Gusset Plate Connections to Circular Hollow Section Braces

under Inelastic Cyclic Loading

Gilberto Martinez-Saucedo1; Jeffrey A. Packer, F.ASCE2; and Constantin Christopoulos, A.M.ASCE3
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Abstract: Braces are commonly used to provide lateral stiffness and strength to steel framed buildings subjected to wind or earthquake
loading. Of the structural sections that can be employed as brace members, hollow structural sections represent a very good solution due
to their excellent structural properties in compression. Nevertheless, their use has been hitherto compromised for seismic applications
mainly due to a lack of simplified connection details that avoid brittle failures. At present, slotted hollow structural section connections are
popular in seismic zones but the hollow section is typically reinforced with steel cover plates to increase the net area at the critical location
to avoid premature fracture under tension loading cycles. This reinforcing practice can likely be avoided, for circular hollow sections, if
both the tube and the plate are slotted in such a manner that the weld terminates at the tube gross cross section. The potential of this
innovative detail is demonstrated by means of three large-scale specimen tests under pseudodynamic loading.
DOI: 10.1061/共ASCE兲0733-9445共2008兲134:7共1252兲
CE Database subject headings: Steel structures; Plates; Connections; Hollow sections; Cyclic loads; Seismic effects; Dynamic loads;
Bracing.

Introduction
The application of hollow structural sections 共HSS兲 as brace
members is well established. Experimental programs investigat-
ing the behavior of braces under cyclic loading started in the late
1970s and since then HSS have been extensively used in combi-
nation with the typical range of structural sections. Among these
studies, Jain et al. 共1978, 1980兲, Maison and Popov 共1980兲, Popov
and Black 共1981兲, Gugerli 共1982兲, Foutch et al. 共1987兲, Bertero et
al. 共1989兲, Pons 共1997兲, and Shaback and Brown 共2003兲 have
examined the behavior of circular, square, and rectangular hollow
sections 共CHS, SHS, and RHS respectively兲. Moreover, Lee
共1988兲, Liu and Goel 共1988兲, and Zhao et al. 共2002兲 have studied
the behavior of concrete-filled HSS. As a result, nowadays it is
acknowledged that the member effective slenderness ratio and its
cross section are the most important parameters defining the hys-
teretic behavior of bracing members. The most recent research
has been aimed at determining the parameters having an influence
on first occurrence of buckling and the development of equations
to predict the postbuckling compressive resistance after several
cycles 共Tremblay 2001; Tremblay and Bouatay 2002; Elchalakani
1
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Civil, Geological and Mining Engi-
neering, École Polytechnique, Montréal H3T 1J4, Canada.
2 may also occur.
Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Toronto, 35 St.
George St., Toronto ON, Canada M5S 1A4 共corresponding author兲.
E-mail: packer@ecf.utoronto.ca
3
Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Toronto, 35
St. George St., Toronto ON, Canada M5S 1A4.
Note. Associate Editor: James S. Davidson. Discussion open until
December 1, 2008. Separate discussions must be submitted for individual
papers. To extend the closing date by one month, a written request must
be filed with the ASCE Managing Editor. The manuscript for this techni-
cal note was submitted for review and possible publication on October
18, 2006; approved on November 28, 2007. This technical note is part of
the Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 134, No. 7, July 1, 2008.
©ASCE, ISSN 0733-9445/2008/7-1252–1258/$25.00.
et al. 共2003兲, Tremblay et al. 共2003兲, Goggins et al. 共2005兲, and
Elghazouli et al. 共2005兲兲.
In most of these studies, the HSS cross section was fully en-
gaged at the connections allowing a direct load transfer and also
avoiding failure at the connections. Despite the fact that this can
be made in experimental programs, the use of simplified connec-
tion details is always desirable. Gusset plate connections repre-
sent the easiest method of connecting CHS brace members.
During the fabrication of such connections, the gusset plate or the
CHS can be slotted resulting in several fabrication details. Even
though these connections are extensively used for structures sub-
ject only to static loading, stringent criteria restrict their use for
seismic applications. As a general requirement for bracing con-
nections under seismic loading, current design provisions 共AISC
2005a,b, and CSA 2001兲 require that the connection must resist
the maximum tension load that the brace member can attain when
its gross cross-sectional area 共Ag兲 yields 关i.e., RyAgFy, where Ry
represents the ratio of expected yield stress to the specified mini-
mum yield stress 共Fy兲兴. Since only part of the CHS cross section
is being connected by a welded gusset plate, an uneven stress
distribution around the tube circumference always occurs during
the load transfer at the connection 共see Fig. 1兲. Willibald et al.
共2006兲 have illustrated how shear lag leads to stress peaks at the
beginning of the weld which may result in connection failure by a
circumferential fracture 共CF兲. Moreover, a tear-out 共TO兲 failure
To account for this shear lag phenomenon, the tube net area
共An兲 at the connection is decreased by an efficiency factor 共U兲.
Therefore, to prevent fracture at the connection, AISC 共2005a兲
currently requires that
RyAgFy ⬍ UAnRtFu 共1兲
where U is determined based on the connection geometry and the
particular design provision; Rt = ratio of the expected ultimate ten-
sile stress to specified minimum ultimate tensile stress 共Fu兲; and
the resistance factors 共␾兲 have been set equal to unity 关despite
AISC 共2005b兲 prescribing a value of ␾ = 0.75 for net section frac-

