Innovative 3D joint for steel modular construction

Abstract

AbstractIn recent years, the modular construction has been used in multi‐story and even high‐rise construction. Pre‐fabrication by off‐site manufacture leads to faster construction, improved quality and reduced resources and waste.The research work presented in this paper is carried out in the scope of the European project INNO3DJOINTS and it aims to develop innovative plug‐and‐play joints which enable modularity. The developed modular construction system is hybrid, whereby tubular columns are combined with cold‐formed lightweight steel profiles to provide a highly efficient structural system. The innovative connection is a device that connects the lightweight truss girder with the tubular column. It consists of a socket welded to the column and a T‐plug which is connected to the truss girder with a lap‐joint. Upon assembly, the T‐plug is simply fitted into the socket. Moreover, the newly developed innovative hybrid plug‐and‐play joints are also suitable for other specific situations such as retrofitting of existing buildings.This paper presents the developed structural system and the characterization of the plug‐and‐play joints based on experimental tests.