THE TENSILE PERFORMANCE OF INTER-MODULE CONNECTION WITH A BOLT AND SHEAR KEY FITTING FOR MODULAR STEEL BUILDINGS

Modular steel buildings, as one of the most integrated prefabricated construction forms, have recently received extensive attention. The connection between modules (inter-module connection) plays a vital role in modular steel buildings’ overall performance. However, most of the existing inter-module connections have problems such as insufficient construction space, difficulty in disassembly, etc. This paper proposed an innovative inter-module connection with bolt and shear key fitting, which is convenient for construction and has a clear force transmission path. The proposed connection separates the load-bearing components and has a high tolerance for installation errors. The advantages of the connection in configuration and installation were introduced, and the tensile performance of the connection was investigated with the monotonic static test. A finite element model verified with the test was also proposed to simulate the performance of the connection, and the main bearing components and failure modes of the connection were obtained through parametric study with the finite element model. Combining the experimental and numerical study results, a formula was proposed for predicting the tension capacity of the connection for practical design of inter-module connection for modular steel buildings.