Development of latticed structures with bolted steel sleeve and plate connection and hollow section GFRP members. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, Fu Jia; Huang, Yuan; He, Xuhui; Qi, Yujun; Bai, Yu
• Is Part Of: Thin-walled structures. Volume 137(2019)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 116
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Latticed structures -- Steel sleeve joints -- Steel gusset plate -- Glass fiber reinforced polymer -- Hollow sections -- Bolt connections; Thin-walled structures -- Periodicals; 690.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tws.2018.12.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-8231

Abstract

Abstract: An innovative nodal joint system with thin-walled steel sleeve and plate is examined for development of latticed shell structures using hollow section glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) members. In the proposed system, the GFRP members were connected to a steel gusset-plate space node through bolted sleeve joints (BSJs). The mechanical performance of BSJs was first examined through cantilever bending experiments. Then, the performance of the entire nodal joint system incorporating the space node was examined in bending for both in-plane and out-of-plane stiffness. Its performance was then characterized by nonlinear springs and evaluated at a structural level based on a space latticed structure configuration through finite element (FE) analysis and the resulting structural performance satisfied the ultimate limit state (ULS) and serviceability limit state (SLS) requirements as per relevant standards. A parametric study was also conducted to understand the effect of joint rotational stiffness on the overall structural performances. Highlights: An innovative thin-walled steel sleeve and plate connection for GFRP latticed structures. Experimental evaluations on bolted sleeve joint and steel gusset-plate space node connection. Understanding of stiffness contribution from individual components for space node connection. Nonlinear spring based modeling to describe actual connection performance in latticed structure analysis. Understanding of effects joint rotational stiffness on overall performance for such latticed structures.