Experimental investigation of the rack-to-bracing joints between the high-rise steel storage rack frames and the independent bracing towers

This research experimentally investigated the behavior of the rack-to-bracing joints between the high-rise rack frames and the associated independent spine bracing towers. A total of twelve joint specimens were involved in the experimental program. The analysis of the experimental results indicates that the deformation of the upright components and the endplate components, as well as the bending of the bracing tower post flanges made significant contributions towards the overall deformation of the rack-to-bracing joints under consideration. Among all the design factors considered in these experiments, the initial stiffness of the rack-to-bracing joints is most sensitive to the changes in the thickness of the bracing tower posts. The fracture of the connecting bolts, the yielding of the upright flanges, the yielding and the tearing of the endplates, as well as the yielding of the flanges of the bracing tower posts may cause the failure of these rack-to-bracing joints.