Single-Angle Compression Members with Both Legs Bolted at the Ends: Design Implications from an Experimental Study
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 9
Abstract
Single-angle compression members are widely used in civil structures. However, determination of the compressive strength of a single-angle compression member based on the classic stability theory and with an explicit consideration of the loading eccentricity is onerous, lengthy, and impractical for design. Although the approximate effective slenderness ratios recommended in current standards help simplify the design process, these recommendations do not cover single-angle compression members with both legs bolted at the ends (which can be a design alternative to angle members with other end conditions). Focusing on angle members with equal legs, we tested 47 specimens to generate a result database for the compressive strengths of single-angle compression members with both legs bolted at the ends. The test results suggest that existing design provisions, together with the effective length factors associated with the ideal end conditions, may not be the best options for design of single-angle compression members with both legs bolted at the ends. Based on the test results, an empirical model was developed to determine the effective slenderness ratios of single-angle members with both legs bolted at the ends. The model is compatible with existing design documents. Analysis results show that the proposed model provides reasonable predictions and can be used for future design.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Award Nos. 51578325, 51578324, 51778347, and 51778348, and the Recruitment Program of Global Youth Expert. The first author was supported by the Young Scholars Program of Shandong University. The corresponding author was also supported by the Tom and Lucia Chou Fund. The authors wish to acknowledge the sponsors. However, any opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations presented in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors. Moreover, the authors wish to acknowledge technical support from the Structural Testing Laboratory of Shandong Jiaotong University. Finally, yet importantly, the authors wish to thank three anonymous reviewers and the associated editor for their careful evaluations and insightful comments, which helped improve the paper.
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©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 30, 2017
Accepted: Apr 2, 2018
Published online: Jun 28, 2018
Published in print: Sep 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Nov 28, 2018
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