ABSTRACT
The paper describes a test program on cold-formed high strength steel tubular X-joints. The nominal yield strength of the tubular material was 960 MPa. The fabricated joints include the braces and chord made up of rectangular and square hollow sections. The gas metal arc welding process was used for the welds. A total of 15 X-joints was tested under axial compression through the braces without any preload in chord. The ratio of brace to chord width (β) ranged from 0.34 to 1, brace to chord thickness (τ) from 0.53 to 1.26, and the chord width to thickness (2γ) from 25.33 to 38.66. The resistances and deformations of the tubular X-joints were carefully examined. The test results were compared with strength and deformation criteria in Eurocode and CIDECT. The applicability of these design guidelines for high strength steel tubular X-joints with nominal yield strength of 960 MPa was assessed.
