FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS ON MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF SINGLE-LIMBED BOX-I SECTION MEMBER TEMCOR JOINTS IN ALUMINUM ALLOY SPATIAL RETICULATED SHELL STRUCTURES

In order to study the mechanical behavior of single-limbed aluminum alloy box-I section member TEMCOR joints under vertical and lateral forces, comprehensive nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) of four aluminum alloy box-I section member TEMCOR joints was conducted by ABAQUS, which is based on the static loading test data of full-scale specimens. The mechanical behavior of TEMCOR joints was compared with that of rigid joints. The nonlinear FEA results showed that the web and lower flange of long-limbed box member of DZ1 was buckled when the applied vertical force reached the ultimate value, and the web of the nearby short-limbed box member of DZ3 was plastic. When the applied lateral force reached the ultimate value, fracture occurred on the outermost rivet holes at the connection of the long-limbed member for both specimens DZ2 and DZ4. The stress distribution of the joints is similar to that of the rigid joint. The hybrid box-I section member TEMCOR joints have high stiffness and can be used as semi-rigid joints in structural engineering.