YIELD LINE ANALYSIS OF RHS CONNECTIONS WITH AXIAL LOADS

The yield line method of analysis has been used successfully for estim ating the strength of different Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) conne ctions due to yielding of the connecting face of the main member (thro ugh member such as chord or column). The influence of axial load in th e main member is usually considered by a reduction factor, Two yield l ine models used for RHS connections and the methods previously used fo r the calculation of yield moment along an inclined yield line have be en investigated. A new yield line model, which takes axial load in the main member into account, is developed to calculate the strength of R HS connections. Good agreement has been found between predictions from the formula developed from the new model and the results from both la boratory tests and Finite Element (FE) analyses, for plate-to-RHS conn ections. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.