| Experimental and numerical studies have been carried out on slotted connections for both rectangular (RHS) and square (SHS) structural hollow sections with no welding at the end of the slot opening. Slotted connections with different weld length ratio, slot orientation, gusset plate thickness and opening length were investigated.; Provisions to account for the shear lag effect on slotted RHS or SHS connections are found to be overly conservative in a number of design standards including CSA-S16.1-01 and AISC-LRFD-2000 Design Specification for Steel Hollow Structural Sections. Shear lag has been found to have no effect on the tensile strength of a hollow section for a weld length to distance between welds ratio as low as unity. The orientation of the slot opening, the slot opening length and the gusset plate thickness only have a minor effect on the strength of the slotted connections.; Based on the studies, guidelines on designing an economical full-strength slotted HSS connection for CSA-S16.1-01 without end welding are recommended. Proposed improvements to provisions in CSA-S16.1 and AISC design standards have also been put forward. |
