Abstract
Experiments on the yield strength of the pipe-houses were conducted. These houses are constructed using pipe framing, which is anchored to the ground by each pipe frame being pushed into the ground for 30 to 40cm. Twelve pipe-houses of actual size were evaluated. The pipe house were divided into eight types, depending upon the method of pipe connection at the ridge (joint type), the usage of braces and the span size. For comparison, a theoretical analysis was conducted with regard to four treatments to describe the structural behavior of the pipe portion that was buried in the ground.
Pipe-houses proved to be extremely tenacious. The yield strength of a swedge joint type is about 30% lower than that of an outer joint type because the ratio of the rise to the span is less (see Fig. 1 for joint description). The pipe house without braces has about a 20% lower yield strength than that with braces. The theoretical results assuming the pipe end is fixed under ground agreed most closely with observed experimental results. Using this assumption, when the angle of the pipe to the ground becomes close to 90°, or when the span siza on the ground becomes almost equal to that at the eave, the calculated displacements increased 25% to 60% at the ridge and 15% to 40% at the eaves.
