Parametric Equation of Stress Concentration Factor for Circular X-Joints Under Axial Loads

In engineering practice, tubular X-joints have been widely used in offshore structures. The fatigue failure of tubular X-joints in offshore engineering is mainly caused by axial tensile stress. In this study, the stress concentration factor distribution along the weld toe in the hot spot stress region for tubular X-joints subject to axial loads have been analyzed by use of finite element method. Through numerical analysis, it has been found that the peak stress concentration factor is located at the saddle position. Thereafter, 80 models have been analyzed, and the effect of the geometric parameters of a tubular X-joint on the stress concentration factor has been investigated. Based on the experimental values of the numerical stress concentration factor, a parametric equation to calculate the stress concentration factor of tubular X-joints has been proposed. The accuracy of this equation has been verified against the requirement of the Fatigue Guidance Review Panel, and the proposed equation is found capable of producing reasonably accurate stress concentration factor values for tubular X-joints subject to axial loads.

Plate reinforced square hollow section X-joints subjected to in-plane moment

The static test of 13 square hollow section(SHS) X-joints with different β and different types of plate reinforcement under in-plane moment in brace was carried out. Experimental test schemes, failure modes of specimens, moment-vertical displacement curves, moment-deformation of the chord, and strain strength distribution curves were presented. The effect of β and plate reinforcement types on in-plane flexural property of SHS X-joints was studied. Results show that punching shear of chord face disappears, brace material fracture appears and concave and convex deformation of chord decrease when either collar plates or doubler plates were welded on chord face. Moment-vertical displacement curves of all specimens have obvious elastic, elastic-plastic and plastic stages. As β increases, the in-plane flexural ultimate capacity and initial stiffness of joints of the same plate reinforcement type increase, but ductility of joints decreases. With the same β, the in-plane flexural initial stiffness and ultimate capacity of doubler plate reinforced joints, collar plate reinforced joints, and unreinforced joints decrease progressively. Thickness of reinforcement plate has no obvious effect on in-plane flexural initial stiffness and ultimate capacity of joints. As thickness of reinforcement plate increases, the ductility of reinforced X-joints decreases. The concave and convex deformation of every specimen has good symmetry;as β increases, the yield and ultimate deformation of chord decrease.

Analysis and Calculation of Axial Stiffness of Tubular X-joints under Compression on Braces

This paper introduces the influence factors of axial stiffness of tubular X-joints. The analysis model of tubular joints using plate and shell finite element method is also made. Systematic single-parameter analysis of tubular X-joints is performed using Ansys program. The influences of those factors, including ratio of brace diameter to chord diameter （β）, ratio of chord diameter to twice chord thickness （γ）, ratio of brace wall thickness to that of chord （τ）, brace-to-chord intersection angle （θ）, and chord stress ratio, ratio of another brace diameter to chord diameter, in-plane and out-of-plane moment of braces, etc., on stiffness of tubular X-joints are analyzed. Two non-dimensional parameters-joint axial stiffness factor ηN and axial force capacity factor ωN are proposed, and the relationship curve of the two factors is determined. Computational formulas of tubular X-joint axial stiffness are obtained by multi-element regression technology. The formulas can be used in design and analysis of steel tubular structures.

Behavior of axially loaded tubular X-joints using bolted connection:mechanical model and validation

X-joints are one of the fundamental joint configurations used in a wide range of transmission tubular structures.Experimental investigation of four tubular X-joints with bolted connection was conducted in this study,and it was found that the annular plate was the main yielding control member of such X-joints.Moreover,the portion outside the effective width of the chord member still had a restriction effect on the annular plate,which led to reducing the yielding strength of the joint,while the gusset plate could help to improve the yield strength capacity.In the current design code of steel structures,the contribution to the strength capacity of the gusset plate has not been taken into account.Therefore,based on some mechanical assumptions,a general mechanical model was proposed.After the introduction of the gusset plate strength capacity factor,the yield capacity simplified calculation method of such X-joints was derived.Through the analyses of such X-joints with various diameters and thicknesses,it was concluded that a simple mechanical model could predict test results very well and that the contribution of the gusset plate was also taken into account.