Analysis of the bearing resistance of the modified bolted end-plate joints of thin-walled profiles used in modular construction

The paper presents the results of testing the bearing resistance of the bolted joints of thin-walled profiles used in modular construction. The two types of joints currently applied in the construction industry were subjected to tests. One of them served as the reference sample, and the other as the research sample, which was used to find a solution that is more favorable in terms of the complexity of its production process and its bearing resistance. In addition to the modified shape of the end-plates, the bearing resistance of the joint was also analyzed with regards to the different diameters of bolts (bolts M12 and M16 were used), their classes (the difference between bolts of class 8.8 and 10.9 was examined), and also the number of them in the joint (3 or 5 bolts). Moreover, two thicknesses of steel sheets (3 mm and 4 mm), from which thin-walled cold-bent profiles were made, were used in the research. The bearing resistance tests were carried out with the use of a testing press of the authors’ own design. On the basis of the measurements, plots of the dependence between the deflection of the samples and the force acting in the middle of their span were drawn. It was shown that the tested profile joint had an increased bearing resistance by up to 26% when compared to the reference sample. The maximum destructive bending moment M was equal to 10.7 kN·m for the reference sample, and to 13.5 kN·m for the analyzed design solution. In total, 6 types of modified joints were made for the tests, of which five showed a comparable or higher bearing resistance than the reference sample. Each type of joint was tested by bending it in two directions in relation to the central axis of its cross-section.