Investigation of grouted stainless steel SHS tubular X- and T-joints subjected to axial compression

An experimental investigation was conducted on empty and grouted stainless steel square hollow section (SHS) tubular X- and T-joints subjected to axial compression. A total of 24 specimens including empty tubular joints, tubular joints with grouted brace members only, tubular joints with grouted chord member only and tubular joints with both grouted brace and chord members were tested. The joint strengths, failure modes, axial load-vertical displacement curves, axial load-chord deformation curves and strain distribution curves of all specimens were reported. The corresponding finite element analysis (FEA) was also performed and calibrated against the test results. Therefore, an extensive parametric study was carried out to evaluate the effects of main influential factors (β, τ, grouting and grout strength) on the behaviour of grouted stainless steel SHS tubular X- and T-joints subjected to axial compression. It is shown from the comparison that the ultimate strengths of empty and grouted stainless steel SHS tubular X- and T-joints generally increased with the increase of the β and τ values. The enhancement of joint strengths obtained from grouting both brace and chord members is much greater than that obtained from grouting chord member only. In addition, the ultimate strengths of stainless steel SHS tubular X- and T-joints with both grouted brace and chord members generally increased with the increase of the grout strength. Whereas, the grout strength has little influence on the ultimate strengths of stainless steel SHS tubular X-joints with grouted chord member only. On the other hand, the joint strengths obtained from the tests and parametric study were compared with the design strengths calculated using the current design rules. It is shown from the comparison that the current design rules are generally conservative for the design of empty stainless steel SHS tubular X- and T-joints subjected to axial compression, but unconservative for the design of grouted stainless steel SHS tubular X- and T-joints subjected to axial compression. Therefore, the new design equations were proposed in this study, which were verified to be more accurate.