3D component method for welded tubular T joints

The component method is a widely used approach for the design of steel joints. It enables to take into account the stiffness of joints in the global analysis, which is particularly important in the optimiza- tion of frames with semi-rigid joints and in the buckling analysis of truss members. The component method is included in the present Eurocode for connections between I and H sections. Recently CIDECT has proposed to take component method as a unified approach for the design of a wide range of joints including hollow sec- tions, although some issues, including the initial stiffness equations, remain unsolved. In this paper, the com- ponent method is employed for T joints with rectangular hollow sections under biaxial bending and axial force loading. The article develops the component model from a combination of springs and provides the de- sign procedures for the resistance and initial stiffness of the joint. Finally, the paper validates the method with the experimental and numerical data available in literature and discusses the most challenging issues to solve in the future