ABSTRACT
Welded transverse plate to Hollow Structural Section (HSS) connections have proven to be a viable alternative to welded longitudinal plate to HSS connections. Due to the non-uniform stress distribution in a welded transverse plate connection, the connection design strength requires consideration of an effective width. Differences in how the effective width is applied and the application of limits of validity for the derived limit state equations introduce questions in regards to the ability to accurately predict the connection’s expected behavior. This study addresses these concerns through a detailed numerical study and a supplemental experimental study of two connections. Detailed finite element models that have been validated against past studies and the experimental findings are used to consider the influence of various parameters, such as the plate width to chord width ratio and the chord slenderness ratio, on the behavior, particularly when these parameters are outside the limits of applicability/validity.
