SINGLE-ANGLE COMPRESSION MEMBERS WELDED BY ONE LEG TO A GUSSET PLATE - I - EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Single-angle compression members are structural elements that are very difficult to analyze and design. These members are usually attached t o other members by one leg only. Thus the load is applied eccentricall y. To further complicate the problem the principal axes of the angle d o not coincide with the axis of the frame of which the angle is a part . Although it is known that the end conditions affect the load-carryin g capacity of these members, procedures have not been developed to acc ount for this. The main objective of this research is to obtain a bett er understanding of the behaviour and load-carrying capacity of single -angle compression members welded by one leg to a gusset plate fixed t o a rigid support. The effects of the gusset plate width, thickness, a nd the unconnected length were studied. It was determined that the fin ite element method can be used, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, to predict the behaviour and load-carrying capacity of these members. It was found that the thickness and width of the gusset plate signific antly affect the load-carrying capacity, but the unconnected length ha s only a minor effect.