T-joints are common in beam-column connections of steel frames, vierendeel girders and at mid-span of N-trusses. Strengthening the members of these structures increases the demand on the joints, which may require joint strengthening. This thesis examines different strengthening techniques of T-joints of RHS members. In Phase I, the effectiveness of through-wall steel bolts is examined. This is accomplished by controlling the web outward buckling of the chord under the brace axial load. The study examined the effect of the number and pattern of bolts, as well as the web height-to-wall thickness (h/t) ratio of the chord, on strengthening effectiveness. Rectangular 203x76x(3.09, 4.5, and 5.92) mm chord members were tested. The 8 mm diameter steel bolts varied from a single bolt to 15 bolts of various distributions. The joint strength increased by 3.1%, 6.2%, and 29% for chords with (h/t) of 34, 45, and 65, respectively. The number and distribution of bolts had little effect on their effectiveness. In Phase II, similar T-joint specimens were strengthened using adhesively bonded GFRP plates, 9.5 mm thick, of different configurations, and 2 mm thick high-modulus CFRP plates of equivalent stiffness. It was shown that strength gain increases significantly, from 9% to 38%, as (h/t) ratio of the HSS chord increases from 34 to 65. In thin-walled HSS (h/t = 65), retrofitting provided significant gains in strength but not in ductility. In thick-walled HSS (h/t = 34), retrofitting provided little strength gain, but enhanced ductility, especially with properly bonded plates extending on the brace. Generally, plates fractured under local bending or delaminated within plate layers while bond was fully intact. In Phase III, selected configurations of the two retrofitting methods were used in additional T-joints with chord (h/t) ratio of 65, to study their effectiveness in presence of axial compression load in the chord. Two sustained load levels were induced in the chord, representing 45% and 80% of its full axial capacity. The transverse brace load was then gradually increased to failure. The through-wall steel bolts increased the joint capacity by 13% to 25%, depending on the chord’s axial load level, while the bonded GFRP plate increased the capacity by 38 to 46%. / Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-28 12:40:44.479

This thesis main goal is to nd the main parameters describing fluvial-morphological macrostructures due physical habitat of streams on example study of Zlatý potok stream and Mandát stream. To perform this study was used technique of neural network. Neural network method make possible to make both qualitative and quantitative survey of particular parameters and their weights. Fundamental data used for this thesis was got by mapping regions of interest with two ecohydromorphological methods EcoRivHab and RHS. Information about physical habitat of mapped streams was realized from map's basis (ZABAGED) and by mapping (e.g. valley relief by laser gradiometer, bed loads). Data processing was realized in two parts. In the first part the regions of interest were quali ed to both of the methods. Neural network was seeded by data from mapping of the Zlatý potok stream. In the second part results of mapping for all of the streams were compared by technique of neural network. This way it was possible to evaluate di erences among natural parts of streams in geographically di erent areas and also major and minor parameters both of the used methods for mappings.

No description available.

An experimental program was developed to test various unreinforced RHS-to-RHS 90° T-connections subject to branch in-plane bending moment with the objective of determining the effectiveness of the welded joint. Twelve unique test specimens were designed to be weld-critical and the results from the full-scale tests revealed that the current equation for the effective elastic section modulus for in-plane bending, S_ip, given in Table K4.1 of ANSI/AISC 360 (2010) is conservative. A modification to the current requirements that limit the effective width of the transverse weld elements is proposed, resulting in a safe and more economical weld design method for RHS-to-RHS T-, Y- and X- connections subject to branch axial load or bending moment. It is also concluded that the fillet weld directional strength enhancement factor, (1.00 + 0.50sin1.5Ө), should not be used for strength calculations of welded joints to square and rectangular hollow structural sections.

