Analytical and numerical studies on steel columns with novel connections in modular construction

Abstract

Prefabricated modular construction is a new type of promising structures. This type of structure is an excellent alternative to conventional on-site buildings with advantages of shortened construction time, improved construction quality and reduced environmental pollution. A new concept of modular construction with novel connections has been proposed. This paper mainly focuses on the behavior and design of the innovative steel column working together with tenons at both ends. The fourth-differential equation was firstly adopted to develop a theoretical model to determine the buckling length of the column. Then, a 3-D nonlinear finite element (FE) model was developed to simulate the ultimate strength behavior of the novel column under pure compression. Parametric studies reveal that the tenons play a significant role in affecting the ultimate load and the corresponding end shortening, among which the length of the tenons is the most important factor. The design approach and recommendations are also discussed through assessing the applicability of the current design code.