Experimental investigation on the behaviour of aluminium alloy beam-to-column joints connected by swage-locking pins

Abstract The experimental behaviour of aluminium alloy beam-to-columns joints connected by swage-locking pins under monotonic loading is investigated in this study. Eight full-scale tests were conducted. The beam-to-column joints included top-and-seat angle cleat connections and top-and-seat and web angle cleats connections. The configurations of the designed joints were different and no repeated tests were carried out. Prior to the joint tests, material testing and tests on swage-locking pins were conducted. The results clarified the effects of joint type, material of angle cleats, gap between column and beam, number of rows of pins on column flange, and backing plates on the structural responses of the joints. Following the experimental tests, design approaches for aluminium alloy beam-to-column joints were discussed. Various methods for evaluating the initial rotational stiffness and plastic moment resistance were studied.