An experimental program was developed to test various unreinforced RHS-to-RHS 90° T-connections subject to branch in-plane bending moment with the objective of determining the effectiveness of the welded joint. Twelve unique test specimens were designed to be weld-critical and the results from the full-scale tests revealed that the current equation for the effective elastic section modulus for in-plane bending, S_ip, given in Table K4.1 of ANSI/AISC 360 (2010) is conservative. A modification to the current requirements that limit the effective width of the transverse weld elements is proposed, resulting in a safe and more economical weld design method for RHS-to-RHS T-, Y- and X- connections subject to branch axial load or bending moment. It is also concluded that the fillet weld directional strength enhancement factor, (1.00 + 0.50sin1.5Ө), should not be used for strength calculations of welded joints to square and rectangular hollow structural sections.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T19:59:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Diana Cornelio.pdf: 3420425 bytes, checksum: ff1f9eef75ccbe98d2e754cd2215c5c5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-08 / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo / Astyanax scabripinnis is a species found in the neotropics, this species forms demes isolated populations in headwater streams. It is taxonomically unresolved, but is presented as an interesting model to study the presence of chromosomal B. The occurrence of these chromosomes in A. scabripinnis may be associated with various environmental factors and population, although little savvy about maintaining parasitic or possible heterotic effects of these chromosomes. The reproductive biology related to the presence of B chromosomes in A. scabripinnis never been addressed. Thus, the object of this study was to investigate whether aspects of the reproductive process, fundamental to the adaptive value may be related to the presence of B chromosomes in A. scabripinnis. Samples were collected quarterly between the years 2012 and 2013 in Campos do Jordao, Sao Paulo, Brazil (22 ° 40 '49.5 "S, 45 ° 23` 31.9 "W) at Stream Farm Lavrinha basin of the Paraíba do Sul. The gonads were classified macroscopically and microscopically second stages of development. Settled seasonally sex ratio of the population in the different samples. We calculated the gonadosomatic ratio (GSR) and the relationship hepatossomática (RHS) separately for females with and without chromosome B. The presence of B chromosomes was confirmed by classical cytogenetic and molecular with the use of chromosome specific probe B constructed by chromosome microdissection and amplification Degenerated Oligonucleotids Primers (DOP-PCR) and subsequent in situ hybridization (FISH). Geometric morphometric analysis were performed separately for males and females with and without the presence of chromosomes B. The results indicate that the sex ratio varied seasonally having an increased number of males compared to females. Hermaphrodite individuals were found at a frequency of 7.7%. The reproductive period is characterized by an atypical reproductive peak during the winter period, beyond the period observed pattern from the spring in September. The presence of B chromosomes has been linked to possible reproductive strategies in different populations studied, especially in relation to energy intake and stages of gonadal development. There morphometric differences both between individuals female and male subjects with and without chromosome B. / Astyanax scabripinnis é uma espécie encontrada na Região Neotropical, essa espécie forma demes populacionais isolados em cabeceiras de riachos. Ela é taxonomicamente mal resolvida, mas se apresenta como interessante modelo para o estudo da presença de cromossomos B. A ocorrência desses cromossomos em A. scabripinnis pode estar associada a diversos fatores ambientais e populacionais, embora seja pouco esclarecido sobre a manutenção parasítica ou possíveis efeitos heteróticos desses cromossomos. A biologia reprodutiva relacionada à presença de cromossomo B em A. scabripinnis nunca foi abordada. Assim, foi objeto deste trabalho investigar se aspectos do processo reprodutivo, fundamental para o valor adaptativo, podem estar relacionados à presença de cromossomos B em A. scabripinnis. As coletas foram realizadas trimestralmente entre os anos de 2012 e 2013 na região de Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brasil (22°40`49,5”S, 45°23`31,9” W), no Córrego da Fazenda Lavrinha, bacia do rio Paraíba do Sul. As gônadas foram classificadas macro e microscopicamente segundo estádios de desenvolvimento. Estabeleceu-se sazonalmente a proporção sexual da população nas diferentes amostragens. Foi calculada a relação gonadossomática (RGS) e a relação hepatossomática (RHS) separadamente para fêmeas com e sem cromossomo B. A presença de cromossomos B foi confirmada por meio da citogenética clássica e molecular com o emprego de sonda específica do cromossomo B construída por microdissecção cromossômica e amplificação por Degenerated Oligonucleotids Primers (DOP-PCR) e posterior hibridação fluorescente in situ (FISH). Análises de morfometria geométrica foram realizadas separadamente para fêmeas e machos com e sem a presença de cromossomos B. Os resultados indicam que a proporção sexual variou sazonalmente havendo um aumento do número dos machos em relação às fêmeas. Foram encontrados indivíduos hermafroditas na frequência de 7,7%. O período reprodutivo é caracterizado por um pico de reprodução atípico no período do inverno, além do período padrão observado a partir da primavera no mês de setembro. A presença de cromossomos B foi relacionada a possíveis estratégias reprodutivas distintas na população estudada, especialmente em relação ao aporte energético e estádios de desenvolvimento gonadal. Há diferenças morfométrica tanto entre indivíduos fêmeas e machos como entre indivíduos com e sem cromossomo B.

