EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE BACK-TO-BACK CONNECTED THIN WALLED BEAMS BOLTED JOINTS

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental test results of the joints connecting the cold formed thin-walled steel profiles assembled in a pair, back-to-back cross section. In the first stage of the testing, there were tested the joints of a frame structural model connected with high strength friction bolts. In the second stage, it was advocated the increase of the profile bearing capacity by introducing some supplementary elements at the flange. The tests were carried out in quasi-static regime in several load-unloading cycles; in the last stage, the load was increased until the model collapsed. The strengthening of the flange has not increased significantly the model stiffness, but the bearing capacity was has been increased by 20. . . 35%.