Flexural behavior of steel storage rack beam-to-upright connections

This paper investigates the flexural behavior of connections associated with the cold-formed steel storage pallet racks. This experimental study considered seventeen groups of beam-to-upright connections with different constructional details. Various influencing parameters, such as upright profile and thickness, pallet beam profile and the number of tabs in the beam-end-connector were investigated. Each group considered three identical specimens subjected to monotonic, static, hogging loading in a single cantilever test setup. The displacements and strains, including rosette stains, were measured at strategic locations. The results show that the deformation modes of the connections were similar prior to failure, while the failure modes depend on the relative thickness between upright and the beam-end-connector. Based on moment-rotation curves, the initial stiffness, the moment capacity, and the associated connection rotations were established. These values have been compared with corresponding international design specifications. Ensuing discussions shed light on the impact of parameters, such as thickness of upright profile, depth of pallet beam profile, construction details of beam-end-connector on the stiffness and moment capacity of such connections.