FINITE ELEMENT STUDY OF THE FLEXIBILITY OF RECTANGULAR HOLLOW SECTION TRUSS GAPPED K-JOINTS.

A finite element model for a welded joint in a Rectangular Hollow Section Warren truss is presented, where the web members have a small gap between them at their connection to the chord face and a width less than about 80% of the chord width. The model has been developed for the purpose of studying the parameters influencing the flexibility of such joints at the serviceability limit state, and thereby defining the range of application of the parameters in practice. The top (connecting) plate of the chord member is modelled with both in-plane and out-of-plane action; the rest of the chord section is divided into a series of unit width planar frames.