Hybrid connection technologies for hollow sections in steel construction

Circular hollow sections (CHS) offer a variety of constructional and architectural advantages. Up to now, hollow section structures have usually been connected by welding, and more rarely by bolting. However, these established connection methods have disadvantages. Despite its great success in the mobility sector, adhesive bonding is not yet used for joining hollow steel sections in steel construction. Adhesive bonding, however, has significant advantages, especially if combined with classical joining processes. To highlight these advantages, this article presents excerpts from the results obtained in two recently completed research projects. First, a hybrid brace connection for hollow section framework structures is presented which combines welding, bolting and adhesive bonding methods. In addition, the loadbearing behaviour of a novel hybrid grouted connection, which advantageously combines adhesive and grout materials, is analysed and discussed in this paper.