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Fig. 1. Shear lag in CHS gusset plate connections
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ture兴. The values for Ry and Rt and the use of resistance factors in
Eq. 共1兲 are still a source of great debate in the technical commu-
nity 共Packer 2006; Haddad and Tremblay 2006兲.
In order to satisfy Eq. 共1兲, using typical available hollow sec-
tions 共ASTM 2003兲 An must generally exceed Ag. As a result,
Yang and Mahin 共2005兲 and Haddad and Tremblay 共2006兲 have
explored this option by reinforcing the connection region with
cover plates. Even though this solution may be practical for SHS
or RHS, it is a difficult option for CHS.
Recent studies 共Willibald et al. 2006; Martinez-Saucedo et al.
2006兲 have shown the potential for diminishing the negative ef-
fects produced by shear lag in statically loaded slotted end con-
nections to CHS. These studies have suggested that the
connection full efficiency 共i.e., U = 1兲 may be attained when these
connections are fabricated with a weld length 共Lw兲 greater than
the distance between the welds 共w兲, where w is measured around
the perimeter of the CHS. Moreover, when a ratio of Lw / w
⬎ 1.0 is used in slotted gusset plate connections under tension
loading, the viability of developing a neck in the tube rather than
connection failure was demonstrated. As a result, a connection
type merging the advantages of slotted gusset plate and slotted
CHS connections 关termed modified-hidden-gap 共MHG兲兴 is the
focus of this paper.
This paper reports on the testing of three brace members fab-
ricated with slotted CHS connections under cyclic axial loading.
Whereas the first brace member uses a conventional and unrein-
forced slotted CHS connection 共A-CY兲, the last two brace mem-
bers utilize a MHG connection. This connection concept, whereby
Fig. 2. Modified-hidden-gap connection
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J. Struct. Eng., 2008, 134(7): 1252-1258
both the plate and hollow section are slotted, is illustrated in Fig.
2. In practice, the plate is not pushed hard to the end of the slot
prior to welding but a gap is left, hidden inside the joint. This still
allows the erection and fabrication tolerances associated with
conventional open-slot gusset plate connections. Since the CF
originates where the weld terminates 共in this case at the gross
cross section of the hollow section兲, the critical net area is the
gross area of the hollow section. These three connections and test
specimens were similar in their overall dimensions which allowed
for a reasonable comparison of their responses.
Experimental Program
Tests were performed on three brace specimens under pseudody-
namic axial cyclic loading in a universal testing machine, with
displacement control used throughout the tests. The application of
displacement was controlled by readings of two 共linear variable
differential transformers兲 共LDVTs兲 attached to the gusset plates
共close to the tube ends兲. A third LDVT was used to measure
displacements between the machine clamps. A fourth LVDT was
placed at the specimen’s midheight in order to measure its out of
straightness. Each specimen was also equipped with ten strain
gauges to establish the strains in the connection region and white
washing was used to identify regions of high strain. Two loading
protocols were used throughout this experimental program: the
“ATC-24” guidelines 共ATC 1992兲 were applied for the first two
tests and a modified loading protocol was used for the third test.
Test Specimens
For the test specimens a 2.0-m-long CHS with a nominal size of
168⫻ 6.35 mm was used, with A500 grades B&C 共dual-certified兲
material having a minimum specified yield stress of 317 MPa
共ASTM 2003兲. A plate thickness 共t p兲 of 32 mm was required for
the fabrication of the gusset plates, with a minimum specified
yield stress of 350 MPa. The measured mechanical properties are
shown in Table 1.
All these connections were fabricated with a fillet weld length
of 250 mm 共providing a ratio of Lw / w = 1.07兲. A minimum free
