Test arrangements

- 72 -

Table 29. Test program for flying sag tests with improved joint Test # Clips Tie rod ends Case ^α

[ ]

52 1 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 1 26.1 53 2 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 1 26.1 54 3 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 1 26.1 55 4 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 1 26.1 56 5 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 1 26.1 57 1 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 2 26.4 58 2 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 2 26.4 59 3 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 2 26.4 60 4 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 2 26.4 61 1 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 1 7.4 62 2 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 1 7.4 63 3 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 1 7.4 64 4 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 1 7.4 65 1 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 2 8.2 66 2 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 2 8.2 67 3 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 2 8.2 68 4 XCL-C, XCL-D CL230+CL230 2 8.2 69 5 XCL-C, XCL-D plate+CL230 2 8.2 70 6 XCL-C, XCL-D plate+CL230 2 8.2 71 7 XCL-C, XCL-D plate+plate 2 8.2 72 8 XCL-C, XCL-D plate+plate 2 8.2

Figure 68. Test arrangement for sag channel and adjustable piece tests 4.3.2. Setup for peak channel tests

The test arrangement for peak channel tests is shown in arrangement is the same as it was in the previous

slope of specimens. One peak channel is tested with the

are used at both ends and two purlins are applied for the proper connection of the sag channels. The length of the end elemen

only one end to provide free rotation.

The end sag channels are fixed with four bolts to the end support and to the jack. Hinges are applied with horizontal axes at both ends. Displaceme

applied during the tests. The horizontal displacement is measured by the MTS built measurement system. The test setup in the l

Figure 69.

End element

Purlins End element

- 73 -

Test arrangement for sag channel and adjustable piece tests Setup for peak channel tests

The test arrangement for peak channel tests is shown in Figure 69

arrangement is the same as it was in the previous tests; the only difference is the . One peak channel is tested with the typical end detail

are used at both ends and two purlins are applied for the proper connection of the sag channels. The length of the end element is 600 mm. The two purlins are fixed with one bolt at

free rotation.

The end sag channels are fixed with four bolts to the end support and to the

applied with horizontal axes at both ends. Displacement controlled load is applied during the tests. The horizontal displacement is measured by the MTS built

system. The test setup in the laboratory can be seen in Figure 69

Figure 69. Test arrangement in the laboratory Sag channel

Purlins Free rotation

End Sag channel

Purlins Purlins

Peak element

Test arrangement for sag channel and adjustable piece tests

Figure 69. The structural the only difference is the variable l, two end elements are used at both ends and two purlins are applied for the proper connection of the sag 600 mm. The two purlins are fixed with one bolt at The end sag channels are fixed with four bolts to the end support and to the MTS hydraulic nt controlled load is applied during the tests. The horizontal displacement is measured by the MTS built-in

Figure 69.

End element

End element

- 74 - 4.3.3. Setup for flying sag system tests

Two structural arrangements are tested; the first one is where the original joints of the Astron company are applied. After the first test series the observed failure modes required the development of new structural detail (this is presented later on).

The test arrangement of the first series for flying sag system is shown in Figure 70. Two cases are tested in a symmetrical (Case 1) and unsymmetrical (Case 2) arrangement. The tensile force is applied through the sag channel. The two ends of the purlin are not fixed, it can slide on a steel plate. The end of the sag channel can slide, as well. The applied angles of the diagonal can be found in Table 28. The steel quality of the applied bolts is 4.6 except the bolts at the far end of the tie rods where 8.8 bolts are used to avoid the failure there. The details can be seen in Figure 71 and Figure 72.

For Case 2 (one diagonal tie rod) additional lateral support is applied on the lower flange of the purlin to avoid the lateral movement of the purlin due to the unsymmetrical arrangement as shown in Figure 73. The initial friction resistance of the lateral support is 60 N and 0.001×F during the load history, where F is the applied force perpendicular to the sliding direction. Two different loading equipments are used during the flying sag tests.

Tests 36-43: the load is applied by an MTS hydraulic jack. The load and the displacement are measured by built-in measurement system of the MTS.

Tests 44-51: the load is applied by a 63/40x630 hydraulic jack; force controlled; maximum displacement is 630 mm. In this case the load is measured by load cell and the displacement by inductive transducer.

Figure 70. Test arrangement of flying sag system: (a) Case 1 and (b) Case 2 Lateral support Tie rod

Sag channel

Purlin Bolts in the web

Tie rod Sag channel

Tie rod

Clip CL231

Clip CL231

Lateral support

Lateral support (a)

(b)

- 75 -

Figure 71. Test arrangement in the laboratory: (a) Case 1 and (b) Case 2

Figure 72. Details of the test arrangement: (a) Case 1 and (b) Case 2

Figure 73. Lateral support in Case 2

After the first test series is completed new structural detail is developed at the sag channel, purlin and tie rod joint. As it is presented in the next chapter the failure mode was the pull-through failure of the bolts in the web of the purlin. To avoid this failure, reinforcing plate is applied at the purlin web, as it can be seen in Figure 74. This figure shows new gusset plates at the end of the tie rods which results in less deformation of the joint.

The other details of the second tests series are the same as in the previous cases. The load is applied with the 63/40x630 hydraulic jack and the force is measured in the sag channel and in the tie rods as well.

Tie rod Tie rod

Purlin

Purlin

Sag channel Sag channel

(a) (b)

(a) (b)

Lateral support

Purlin Sliding direction

- 76 -

Figure 74. Improvements of the new structural arrangement: a) reinforcement plate, b) gusset plate at the end of the tie rod

4.4 Test results