In response to frequent calls during the last few years for research into overlapped joints in steel circular hollow sections, this thesis addresses the static strength and behaviour of axially loaded overlapped K joints. A review of previous research and design guidance indicates the dearth of reliable, representative data and a general lack of knowledge of the behaviour of these joints, which are widely recognised as being potentially more cost effective than typical canned or stiffened gap joints. Preliminary, non-linear, numerical analyses, including thorough calibration of the Finite Element modelling strategy, are followed by a substantial parametric study investigating the effects of variation of the principal geometrical parameters on the behaviour and capacity of both overlapped and, for comparison, small-gap K joints. The results are compared with the design guidance of CIDECT (1991), which, for the overlapped joints, fails to predict all the interactive effects of the geometry variations and, consequently, is excessively conservative for some geometries. A new strength equation for overlapped K joint capacity is therefore proposed, based on the results of the numerical study. The equation has limited use in practice at present because of the limited scope of the parametric study. Nevertheless, it provides a robust platform onto which the results of future selective research (the requirement of which are discussed) may be added. Some important findings within the field of strength of tubular joints also emerge, namely: a) the effects of different boundary conditions on isolated joint tests - for replicating frame effects and the consequences for database screening, b) the reliability of the on- and offshore codes for gap K joint capacity, and c) the effects of chord can length on gap K joint capacity.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:636443 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Dexter, E. M. |
| Publisher | Swansea University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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