Η υποβάθμιση της ποιότητας των υδάτων στην Ευρώπη οδήγησε το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο στην έκδοση της Οδηγίας 2000/60/ΕΚ, σύμφωνα με την οποία τα επιφανειακά ύδατα πρέπει να βρίσκονται σε μια «κατάσταση που χαρακτηρίζεται καλή, τόσο από οικολογική όσο και από χημική άποψη». Στην κατεύθυνση αυτή επικεντρώθηκε και η παρούσα μελέτη για την υδρολογική λεκάνη του ποταμού Αλφειού, σε μια προσπάθεια εκτίμησης της περιβαλλοντικής του κατάστασης σε όλο του το μήκος, αλλά και προσδιορισμού των απαραίτητων δράσεων για την ολοκληρωμένη διαχείρισή του. Ο Αλφειός είναι ο μεγαλύτερος σε μήκος (112 km) και παροχή (ετήσιο δυναμικό 2100×106 m3 ύδατος) ποταμός της Πελοποννήσου και βρίσκεται στην πέμπτη θέση των μεγαλύτερων σε μήκος ποταμών που έχουν το σύνολο της ροής τους εντός του ελληνικού εδάφους. Η λεκάνη απορροής του, έκτασης 3.600 km2, βρίσκεται στη Δυτική και Κεντρική Πελοπόννησο. Οι κυριότεροι παραπόταμοί του είναι ο Ερύμανθος, ο Λούσιος και ο Λάδωνας. Στόχος της συγκεκριμένης ερευνητικής εργασίας είναι η εκτίμηση της ποιότητας και του βαθμού τροποποίησης των ποτάμιων ενδιαιτημάτων του Αλφειού και των παραποτάμων του από ανθρώπινες δραστηριότητες. Σε πρώτη φάση, η προσέγγιση της περιγραφής της δομής των ρεμάτων και ποταμών και της αναγνώρισης των ενδιαιτημάτων τους, έγινε με τη βοήθεια της αναγνωρισμένης μεθόδου RHS (River Habitat Survey). Ταυτόχρονα εφαρμόστηκε η μέθοδος QBR (Qualitat del Bosc de Ribera), ώστε να επιτευχθεί μια πιο ολοκληρωμένη εικόνα της οικολογικής ποιότητας των υπό μελέτη περιοχών. Στη συνέχεια, έγινε εκτίμηση των φαινομένων διάβρωσης/απόθεσης στην κοίτη και τις όχθες, με έμφαση στις περιοχές όπου εντοπίζονται ανθρώπινες παρεμβάσεις και επιχειρήθηκε η σύνδεσής τους με τα αποτελέσματα των προαναφερθέντων μεθόδων. Με την ανάλυση και επεξεργασία των δεδομένων εντοπίσθηκαν: οι πιέσεις που δέχονται οι ποταμοί, η ποιότητα της δομής και ο βαθμός τροποποίησης των ενδιαιτημάτων τους, οι σημαντικότερες περιοχές ως προς την οικολογική ποιότητα των ποταμών, καθώς και πιθανές περιοχές προς αποκατάσταση. Τα αποτελέσματα του RHS αναφορικά με την ποιότητα των ενδιαιτημάτων και ειδικότερα με τη σπανιότητα των χαρακτηριστικών, έδειξαν ότι στα εξετασθέντα υδάτινα σώματα δεν είχαμε συχνές τεχνικές παρεμβάσεις στην ενεργό κοίτη, με εξαίρεση τα φράγματα στις περιοχές Φλόκα και Λάμπεια. Σύμφωνα με τη βαθμολογία που προέκυψε από την επεξεργασία του πρωτόκολλου QBR, επιβεβαιώνεται ότι, η ποιότητα και το εύρος της παραποτάμιας ζώνης εξαρτάται περισσότερο από την παρουσία ή μη ανθρώπινων παρεμβάσεων, παρά από τα γεωμορφολογικά χαρακτηριστικά της περιοχής. Γενικότερα, τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης έδειξαν πως η διακύμανση της υδρομορφολογικής κατάστασης είναι ανάλογη των πιέσεων που δέχονται οι ποταμοί, στις επιμέρους παραμέτρους (όχθες, παρόχθια ενδιαιτήματα κ.λπ.). Ως προς τα φαινόμενα απόθεσης και διάβρωσης στο μέσο και κάτω ρου του Αλφειού, σύμφωνα με τα δεδομένα του Corine, μέσα σε μια δεκαετία μειώθηκε το εύρος της κοίτης του ποταμού κατά 730 km2, δηλαδή κατά 7,2%. Πρόκειται για το τμήμα του ποταμού που δέχεται τις περισσότερες ανθρώπινες επιδράσεις, οι οποίες περιλαμβάνουν εκτός από εκτεταμένες καλλιέργειες, πολλά τεχνικά έργα και σημεία αμμοχαλικοληψίας. Αντίστοιχο αποτέλεσμα προέκυψε και μετά την ανάλυση των αλλαγών του πλάτους της ενεργού κοίτης, από την περίοδο 1965-1967 έως την περίοδο 2007-2009, χρησιμοποιώντας τους τοπογραφικούς χάρτες της Γ.Υ.Σ. και τους ψηφιακούς χάρτες της ΚΤΗΜΑΤΟΛΟΓΙΟ Α.Ε. αντίστοιχα. Συγκεκριμένα, μέσα σε περίπου 40 χρόνια, κατά μέσο όρο το πλάτος της ενεργού κοίτης στο μέσο και κάτω ρου του Αλφειού μειώθηκε κατά 27 m (28%). Συμπερασματικά, θα μπορούσε κανείς να πει ότι, αν και οι ανθρώπινες δραστηριότητες (εντατικές καλλιέργιες, τεχνικά έργα, αμμοχαλικοληψίες κ.