Design recommendations for axially loaded elliptical hollow section X and T joints

This paper presents a summary, with background information, of the design recommendations developed recently for axially loaded X and T joints between elliptical hollow sections (EHS). These recommendations are based on experimental tests, finite element (FE) calibration and parametric studies carried out in a collaborative research programme between the universities of Singapore, Toronto and Delft.
The strength equations are presented in a similar manner to those currently adopted for circular hollow section (CHS) joints and rectangular hollow section (RHS) joints in ISO 14346 (2013). The ISO recommendations are based on, and are similar to, those of the International Institute of Welding, IIW-XV-E, which were also published by the Comité International pour le Développement et l’Etude de la Construction Tubulaire (CIDECT) in recent editions of their Design Guides.