 Table 1. Measured Material Properties Table 2. Measured Dimensions and Geometric Properties of Specimens
e f
E Fy Fu ␧u al Lw w Lw / w tp Wp
共GPa兲 共MPa兲 共MPa兲 共%兲 Specimen Tube 共mm兲 共mm兲 共mm兲 共mm兲 共mm兲 共mm兲
CHS 235a 382a,b 484a 34.4a A-CY CHS 12 250 234 1.07 — 368
d c c
Plate 共t p = 32 mm兲 200 351 530 18.0c MHG-1 168.5⫻ 6.35 12 250 234 1.07 32 368
a
Properties determined by the average measurements from several tensile MHG-2 Aa=3,126 mm2 12 250 234 1.07 — 368
coupon tests. a
Measured area calculated by weighing a piece of CHS and using a den-
b
Using the 0.2% offset method, as material was cold formed. sity of 7,850 kg/ m3. a1 = weld size 共leg length兲; W p = width of gusset
c
Properties from test certificate. plate.
d
Assumed.
e Moreover, this straining 关exceeding the material yield strain 共␧y兲兴
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E = modulus of elasticity.
f
␧u = ultimate strain at rupture.
distance of 2t p was provided in the gusset plate between the ma-
chine’s clamps and the change in cross section of the gusset plate
end. For the specimen A-CY, the distance left between the gusset
plate and the CHS wall was 30 mm 共see Fig. 3兲. As a result of the
favorable ratio of Fu / Fy = 1.26 supplied by the tube material prop-
erties, the test specimen had a ratio AnFu / AgFy = 1.11, ensuring
the attainment of tube gross cross-sectional area yielding before a
CF would occur.
For the study of the MHG detail, two test specimens were
fabricated herein with a slight difference 共see Fig. 3兲. The first
specimen had a gap size of 6 mm 共MHG-1兲 and the second had a
gap size of 30 mm 共MHG-2兲. Fillet welds were dimensioned so as
not to be critical with a nominal size of 12 mm. Two nominally
identical connections were fabricated at each end of a test speci-
men. The measured dimensions and cross-section capacities of
the specimens are shown in Tables 2 and 3.
Test Results
Conventional Slotted CHS Connection „A-CY… under
Cyclic Loading „Using ATC-24…
The application of six preliminary cycles at deformation levels
below the specimen yield deformation 共␦y兲 produced tube yield-
ing at the beginning of the welds, visually indicated by flaking of
the whitewash, confirming the persistent presence of shear lag
despite the fact that the specimen was loaded to less than ␦y.
continued throughout the test at that location 共see Fig. 4 inset兲.
Displacements at ␦y produced generalized material yielding in
the slot region. At 2␦y in compression a gradual increase in lateral
displacements at the tube midlength led to buckling of the speci-
men. It was during these cycles that yielding started in the gusset
plates. The attainment of 3␦y in compression produced inelastic
local buckling at the tube midlength. This is due to the high
compression load in the specimen as a result of its relatively short
length. At this stage, yielding propagated from the slot region
around the tube circumference.
At 4␦y in tension tube yielding 共in the slot region兲 extended
along the welds. On the other hand, during compressive excur-
sions the tube exhibited ovalization of its cross section at
midlength with local buckling in the tube.
At 5␦y in tension the material yield zone around the tube cir-
cumference increased. In addition, the ovalization of the tube
cross section became severe during excursions in compression.
An attempt to attain a deformation of 6␦y failed due to fracture at
the tube midlength. This occurred during the initial excursion in
tension where the tube was only able to attain a deformation
equivalent to 5␦y at fracture. The maximum load resisted by the
bracing member was 1,149 kN 共0.96 AgFy兲. Fig. 4 shows the
load-displacement response of the specimen based on LVDT read-
ings at the ends of the tube. Performance criteria pertaining to this
test specimen are given in Table 4.
Connection Detail MHG-1 under Cyclic Loading
„Using ATC-24…
This connection detail substantially improved the stress distribu-
tion at the connections. At the end of the cycles at 3␦y, yielding

