Analysis of Beam-to-Upright End Connections Steel Storage Systems

Abstract

This study presents an experimental and numerical research into the behavior of beam-to-upright end connections, which are part of steel storage systems. A total of 21 cantilever tests comprising three upright and four beam cross sections, were conducted, and a finite element numerical model was developed. The mod el was developed to compare its results with experimental results and to extrapolate these results in a parametric analysis. The aim of the study is to evaluate the behavior, semi-rigidity, and influence of the geometric parameters in the stiffness of beam-upright lipped connections of pallet-type industrial storage systems. The results of the numerical model showed good correlation with the experimental results, in terms of moment-rotation behavior and the initial stiffness values, with a maximum differenc e of 10%. In the parametric analysis, a pattern was observed in the variation of stiffness when the dimensions-mainly the height of beams-of the prototypes were increased.

Effect of the Looseness of the Beam End Connection Used for the Pallet Racking Storage Systems, on the Mechanical Behavior of the Bearing Beams

“…The main purpose of this research is to investigate the looseness that occurs in the tab connector in beam-upright connections and to evaluate the influence of looseness effect for the portal beam loaded with pallets, having different types of tab connectors at There are some published papers [5,6,9] which approach the experimental testing of the beam-to-upright end connections for steel storage system, with tab connectors, under bending loading, without considering the looseness effects. Investigations conducted on the rotation stiffness of the tab connections showed that the increasing of the height of the connector or the increasing of the number of the tabs of the connector, respectively, lead to the increasing of the connection rigidity [6,20], while the effect of the gap between the beam and the face of the tab connector could be neglected [20].…”

“…Typical connections used to assembly the uprights with beams, for the racking storage systems, are bolted connections [ 3 , 4 ] and connections with metal tabs [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Most research on such connections focuses on the analysis of rotational stiffness at ambient temperature [ 5 , 6 , 9 ] and high temperatures [ 10 ].…”

“…Typical connections used to assembly the uprights with beams, for the racking storage systems, are bolted connections [ 3 , 4 ] and connections with metal tabs [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Most research on such connections focuses on the analysis of rotational stiffness at ambient temperature [ 5 , 6 , 9 ] and high temperatures [ 10 ]. Bolted connections are a less expensive alternative to tab connectors, used for assembling of the pallet storage systems by taking into account the manufacturing technology of the tab connectors and the upright slots [ 3 ].…”

“…Moreover, Escanio [ 9 ] validated the numerical models of such a beam-to-upright end connection subjected to bending, by correlation with the experimental results obtained for different combination between three types of uprights and four kinds of beams whose cross sections were different. However, the looseness between the metallic tabs and upright slots was not approached in the experimental program.…”

Load Distribution Optimization of Steel Storage Rack Based on Genetic Algorithm

“…Steel storage racks play a critical role in the popularity of online shopping. At present, the research on steel storage racks mainly focuses on the structural performance of steel storage racks' members and components such as uprights [1][2][3][4][5], joints [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], and frames [14][15][16][17]. Typically, these investigations assume that the effects of the center of gravity and eccentricity of the load are disregarded.…”