Experimental research and theoretical study on bending capacity of tube-gusset K-joint connection

This study investigates bending behavior of tube-gusset K-joint using static experimental research and finite element analysis (FEA). Firstly, five groups of full scale tube-gusset K-joint models with different parameters which mainly refer to diameter and thickness of main tube were carried out to study the response and bearing condition of nodes in loading process. Then, finite element model of the joint was established, and the influence of main parameters including diameter and thickness of main tube, and length of gusset on the node mechanical performance was studied. Test and FEA results show that node bending capacity decreases with the increment of main tube diameter and increases with the increment of the main tube thickness and gusset length. On the basis of experimental and theoretical analysis, bending capacity calculation formulas of tube-gusset k-joint were proposed with numerical method and its applicability is verified.   Key words: Tube-gusset K-joint, static experiment, finite element analysis, bending capacity.