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The present paper investigates the behaviour of welded T-end connections to Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) members in pure tension. A series of tests in the laboratory and finite element modelling were carried out. The experimental programme consisted of testing to failure of a total of 19 specimens with varying parameters, namely the tube size and cap plate thickness. The failure load and modes of failure were recorded for all specimens. Furthermore, strains (stresses) and deflections at different locations in the connection were also recorded and plotted against the applied load. In order to make the testing programme manageable, the cleat plate thickness and size was kept constant for all the tests. From the test results, it became evident that the cap plate thickness was the most important parameter in deciding the joint capacity and associated mode of failure. The test results were compared with the numerical analysis results using the finite element package ANSYS. Some design recommendations are made based on the work undertaken so far and comparison is made with existing design equations. Introduction The excellent properties of structural hollow sections have long been realised [1,2]. It is often said that connections made with hollow sections are complex and expensive to fabricate. In reality they can be made simple and cost-effective in addition to their higher capacity compared with traditional type of connections made with open sections. This is to add to their excellent aesthetic appearance making them the ideal choice in many elegant structures. Rectangular hollow section (RHS) members are often used as compressive members due to their good buckling stiffness. Often such members are also required, and indeed should be designed, to take also tensile forces. One of the simplest ways to connect tubular members is by cutting the ends and welding together. However, depending on joint configuration and number of members connected, this may result in complex and expensive connections. The alternative would be to connect the members together through some other means. Figure 1 shows types of end connection detail for hollow tubes that are used in practice. One of the most economic solutions is to weld a cap plate to the tube (CHS or RHS) and then weld on to it a cleat plate (Figure 2). The connection could be made entirely in the workshop, thus reducing labour work on site. In the UK very little work has been conducted on welded T-end connections. Elsewhere, research work was carried out mainly in Australia [3-5] and Sweden [6]. Such work has also been reported elsewhere [7,8]. Experimental studies conducted by Lehman et al [9] and numerical studies by Yoo et al [10], have clearly indicated that relatively large and thick gusset plate concentrates the cyclic strain demand in the middle of the brace, thereby reducing the deformation capacity of the brace. Uriz et al [11], presented a model for the inelastic buckling behaviour of steel braces. The model consisted of a force-based frame element with distributed inelasticity and fiber discretization of the cross section. Even though the model does not account for the effect of local buckling, this phenomenon does not seem to appreciably affect the global response of braces with compact sections. Nascimbene [12] proposed non-standard numerical modelling of thin-shell structures through geometrically linear formulation. A two dimensional, threeand five-node arch element was developed devoid of shear and membrane locking, even in the extreme thin limit. By adopting different choices on the shape functions regarding shear, bending, and membrane strains appropriately projected over Gauss integration points, a family of locking free-shell finite elements were derived. The undesired locking phenomena were completely suppressed. A range of numerical examples were given by the author to show the accuracy of the formulation proposed and comparisons with well-known shell finite elements. Figure 1: Type of end-connections

Experimental and Finite Element Investigation of Welded T-End Connection to Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) in Pure Tension