Abstract
The current design equations for ultimate strength of tubular joints are based on a limited number of experimental results performed on simple joints with simple loading conditions and depend on value of the branch to the chord diameter- ratio $\beta$ too much. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to estimate the ultimate strength of CHS tilbular joints considering the effects of branch inclination angles $\theta$, chord length to diametel ratio $\alpha$ and chord end conditions by finite element analysis. The analyses are performed using finite element software ADINA that is capable of modeling elasto-plastic material behavior as well as geometric nonlinearities. The results show that the current use of sin $\theta$ in normalized design equations for inclined branches is reasonable, but somewhat conservative. When compared with the previous experimental database, the close numerical results are obtained from the parametric studies on the static strength of T-, Y-, DT- and X-joints. Also, a new design equation for ultimate stregth of CHS tubular joints is derived using a modified version of the ring model which can include the effects of $\alpha$ and chord end condtion.