λ.π) που έχουν αναπτυχθεί κατά μήκος του ποταμού και των παραπόταμών του έχουν οδηγήσει στην υποβάθμιση των παρόχθιων οικοσυστημάτων, μερικές σχεδόν απρόσβλητες περιοχές υπάρχουν ακόμα. Επομένως, ελπίζουμε ότι η οικολογική αξιολόγηση του ποταμού Αλφειού θα είναι ένα χρήσιμο εργαλείο για την ολοκληρωμένη διαχείριση της λεκάνης απορροής του ποταμού. / The degradation of the water quality in Europe led the European Parliament to the publication of The Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC on Water Policy, which requires that physical, chemical and biological parameters of inland waters are measured in order to determine whether ‘high’ or ‘good’ ecological status has been maintained or achieved. In this context, the present study is an effort not only to estimate the ecological status of the Alfeios River basin, but also to determine actions necessary for its integrated management. Alfeios River is the greatest in length (112 km) and flow rate (2100×106m3) river in Peloponnisos and constitutes an important water resource for Western Greece. Alfeios River is also the fifth longest river in Greece among those which have their whole route in the Greek territory. The river basin covers 3600 km2 and extends in Western and Central Peloponnisos. Its main tributaries are the rivers Erymanthos, Lousios and Ladonas. The object of this study is the evaluation of the quality and modification level of Alfeios river habitats, due to human activities. At first, the description of the streams’ and rivers’ structure and the recognition of their habitats was based on the widely used methodology of R.H.S. (River Habitat Survey). Simultaneously, the methodology of QBR (Qualitat del Bosc de Ribera) was applied, in order to obtain a complete view on the ecological status of the study area. After that, we estimated the erosional/depositional phenomena in the watercourse and the banks, emphasising in the sites where human interventions are located and we attempted to connect them with the results of the methods mentioned above. After the data analysis and elaboration we evaluated: the stresses applied on the rivers, the structural quality and the modification degree of the river habitats, the most important areas for their high ecological quality and those which need to be restored. The results of RHS regarding the river habitats’ quality and more specifically the special characteristics showed that, there are not any frequent technical interventions in the river bed, with the exception of the dams in the Floka and Lampeia areas. On the contrary, the pressures sustained by the entire flood plain are frequent and intense. According to the total score of the QBR protocol, it is confirmed that, the quality and the extent of the riparian area depend more on the presence or absence of human activities than on the geomorphological characteristics of the areas. In general, the results of the study demonstrate that the fluctuation of the hydromorphological condition is proportional to the stresses sustained by the rivers in total, by their individual parameters (banks, riparian habitats etc.). According to Corine data, as far as the deposition and erosion phenomena in medium and lower watercourse of Alfeios are concerned, in one decade the width of the river’s watercourse decreased by 730 km2, or 7,2%. It is the river part that undergoes most of the human activities, including extensive agricultural plains, infrastructure and many sand and gravel extraction sites. Matching results were met after studying the changes of the active riverbed’s width from comparing data of the time periods of 1965-1967 until 2007-2009, obtained from topographic maps of the Army’s Geographic