Experimental and numerical study of new connection systems for a large-span hyperbolic steel cooling tower

In this study, a series of new beam-column connections was proposed for large-span steel hyperbolic towers. The mechanical performance of the connections under an out-of-plane bending moment and a shear force was studied via experimental tests and numerical simulation. Different parameters such as the connector type, row number of the bolts, and plate thickness were considered during the study. The moment–rotation curves and main failure modes of the connections were obtained and discussed in detail. The results showed that the new beam-column connections proposed in this paper had excellent bending stiffness and ultimate bending capacities. In addition, the finite element model of the connections was established by ABAQUS software, and the experimental and numerical results were compared. The comparison results showed that the numerical model could predict the moment–rotation curve and different failure modes accurately. The new joint system and study presented in this paper are relevant references for the study of large-span steel hyperbolic towers, which are increasingly becoming the prominent options compared with concrete cooling towers.