I beam-to-RHS column joints with threaded welded studs. An analytical model for the joint resistance

In the current situation of global warming, with increasingly frequent extraordinary climate events, it is important to propose solutions that contribute to more sustainable construction. In this context, having easily executable, demountable, and reusable joints that provide sufficient load-bearing capacity and reasonable stiffness is a very interesting option in the construction of steel-framed buildings. With this main idea, this research work presents innovative bolted beam-to-column joints involving IPE beams and hollow section columns. To avoid difficulties associated with the access to the inside of the tube, in order to tight ordinary bolts, threaded studs welded to the external column face are used instead. The threaded studs can be used in combination with angle cleats connected to the beam flanges to assembly demountable joints. In this paper, a large experimental campaign over full-scale joints is used to validate an analytical model based in the component method to determine analytically the resistance and the failure mode of these type of beam to column bolted joints. Good concordance was observed between the analytical model and test results, allowing to support its suitability for the joint design.