Fig. 3. Connections tested

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 Table 3. Net and Gross Cross-Sectional Capacities tion of the tube cross section兲 as seen previously for specimen
Ag An A gF y A nF u A-CY. A further attempt to attain an axial displacement of 6␦y in
Specimen 共mm2兲 共mm2兲 Ua 共kN兲 共kN兲 tension failed due to tube fracture at its midlength 共reproducing
what was seen previously兲. Fig. 5 shows the load-displacement
A-CY 3,126 2,707 1.0 1,194 1,310
response of this specimen 共MHG-1兲 based on LVDT displacement
MHG-1 3,126 1.0 1,194 1,512
readings between the end of the tubes. Critical loads and displace-
MHG-2 3,126 1.0 1,194 1,512
a
ments attained for this test specimen are given in Table 4.
U determined as recommended by Martinez-Saucedo et al. 共2006兲.

Connection Detail MHG-2 under Cyclic Loading

only occurred along a small strip in front of the welds. This con-
trasted with specimen A-CY where yielding was generalized From the first two tests it was found that the presence of a high
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within the slot region.
During these cycles, strain readings at the beginning of the
weld demonstrated that yielding started there early in the test and
this strain continued to rise as the axial deformation increased
共see Fig. 5 inset兲. This contrasted with strain readings along the
weld where the maximum strain never exceeded a value equiva-
lent to ␧y throughout the entire test 共see Fig. 6兲. This improved
behavior 共i.e., reducing strain along the weld and moving the tube
material deformation away from the connection region兲, can
be attributed to the higher stiffness provided by this type of
connection.
During the application of the subsequent cycles, deformation
was concentrated at the tube midlength 共resulting in the ovaliza-
compression load 关e.g., specimen MHG-1 reached a maximum
compressive load of 0.92AgFy 共see Fig. 5兲兴 created a severe load-
ing condition. This precipitated low cycle fatigue of the tube,
culminating in fracture of the tube during a tension cycle. As a
result, it was decided to apply a modified cyclic loading protocol
to enable the specimen to exceed a load equivalent to AgFy in
tension while the compressive deformations—and thus the dam-
age in the tube at midlength—were restrained.
Two initial cycles with a deformation equivalent to ␦y were
applied to the specimen MHG-2. As a result of these excursions,
tube yielding occurred at the beginning of the welds 共see Fig. 7
inset兲, while strains along the weld remained within the elastic
range 共see Fig. 6兲. Tension was then applied until a displacement

Fig. 4. Load-axial displacement response for specimen A-CY 共SG at beginning of weld兲

