FOREWORD ‘The Committee T:2"ALUMINIUM ALLOY STRUCTURES” of the European Convention of Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) presents this first pro- onal edition of its Recoumendations for the design of the aluminium alloy structures, vhich closely follows the second edition of the ECCS Steel Recommendations, The Alu-Alloy Recommendations repr jent a very significant step in che activity of the Committee -12 which received from ECCS the wide task of studying all the aspects ‘of the structural use of aluminium alloys. When the Committee 12 began work on the application of aluminium alloys in the field of the so called civil engineering, ir had to face the following kind of problems + The existing literature on structural behaviour of alu-slloy, both theoretical and experimental, wi tion to the one on steel. rather limited especially in compa~ + Aluminium alloys, depending on their chemical coaposition, heat creat— ment and amount of cold-working, offer different mechanical properties; it is therefore impossible to consider then as one single material, but they must be studied as @ family of materials with the stres| relationship variable within the group. train + Extrusion produces variously shaped crow ections which are impossible to form by rolling, so that the alu-alloy profiles are not standardised like the steel ones. All these dificulcies underlined the fact that the problem was a rather delicate one, showing how necessary it was to reduce the gap in knovledge exiating between aluminium and steel.It. In this perspective the activity of Comittee T2, which at that time (1970) was called Sub-Committee 1.3.) vas planned and carried on. ‘The collection of the existing literature and its examination was per— formed in order to find out which items would deserve a deep investigation. Among these the Conmittee immediately addressed its attention to the buckling problems vhich play # capital rdle especially in the be~ haviour of alu-alloy structures. The problems were systematically stu- died and "ad hoc" research programs vere planned. These prograns, both theoretical and experimental, were developed with the co-operation and che financial support of several European Countries. I would Like to mention the first program which was devoted to cha~ racterize the buckling behaviour of the extruded profiles, and the last one dealing with the welded coluan buckling. Several tests were performed in order to measure geometrical and mechanical imperfections (residual elastic limit scatter) both for extruded and welded shapes. This led us to define for the first time what stresses industrial bar" means for alu- minium alloys and the mair differences with steel were emphasized. ‘The researches vere perforwed at the Universities of Litge and Naples, and also at the Testing Institut of Light Alloys (ISHL) in Novara (Italy). In generalizing on these testing results, it has been considered that the carrying out of systenatical simulation calculations would allow to extrapolate the available testing results of certain cases to all kinds of profiles and alloys used in practice. Through the simulation calculation it is possible to introduce the effects of shape, material and imperfections, find out their influences and combine them together in the most unfavourable way. Such an exploitation procedure led to the statement of nondimensional buckling curves, according to the multiple-curve approach used also in the Steel Recommendations. These curves vere chosen simply as possible, te- king into account the different kinds of materials and the different cruss~ sectional shapes, with the aim of covering all cases used in practice.ut, ‘Aw soon as a satisfactory degree of knowledge was ched, consi~ dering also some requests made by sone European Countries asking for the codification of our results, we decided to write doun a provisional text of Recoumen: ions and consequently an important re: lution was taken (1975). Three task groups were formed, relating to the principal items which seemed to be mainly typical of the alu-alloy constructions vith respect to steel. ‘They were: 7.6.1 - "Materials" (responsible Mr MOLINA) T.G.2 - “Stability” (responsible Dr FREY) (responsible Prof .VALTINAT) 1.6.3 - "Connections' The efficient activity of the three task groups made the preparation of the present edition of the Alu-Alloy Recommendations possible. These Recommendations follow, closely as possible, the same philosophy which the European Convention decided to adopt for the Steel Recommendations.The general safety principles are the same used not only for steel, but for all types of structural materials and all types of structures. From the point of view of calculation methods, up to now we have only considered the clacsical elastic design methods; the so called "plastic design" methods have not yet been introduced in the present edition because ve think that the knowledge of the field of plastic behaviour of alu-alloy Structures is not yet sufficient to be transfered into specifications. But some researches are already being carried out in this direction, so ve hope that the next edition of these Recommendations will not ignore the plastic design