Department and the digital maps of KTIMATOLOGIO AE respectively. According to these results, in roughly 40 years the average width of the active riverbed decreased, in the medium and low watercourse of Alfeios, for 27 m (28%). As a conclusion, it is safe to say that Alfeios River constitutes the main water source of Western and Central Peloponnisos, supporting the neighboring communities. Although human activities such as settlements, agroindustries, pumping or deviation of water for irrigation, infrastructure works (dams, bridges), gravel extraction etc. have been developed along the river and its tributaries for a long time and have led to the degradation of the riparian ecosystems, some almost unaffected regions do still exist. Therefore, we hope that the ecological evaluation of the Alfeios River will be a useful tool for the sustainable management of the whole catchment area.

Traditionally, joints are assumed to be either pinned or fully rigid, but in reality, many behave between these two extremes giving them a semi-rigid classification. By acknowledging the semi-rigidity of nominal pin joints, steel frames can be designed as semi-continuous in which the beam bending moments are partially transmitted to the column members and the need for lateral bracing is eliminated, thus reducing material and construction costs. This thesis presents the results of numerical and theoretical studies of the behaviour of bolted endplate connections to Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) columns using flowdrill bolts and their applications in semi-continuous frame design. Such connections exhibit significant levels of initial stiffness, strength, and deformation capacity while being more cost-effective than fully welded connections. Despite this, there is limited theoretical work carried out that allows such connections to be designed using analytical methods. In addition, there are no standardised connection design tables like that for open section columns (SCI, 1995), thereby inhibiting their adoption in practice. In this thesis, newly derived equations for initial stiffness that have a greatly improved range of validity and accuracy over existing equations are presented. Equations for bending strength of a newly derived elliptical mechanism based on yield line theory and for membrane action based on internal work principles are given. Equations for flowdrill thread stripping due to gross deformation of the RHS face are also presented thus allowing prediction of all common RHS face failure mechanisms. Equations for deformation capacity are derived thus making it possible to predict the full load-deflection behaviour of the RHS face in tension component. When combined with existing equations for bolt and endplate components, it is possible to predict the full moment-rotation behaviour of bolted endplate connections to RHS columns. Extensive parametric studies using finite element analysis (FEA) as well as validation against existing tests show that the newly derived equations can accurately predict the component-level and whole joint behaviour for a wide range of configurations. Taking advantage of the initial stiffness properties that these connections offer, a parametric study is conducted to show that connections with relatively simple detailing can offer sufficient initial stiffness and strength to enable unbraced semi-continuous design of low-rise steel frames. A hand calculation method for SLS sway in semi-continuous frames is also presented thus allowing the designer to readily carry out scheme designs without advanced software knowledge. A systematic method for the detailing of these connections for use in unbraced frame design is presented to facilitate adoption in practice.

