Investigation of the modular building metal frame nodal connection rotational stiffness

Abstract

The research subject is the rotational stiffness of the modular building metal frame nodal connection. The stiffness of nodal connections has a significant impact on the results of calculating the load-bearing frame of a modular building. It is known that absolutely rigid connections exist only in theory. In practice, each nodal connection has a finite stiffness, as evidenced by numerous studies of the researchers. When designing the real objects, the studies on the stiffness of nodal connections of a certain design should be carried out. As a rule, when designing real objects, there is no time to carry out the research. The designer operates with well-known and reliably proven recommendations. It is important for him to have the ready-made solutions for implementation in design practice. Such solutions can be provided on the basis of preliminary studies of the joints’ behavior of the structural elements under load. The article presents a solution to such a problem. The study of the stiffness of the nodal connection with the connected elements parameters variation has been carried out. The purpose of the study is to find the boundaries of design solutions at which the connection can be considered rigid.