Joint Structures of Box Beams

This chapter presents a higher-order beam analysis of a joint structure in which multiple straight box beam members are connected at a joint, as shown in Fig. 10.1a. Owing to extensive section deformation occurring near the joint, the overall structural behavior of the joint structure becomes considerably more flexible than predicted by the classical beam theory (Donders et al. (2009); Mundo et al. (2009)). One can certainly expect improved or more accurate predictions with a higher-order beam theory, but the field variables of multiple box beams at the joint are difficult to match (Basaglia et al. (2012); Basaglia et al. (2018); Choi et al. (2012); Choi and Kim (2016a, 2016b); Jang et al. (2008); Jang and Kim (2009); Jang et al. (2013). Unless they are matched accurately, there is no way to make the use of the advantages of a higher-order beam theory which is shown to be accurate for straight box beams without any joints.