The aim of this thesis is to assess the suitability of cold-formed rectangular hollow sections (RHS) for plastic design. The project involved an extensive range of tests on cold-formed Grade C350 and Grade C450 (DuraGal) RHS beams, joints and frames. A large number of finite element analyses was also carried out on models of RHS beams. The conclusion is that cold- formed RHS can be used in plastic design, but stricter element slenderness (b/t) limits and consideration of the connections, are required. Further research, particularly into the effect of axial compression on element slenderness limits, is required before changes to current design rules can be finalised. Bending tests were performed on cold-formed RHS to examine the web and flange slenderness required to maintain the plastic moment for a large enough rotation suitable for plastic design. The major conclusions of the beam tests were: (i) Some sections which are classified as Compact or Class 1 by current steel design specifications do not maintain plastic rotations considered sufficient for plastic design. (ii) The current design philosophy, in which flange and web slenderness limits are independent, is inappropriate. An interaction formula is required, and simple formulations are proposed for RHS. Connection tests were performed on various types of knee joints in RHS, suitable for the column - rafter connection in a portal frame. The connection types investigated were welded stiffened and unstiffened rigid knee connections, bolted plate knee joints, and welded and bolted internal sleeve knee joints, for use in RHS portal frames. The ability of the connections to act as plastic hinges in a portal frame was investigated. The most important finding of the joint tests was the unexpected fracture of the cold-formed welded connections under opening moment before significant plastic rotations occurred. The use of an internal sleeve moved the plastic hinge in the connection away from the connection centre- line thus eliminating the need for the weld between the RHS, or the RHS and the stiffening plate, to carry the majority of the load. The internal sleeve connections were capable of sustaining the plastic moment for large rotations considered suitable for plastic design. Tests on pinned-base portal frames were also performed. There were three separate tests, with two different ratios of vertical to horizontal point loads, simulating gravity and horizontal wind loads. Two grades of steel were used for comparison. The aims of the tests were to examine if a plastic collapse mechanism could form in a cold-formed RHS frame, and to investigate if plastic design was suitable for such frames. In each frame, two regions of highly concentrated curvature were observed before the onset of local buckling, which indicated the formation of plastic hinges and a plastic collapse mechanism. An advanced plastic zone structural analysis which accounted for second order effects, material non-linearity and member imperfections slightly overestimated the strength of the frames. The analysis slightly underestimated the deflections, and hence the magnitude of the second order effects. A second order plastic zone analysis, which did not account for the effects of structural imperfections, provided the best estimates of the strengths of the frames, but also underestimated the deflections. While cold-formed RHS did not satisfy the material ductility requirements specified for plastic design in some current steel design standards, plastic hinges and plastic collapse mechanisms formed. This suggests that the restriction on plastic design for cold-formed RHS based on insufficient material ductility is unnecessary, provided that the connections are suitable for plastic hinge formation, if required. A large number of finite element analyses were performed to simulate the bending tests summarised above, and to examine various parameters not studied in the experimental investigation. To simulate the experimental rotation capacity of the RHS beams, a sinusoidally varying longitudinal local imperfection was prescribed. The finite element analysis determined similar trends as observed experimentally, namely that the rotation capacity depended on both the web slenderness and flange slenderness, and that for a given section aspect ratio, the relationship between web slenderness and rotation capacity was non-linear. The main finding of the finite element study was that the size of the imperfections had an unexpectedly large influence on the rotation capacity. Larger imperfections were required in the more slender sections to simulate the experimental results. There should be further investigation into the effect of varying material properties on rotation capacity.

