Date of Award

1997

Publication Type

Doctoral Thesis

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Keywords

Engineering, Civil.

Supervisor

Temple, M. C.,

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Single-angle compression members are simple structural elements that are very difficult to analyse and design. These members are usually attached to other members by one leg only. Thus the load is applied eccentrically. To further complicate the problem, the principal axes of the angle do not coincide with the axes of the same or truss of which the angle is a part. Although it is known that the end conditions affect the ultimate load carrying capacity of these members, procedures have not been developed to do this as it is difficult to evaluate the end restraint in many practical cases. Different design practices were presented and evaluated using experimental test results obtained from previous research. The two generally accepted design procedures, the simple-column and the beam-column approaches, in general, underestimate the load carrying capacity of single-angle compression members attached by one leg to a gusset plate. There is a great variation between different design practices in the prediction of the compressive resistance of single-angle members. With that great variation it is difficult to determine the most appropriate design procedure to follow. The major objective of this research is to obtain a better understanding of the behaviour and load carrying capacity of single-angle compression members attached by one leg to a gusset plate. An experimental investigation was carried out and verified through the use of the finite element analysis. The effect of the gusset plate width, thickness and the unconnected length were studied. The effect of the weld length and pattern used in connecting the angle to the gusset plate was studied as well. It was found that the thickness and width of the gusset plate significantly affect the load carrying capacity, but the unconnected length has only a minor effect. The effect of the length of weld and the weld pattern used in the connection on the ultimate load carrying capacity can be neglected. It was found that the finite element method can be used, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, to predict the behaviour and load carrying capacity of these members. The finite element method was used to study some 1800 different combination of parameters. It was found that out-of-straightness, residual stresses, Young's modulus of elasticity, and the unconnected gusset plate length do not have a great effect on the load carrying capacity. The most significant parameter is gusset plate thickness with the gusset plate width being the second most important parameter. An empirical design equation is proposed and illustrated by two design examples.Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1997 .S24. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 59-08, Section: B, page: 4308. Adviser: M. C. Temple. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1997.

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