Reference Type:  Journal Article
Record Number: 1
Author: Freitas, Cleirton A. S., Silva, Welington V., Bezerra, Luciano M., Júnior, Francisco F. S. M., Neto, Vinícius C. P. and Ribeiro, Brenda A. T.
Year: 2019
Title: EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SPACE TRUSSES WITH TYPICAL CONNECTIONS
REINFORCED WITH STEEL AND SISAL-RESIN SPACERS
Journal: Advanced Steel Construction 
Volume: 15
Issue: 4
Pages: 398-405
Date: Dec
Type of Article: Article
Short Title: EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SPACE TRUSSES WITH TYPICAL CONNECTIONS
REINFORCED WITH STEEL AND SISAL-RESIN SPACERS
Alternate Journal: Adv. Steel Constr.
ISSN: 1816-112X
DOI: 10.18057/IJASC.2019.15.4.10
Keywords: Space trusses
Fragility
Experimental study
Simple connections
Spacers reinforcement
Abstract: Space trusses are reticulate systems used worldwide because of their advantages in covering roofs with large free spaces. In
addition to having a low cost, the self-weight of such trusses is relatively reduced. The limitations on the use of these
structures are mainly related to the fragility of the nodes, specifically those classified as typical nodes which may collaps e
when submitted to service loads due to eccentricities generated by stamped connections. This fact restricts significantly the
use of space trusses. Considering this fact, the present research evaluates a reinforcement proposal for the typical
connections with a series of eighteen prototypes. The reinforcements tested are made with steel plates and spacers. In this
work, spacers are made of steel or sisal with fiber polymer resin. Such spacers are employed to correct part of the
eccentricities present at typical nodes. The experimental tests show an increase of about 40% of the resistant capacity of the
truss with the proposed reinforcement avoiding the early collapse of typical nodes. In truss prototypes with typical nodes,
local abrupt collapses always happened at nodes. In reinforced trusses, collapse took place by buckling of the bars at the top
chord of the prototypes, therefore, taking account of the bar full resistance.
Author Address: 1Research Group on Structural Engineering in Cariri - GPEEC, Federal University of Cariri - http://www.ufca.edu.br, Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Brasilia - UnB http://www.unb.br, Brasília, Brazil
*(Corresponding author: E-mail: andre.freitas@ufca.edu.br)
Language: English