The aim of this thesis is to assess the suitability of cold-formed rectangular hollow sections (RHS) for plastic design. The project involved an extensive range of tests on cold-formed Grade C350 and Grade C450 (DuraGal) RHS beams, joints and frames. A large number of finite element analyses was also carried out on models of RHS beams. The conclusion is that cold- formed RHS can be used in plastic design, but stricter element slenderness (b/t) limits and consideration of the connections, are required. Further research, particularly into the effect of axial compression on element slenderness limits, is required before changes to current design rules can be finalised. Bending tests were performed on cold-formed RHS to examine the web and flange slenderness required to maintain the plastic moment for a large enough rotation suitable for plastic design. The major conclusions of the beam tests were: (i) Some sections which are classified as Compact or Class 1 by current steel design specifications do not maintain plastic rotations considered sufficient for plastic design. (ii) The current design philosophy, in which flange and web slenderness limits are independent, is inappropriate. An interaction formula is required, and simple formulations are proposed for RHS. Connection tests were performed on various types of knee joints in RHS, suitable for the column - rafter connection in a portal frame. The connection types investigated were welded stiffened and unstiffened rigid knee connections, bolted plate knee joints, and welded and bolted internal sleeve knee joints, for use in RHS portal frames. The ability of the connections to act as plastic hinges in a portal frame was investigated. The most important finding of the joint tests was the unexpected fracture of the cold-formed welded connections under opening moment before significant plastic rotations occurred. The use of an internal sleeve moved the plastic hinge in the connection away from the connection centre- line thus eliminating the need for the weld between the RHS, or the RHS and the stiffening plate, to carry the majority of the load. The internal sleeve connections were capable of sustaining the plastic moment for large rotations considered suitable for plastic design. Tests on pinned-base portal frames were also performed. There were three separate tests, with two different ratios of vertical to horizontal point loads, simulating gravity and horizontal wind loads. Two grades of steel were used for comparison. The aims of the tests were to examine if a plastic collapse mechanism could form in a cold-formed RHS frame, and to investigate if plastic design was suitable for such frames. In each frame, two regions of highly concentrated curvature were observed before the onset of local buckling, which indicated the formation of plastic hinges and a plastic collapse mechanism. An advanced plastic zone structural analysis which accounted for second order effects, material non-linearity and member imperfections slightly overestimated the strength of the frames. The analysis slightly underestimated the deflections, and hence the magnitude of the second order effects. A second order plastic zone analysis, which did not account for the effects of structural imperfections, provided the best estimates of the strengths of the frames, but also underestimated the deflections. While cold-formed RHS did not satisfy the material ductility requirements specified for plastic design in some current steel design standards, plastic hinges and plastic collapse mechanisms formed. This suggests that the restriction on plastic design for cold-formed RHS based on insufficient material ductility is unnecessary, provided that the connections are suitable for plastic hinge formation, if required. A large number of finite element analyses were performed to simulate the bending tests summarised above, and to examine various parameters not studied in the experimental investigation. To simulate the experimental rotation capacity of the RHS beams, a sinusoidally varying longitudinal local imperfection was prescribed. The finite element analysis determined similar trends as observed experimentally, namely that the rotation capacity depended on both the web slenderness and flange slenderness, and that for a given section aspect ratio, the relationship between web slenderness and rotation capacity was non-linear. The main finding of the finite element study was that the size of the imperfections had an unexpectedly large influence on the rotation capacity. Larger imperfections were required in the more slender sections to simulate the experimental results. There should be further investigation into the effect of varying material properties on rotation capacity.