Influence of tensile chord stresses on the strength of circular hollow section joints

The current version of the Eurocode for the design of joints does not include any brace load capacity reduction for welded hollow section joints with tensile chord preloading as opposed to those without. However, the more recent 2nd edition of the CIDECT design guides or the ISO standard for welded hollow section joints includes a strength reduction due to tensile chord stresses. This paper presents the results of experimental and numerical investigations into how tensile chord stresses influence the capacity of circular hollow section X-joints. The conclusion of this study is a new chord load function proposal for circular hollow section joints subjected to tensile chord stresses.