Evaluation of rack connection mechanical properties by means of the Component Method

The comparison highlights the accuracy of the proposed model that permits the weakest component of the joint and its failure mode to be evaluated. The CM provides fundamental information about the influence of structural details on the joint behavior, and it could be used in the design of rack connections to improve their structural response. The proposed mechanical model appears appropriate for predicting features of studied connections and especially for analyzing main components, which influence the initial rotational stiffness and the ultimate bending moment of rack connections. Finally the proposed model can be easily modified to be used in the analysis of other connector types, as only a limited number of structural and geometrical data are required for its definition.