2016 年 81 巻 719 号 p. 155-165
The non-diaphragm method provides a substantial benefit at the connection of CHS-column to stepwise H-beams in terms of simplifying the details as well as reducing the welds in comparison with the ordinary through-diaphragm method. The elastic and plastic behaviors of such a non-diaphragm connection are numerically investigated focusing on the local out-of-plane distortion of the cylindrical wall at the connection. Major findings are as following. The yield, plastic, and ultimate bending strengths are little influenced by the difference in depths of H-beams on either side of the CHS-column, and the previously proposed strength formulae are still valid without any modification. The elastic rotational stiffness, however, is moderately influenced by the step of the beams, which necessitates incorporating the depth difference into the previously proposed stiffness formula. The advanced stiffness formula demonstrates a satisfactory accuracy in predicting the stiffness of such a connection to stepwise H-beams.