Table 4. Performance of Test Specimens

Loading A gF y Pya ␦y Pmaxb P bc Dh-bd Da-be
Specimen protocol 共kN兲 共kN兲 共mm兲 共kN兲 Pmax / AgFy 共kN兲 P b / A gF y 共mm兲 共mm兲 ␦max / ␦yf
A-CY ATC-24 1,194 1,095 3.7 1,149 0.96 −1030 0.86 10.7 6.0 ⫾5
MHG-1 ATC-24 1,194 1,171 3.9 1,182 0.99 −978 0.82 4.9 4.5 ⫾5
MHG-2 Modified 1,194 1,179 3.9 1,428 1.20 −858 0.72 7.7 4.5 ⬎ + 22
a
Py = yield load.
b
Pmax = maximum load in tension.
c
Pb = load corresponding to initial buckling.
d
Dh-b = lateral displacement at initial buckling.
e
Da-b = axial displacement at initial buckling.
f
␦max = maximum inelastic excursion attained during the test.

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Fig. 5. Load-axial displacement response for specimen MHG-1 共SG at beginning of weld兲

equivalent to 12␦y was attained, which produced a load of
1,344 kN or 1.13AgFy 共see Fig. 7兲. At this stage, tube yielding
occurred along the tube. Strain readings around the tube circum-
ference and in front of the connection generally exceeded ␧y.
Afterwards, the specimen was unloaded and reloaded in compres-
sion to a displacement of only −3␦y 共beyond the zero load point兲.
This displacement was enough to register a decrease in compres-
sion capacity due to overall buckling of the specimen.
A displacement equivalent to 13␦y was then applied in a fur-
ther tension excursion. The flaking of whitewash illustrated a
more uniform material yield along the tube and in front of the
connections. On the other hand, no whitewash flaking was ob-
served in the connection region. This was corroborated by strain
readings along the weld as they remained within the elastic range
共see Fig. 6兲. Later, the specimen was unloaded and reloaded in
compression as described above. This loading protocol continued
until +16␦y, during which a gradual strength deterioration became
apparent. Moreover, increasing axial tensile displacements pro-
duced complete yielding along the entire tube, with the exception
of the connections 共see inset in Fig. 7兲. Strain readings along the
welds and in the gusset plates always remained within the elastic
range. Fig. 7 again illustrates how the maximum strains reached
in the connection region are significantly reduced with this type
of connection.
For the following three cycles, the tensile displacements were
increased at a rate of +2␦y but the displacements in compression
were also increased to −7␦y, −8␦y, and −8␦y respectively. This
was an attempt to increase the demand in the connections, but the
additional axial compressive displacement after buckling only in-
creased the local buckling damage in the tube.
Although these connections had a hidden gap of 30 mm no
signs of yielding along the welds or in the gusset plates 共specifi-
cally near the weld region兲 were evident even at 22␦y. Since the
axial displacement in this test exceeded the expected practical
value for brace members 共ranging from 10␦y to 20␦y兲, it was
decided to continue tensile displacement to failure. Near the end

Fig. 6. Strain distribution in connections

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Fig. 7. Load-axial displacement response for specimen MHG-2 共SG at beginning of weld兲
of the test, the tube developed a neck at its midlength which
continued until it fractured. The maximum displacement attained
at fracture corresponded to 308 mm and a maximum load of
1,428 kN 共equivalent to 1.2 AgFy兲 was registered 共see Fig. 7兲.
Critical loads and displacements attained for this test specimen
are shown in Table 4.
Conclusions
Inelastic cyclic loading laboratory experiments have been de-
scribed on conventional and new slotted CHS connection details.
The new MHG connection details have shown their capacity to
effectively attenuate the presence of shear lag 共which can lead to
a circumferential tube failure in the connection region兲. This, in
combination with their high stiffness, relocates inelastic strains
away from the connection critical cross section, despite the mag-
nitude of the applied displacement. As a result, the braces were
able to dissipate energy until they fractured at the tube midlength.
This is the main virtue of this innovative connection detail for
seismic applications, since the accumulation of damage will not
occur at the connection.
Acknowledgments
Financial support was provided by CONACYT 共Consejo Nacio-
nal de Ciencia y Tecnología—México兲 and NSERC 共Natural Sci-
ence and Engineering Research Council of Canada兲.
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