ABSTRACT
The paper presents a series of tests on welded planar K-joints in stainless steel square hollow sections. Ten tests were performed using varying magnitudes of preloads in the chord for two ratios (β) of brace width to chord width. The tests showed that the design strengths of the CIDECT Recommendations for carbon steel joints may be conservatively applied to stainless steel joints provided the 0.2 % proof stress is used for the yield stress. The tests also showed that the serviceability deformation limit of 1 % of the chord width will not be exceeded if the design strength is based on the 0.2 % proof stress. Tests of carbon and stainless steel K-joints are compared, indicating that stainless steel K-joints are more adversely affected by chord preloads than carbon steel K-joints.
