig.6. Horizontal and vertical deformation of the T-joint with =0,714 depending on the type of brace member used
90
80
70
60
50
40
30

R HS 60
C HS 60

20
10
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

v ertic al forc e in the brac e member [kN]

Fig. 7. Horizontal and vertical deformation of the T-joint with =0.428 depending on the type of brace member used

V. Kvok et al. / Procedia Engineering 40 (2012) 44 49

4. Conclusion
The scientific research results and evaluations presented characterize the correlations regarding the global
resistance of joints in lattice structures in the light of the latest scientific knowledge that should be responsibly
taken into consideration in their reliable and cost-effective design. The article presented points to the
significance and topicality of the issue of investigating the joints in lattice structures. The priority of the
research was to acquire knowledge of the real behaviour of the joints and supplement it with more effective
methods for the design of joints composed of rectangular and circular hollow sections, and open HEA-sections.
From the results obtained some patterns of behaviour of T-joints may be identified. With respect to the
geometry and type of section, it can be concluded that the resistance of a joint with =1.00 is greatly influenced
by the type of brace member. This influence sharply diminishes with the decreasing value of a -parameter.
With very low -parameters, the influence of the type of brace member becomes virtually negligible and
unimportant.
The conclusions presented in this article represent only a part of a number of results obtained in the
experiments. The authors would like to continue in the analysis of such joints, while the main emphasis should
be placed on the verification of the obtained results using an appropriate finite model for the joints in question.
Acknowledgements
This paper was funded by project No. 1/0788/12: Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Stability and
Strength of Composite Members in Compression and Bending of the grant agency VEGA of the Ministry of
Education of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Science and by the project ITMS 26220120037
"The Support to the Centre of Excellent Integrated Research into Progressive Building Structures, Materials
and Technologies".

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