Experimental Study on Welded Connections for Rectangular Hollow Cold Formed Light Gauge Tension Members

Structural Steel sections are manufactured and transported to some standard specific lengths, as governed by manufacturing, transportation and handling restrictions. However, most of the structural steel members used in structures has to span great lengths and enclose a large three-dimensional space. The lengths of the members are required to increase by suitable connection (By Bolted/Welded). Thus, connections are essential to create an integral steel structural member.The present study is focused on determining the experimental tests on welded connections for rectangular hollow cold formed light gauge sections. This experimental work presents six experimental tests that have been carried out on 60mmX40mm Rectangular Hollow Sections (RHS). The experimental tests included Tension tests on Normal Sections and Butt Welded Sections by varying thickness and also the results are compared to Codal values. It is found that the welded joints have performed well and the Ultimate Capacity of the welded sections is slightly reduced in compare with normal sections. Polynomial equations have been developed using MAT LAB (Polynomial regression). The purpose of this investigation was to study behavior of full Butt welded Connection in Tension for cold formed light gauge RHS.