Behaviour of an End Flatted Space Frame Connector: A Parametric Study

Abstract

Space structures contributed many structural applications within the last decades insteel industry with a remarkable acceptance. The popularity of three-dimensional structures has been growing steadily, but their present acceptance all over the world is truly phenomenal. Nowadays, space structures are willing used by architects and engineers for industrial buildings, sport halls, gymnasia, hangars etc. The large number of space frames built shows clearly that, through prefabrication and industrialization, these systems often compete very successfully with more conventional structures, at the same time providing architects with more impressive forms. In the past, the chief barriers towards the general use of these system were the complexity of analysis of space structures and the difficulty of joining several members in space at different angles. The introduction of electronic computer solved the first difficulty.A connector is an extremely important part of the prefabricated system and the final commercial of structural connections of all types has been the subject of intensive research during the last decade. Investigation into behaviour of 3-D space structure connector is main objective of the present work. A end-flattened connector is modelled in Creo Parametric 2.0 (Pro E) and analyzed in ANSYS 14.5 as per Bezerra, and the results were checked along with SAP results also [1].End-flattened connectors have to be studied for their performance for various parameters. In those parameters, flattening angle plays a major role. By changing the flattening angle and thickness of the members, the performance is studied by Ansys analysis and results are discussed.

Keywords: Space truss, end-flattened connection, truss load capacity