EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF SPACE TRUSSES CONSTRUCTED BY A BOLTED JOINTING SYSTEM

Abstract

The loading system is presented in order to know the mechanical properties of practical bolted jointing systems of space trusses. For two typical types of practical bolted jointing systems, the bending moment- rotation relationships and axial rigidities at the connections are made clear by tests. Secondly, another loading system is presented, for buckling tests of a double-layer truss which consists of several structural units, to study a buckling strength and post-buckling behavior of space trusses, without full-scale tests. The member model which consists of a uniform member, rigid end parts and rotational springs is applied to the practical bolted jointing systems. The buckling loads and post-buckling behavior of space trusses are predicted by theoretical analyses, and compared with the corresponding experimental results to study the justification of the analytical procedure with the joints test result and the member model.