ABSTRACT
In current design codes, the equations accounting for the effects of chord stress in circular (CHS) and rectangular (RHS) hollow section joints are inconsistent. For CHS joints, the chord stress function is based on the chord pre-stress while for RHS joints the maximum chord stress is used. In the framework of a previous CIDECT programme 5BK, the chord load effects for CHS joints were analyzed in order to establish a chord stress function based on the maximum chord stress, being consistent for both CHS and RHS joints. The second objective of the CIDECT programme, was to re-analyze existing chord stress functions for CHS and RHS joints in order to establish a general form of chord stress function which can be applied for different CHS and RHS joints. In a new CIDECT programme the existing chord stress functions for RHS gap K-joints are analyzed. In this paper, the numerical results of this study for the chord load effects for different RHS gap K-joints are presented and compared with chord stress functions of the CIDECT Design recommendations.
