Moment capacity as a function of varying HSS column sizes in W-section to HSS connections

Abstract

The aim of t h i s report was to determine the e f f e c t of column widths in W-section to HSS c o n n e c t i o n s and whether r e i n f o r c i n g of the column wall would i n c r e a s e the s t r e n g th and r i g i d i t y of the j o i n t . Lab t e s t i n g on such c o n n e c t i o ns i n d i c a t e t h a t HSS width do not have an e f f e c t on the s t r e n g th of the c o n n e c t i o n but with i n c r e a s i n g width the f l e x i b i l i t y i n c r e a s e s . Tests a l s o show t h a t as much as 30% i n c r e a s e in s t r e n g t h can be obtained i n t h e s e c o n n e c t i o n s by r e i n f o r c e m e nt of the column w a l l s by w e l d i n g a p l a t e to the HSS where the beam w i l l be framing i n t o i t .