Comparison of two different Innovative Solutions for IPE Beam to CHS Column Connections

Abstract

Local stiffeners and gusset plates used in conventional open-to-Circular Hollow Section (CHS) column connections result in high welding quantities, whereas direct welding exposes the CHS to severe local distortions. Such disadvantages hinder the use of open-to-CHS column connections. To minimize these drawbacks and improve the structural behaviour, this study proposes two moment resisting connection configurations developed within the European research project "LASTEICON". It deals specifically with I-beam resp. individual plates passing through the CHS column. The "passing-through" system is made possible by resorting to an easy fabrication process thanks to efficient laser cut & weld technology and avoids the localized damages, premature flange failures and excessive use of stiffening plates required by the conventional I-beam-to-CHS column connection configurations. The new configurations are investigated for two different load cases with experimentally calibrated nonlinear finite element models and are also compared among each other to differentiate the force-transfer mechanism involved.