Numerical and experimental analysis of yield loads in welded gap hollow YT-joint.

This paper presents an analytical, experimental, and numerical analysis of plain steel, circular hollow sections welded into a YT joint. The overall behavior and failure of the joint are characterized under axial compression of the lap brace. There are two joint failure modes: plastic failure of the chord face and local buckling of the chord walls. Numerical finite element models agree with the experimental data, in terms of principal stress near the joint intersection, with an accuracy of around 10%. The finite element model thus proves to be reliable and accurate, and will be used in future parametric studies