Static Strength of Thick-Walled CHS X-Joints Subjected to Brace Moment Loadings

This paper presents results from a systematic finite-element (FE) study on the static strength of moment loaded thick-walled circular hollow section (CHS) X-joints, and compares the results with CIDECT and ISO/CD 13819-2 recommendations. For thick-walled joints subjected to brace out-of-plane bending, the CIDECT formulation excludes the (gamma) dependency in the joint strength, which is different from the ISO equation and the present FE observations. The current study compares the different load paths mobilized in the X-joint under various brace loading conditions, through a detailed three-dimensional finite-element study. The numerical results reveal the significance of the joint geometric parameters and the tensile chord stress effect on the ultimate joint strength. Based on the present detailed study, a new chord stress function which incorporates the geometric dependency and the tensile chord stress effect is proposed.