Adequate knowledge of mechanical properties and their statistical description is the basis for performing reliable verification of design methods and design of structures in general. The probabilistic design approach implemented in Eurocodes requires statistical data on all variables used in the design procedure. Although aluminium was introduced in structural Eurocodes more than four decades ago (ENV), the statistical database of mechanical properties is still inadequate. To provide a reliable statistical background, data collection was performed concerning aluminium products mainly found in the European market, within the last 20 years regarding certificates from the aluminium industry and 30 years regarding data from the research community. The collected data include aluminium alloy series 1xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx, mainly extruded, and relevant mechanical properties such as 0.2% proof strength, ultimate strength, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio. They were fit to distributions, and relevant fractiles were determined, along with an analysis of nominal to characteristic and design value ratios. Variation of ratios obtained shows that that the majority of nominal values are economical and reliable. However, certain adjustments to nominal values are required to achieve a uniform reliability level in terms of the choice of alloy and temper.

Aluminium portal frames with a tension tie element are a commonly used type of aluminium structure. Due to the significant reduction in aluminium’s mechanical properties caused by welding, typical beam to column joints of such frames are formed using bolts and welded steel knee joints embedded in the structure. Expressions for the reliable assessment of the behaviour of such joints are lacking, thus limiting the use of aluminium portal frames. Although the behaviour of steel joints using hollow sections is well investigated, there are only a small number of studies regarding knee joints, none of which investigate the influence of the tie element on the joint behaviour. Therefore, the first stage of the research is focused on the flexural behaviour of steel knee joints with tension tie elements. Laboratory tests of three identical steel knee joints with a tension tie element were conducted as well as a parametric numerical study with variation of tie element stiffness. It was concluded that different stiffnesses of the tie element have little influence on moment–rotation behaviour of the knee joint, but greatly affect overall frame resistance to vertical loads. It was also concluded that different stiffnesses of the tie element can lead to different failure modes of the knee joint as well.

To provide the foundations for economic and social prosperity, countries worldwide need to be making a term investment in their building assets. However, there is a lack of a systematic approach, such as manufacturing innovations, to maximize the values of building components and materials in its entire lifecycle. Steel-concrete composite floor systems are one of the most cost-effective construction systems for multi-storey steel buildings because they combine structural efficiency with the speed of construction. These advantages depend on the efficiency of combining steel and concrete structural elements to avoid their inherent disadvantages. This paper presents a solution that integrates state-of-the-art knowledge in new, fast and productive spot-welding technology and innovative cold-formed steel-concrete composite solutions. The solution proposes a new construction method as a combination of built- up cold-formed steel members and cast-in-place concrete slab. The proposed floor system offers key benefits in terms of a high degree of prefabrication, reusability and long spanning capability.

Usually, prefabricated aluminium halls use portal frame structures with a high strength steel tension tie element. Due to the high reduction of aluminium strength induced by welding, aluminium joints of prefabricated halls are almost exclusively formed using bolts in combination with steel reinforcements. The most convenient type of reinforcement is a steel tube knee joint insert. In these joints, the transmission of forces is realized partially through bolts and partially through a complex contact mechanism between aluminium members and the steel tube knee joint insert. Detailed overview of the behaviour of such joints is still unknown and simple expressions for the assessment of their behaviour are lacking. With that in mind, as a first phase of the research, laboratory tests of steel tube welded knee joints with bolted tie element were performed under the application of static loading. Numerical simulations in ANSYS were performed to enable a deeper insight into the complex interaction of different joint components. Due to the limitations of laboratory equipment and the fact that only a ‘rigid’ tie element (circular tube) was utilized in tests, numerical simulations were also applied to extend experimental results and include different, more realistic, levels of axial stiffness of the tie element. Obtained structural properties of the tested joint type are provided and discussed regarding the advancement of understanding underlying behaviour parameters and outlining further research phases.