%0 Generic
%9 Master's Thesis
%A Boyle, Rebecca Lynn
%D 2004
%F pittir:8378
%K bearing capacity; hollow circular section
%T Experimental testing of hollow circular section bearing capacity
%U http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/8378/
%X More and more, Overhead Tri-Chord Signing Structures are being used in the United States. The most common type includes a circular hollow structural section loaded through a strut with a Tee- shaped cross-section. This poses a problem in that the sidewall bearing limit state for this particular case is not currently treated in the existing design specifications. There are, however, many similar cases that are given consideration in the present specifications. However, it is not clear that these provisions are portable to the case previously described. The purpose of this research is three-fold: First to determine the capacity of a particular HSS-ST connection through full-scale experimental testing in the Watkins-Hagaart Structural Engineering Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh; second to evaluate the effectiveness of modifying the existing specification capacity equations for similar cases to fit the aforementioned connection geometry; and third, to use the results to validate nonlinear finite element modeling techniques being performed as part of a follow-up research program. After testing is performed it is apparent that the nominal capacity for the geometry used is 70 kips. The ultimate capacity is 96 kips, while the yield load is 30 kips. Certain modifications of the existing specification's capacity equations are useful, however, should be used with the proper amount of care and engineering judgment.