or, more appropriately called for alu-alloys, the inelastic design. ‘The codification of the stability problems h the results of original research performed by the Committee (Column buckling) or it has been inspired to the fundamental researches in this field (late~ been mainly based upon ral buckling, eccentric buckling).wv. Connections have been 1: imited to the classical types (bolted, riveted and welded connections). More sophisticated systems, such as glued connecé tions, have been deferred to the next edition. The calculation rules for shear connections and friction connections have been derived by considering the most recent results obtained from tests on alu-alloy connections with- out ignoring the corresponding specifications for steel. The calculation method for fillet welds is based upon the use of an interaction formula vhich makes the verification very simple. On the contra~ ry the design of welded elements ie rather couplicated for alu-alloys, due to the presence of heat-affected zones. These copice constitute the main body of the Alu-Alloy Recommendation: A series of documents , which are now under preparation, will be added to as Appendices. They deal wich couplementary portant), as for instance mater detail pects (which does not mean unin- 1 properties, fatigue design, constructional design criteria, stress akin design. Being the first version of the Alu-Alloy Recommendations, it will pro~ bably be incomplete and perhaps non-homogeneous in its different parts; never~ theless we hope that thie document, which undoubtedly fills an empty space in this field, should be usefull in design and pratice and it might represent 3 guideline for National Standards.I would like to express my appreciation to all the members and experts which have actively co-operated to this enterprise: Mr BACKMAN Prof .BAEHRE Dr CLARK Mr FERGUSON Me FRANSEW Dr FREY Prof.CATTO Mr HUFNAGEL Mr KOSER Prof .MARINCEK Mr MOLINA Mr NORMAN Prof .RAMIREZ Mr TRUB Prof. VALTINAT Mr van der HEYDEN Finally a 9 of the three c (Sweden) (Sweden) W.5.4) Gre ritain) QietherLands) (Belgium), responsible T.G.2. daly) (Germany) (austria) (lugosiavia) (france), responsible 1.G.1. (Norway) (Spain) (Switzerland) Germany), responsible T.6.3. a Lgium) cial note of appreciation should be made to the responsibles k groups, who vere very active and efficacious in the prepa~ tation of these Recommendations, Prof.dr.ing.Federico M.MAZZOLANI Chairman of the ECCS - Committee T2 “Aluminium Alloy Stroctures"R.0 R.2 R3 | INDEX INTRODUCTION R.0.1 scope OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS BASES FOR DESIGN R,1.1 GENERAL R.1.2 Limit STATES 1.2.1 ultimate states : 1.2.2 serviceability limit stetes R,1,3 REPRESENTATIVE VALUES OF THE ACTIONS R,1,4 CHARACTERISTIC VALUES OF THE STRENGTH R,1.5 DESIGN VALUES OF THE ACTIONS 1.5.1 ultimate limit states 1.5 1.5.1.2 accidental combinations +1 basic combinations 1.5.2 serviceability limit states R.1.6 DESIGN VALUES OF THE STRENGTH R1,7 VERIFICATION AT ULTIMATE LIMIT STATES R.1.8 VERIFICATION AT SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATES ALUMINIUM ALLOYS QUALITIES STRENGTH OF STRUCTURES AND THEIR COMPONENTS R.3,1 SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATES pagespages R.3.2 ULTIMATE LIMIT STATES 10 3.2.1 one dimensional states of stress 10 3.2.1.1 tension 10 3.2.1.2 compression "I 3.2.1.3 bending " 3.2.1.4 shear and torsion " 3.2.2 two and three dimensional states of stress "2 R.4 STABILITY OF STRUCTURES AND THEIR COMPONENTS 13 2 Re4.] OVERALL BUCKLING OF EXTRUDED MEMBERS 1 : 4.1.1 centrally compressed a 14 4.telet plane buckling: 14 4.1.1.2 flexural - torsional buckling 1g 4.1.2 bers in bending (lateral buckling) 19 4.1.3 members in bending and compression 20 4.1.3.1 beam columns with sway prevented 20 4.1.3.2 bd columns with sway permitted 22 R.4.2 OVERALL BUCKLING OF WELDED MEMBERS az 4.2.1 centrally compressed members 22 4.2.2 members in bending (lateral buckling) 23 4.2.2.1 members with longitudinal welds 23 4.2.2.2 members with transverse welds 24 4.2.3 members in bending and compre 24 4.2.3.1 members with longitudinal velds 24 4.2.3.2 members with transversal welds 25 R.4.3 LOCAL BUCKLING 2 4.3.1 unreinforced webs and flang 25 4.3.2 flanges reinforced with lips 25 4.3.3 flanges reinforced with bulbs 27R.S BOLTED AND RIVETED CONNECTIONS R.5.1 USUAL CONNECTIONS 5.1.1 Principles of calculation Seledel $.1,1.2 5.1163 Sit dek 5.1.0.8 5.16166 5.1,2 bolring 2° SeheBet 5.1.2.2 5.162.3 5.1.2.4 5.1.2.5 5.1.2.6 561.267 hear stresses bearing stress in tension and compression elenents connections subject to tension connections subject to combined shear and tension net areas influence of the number of bolts or rivets in the connection and riveting procedures bolt and rivet holes 2 spacing between bolts or rivets washers tightening of bolts nutes marking Protection against corrosion R.5,2 FRICTION CONNECTIONS 5.2.1 principle of calculation S-2.0.3 5.2.1.2 5.2.1.3 5.2.1.6 5.26165 5.2.1.6 preloading force slip factor or coefficient of friction design strength in friction con- nections connections subject to tension connections subject to combined shear and tension connections subject to combined shear and bending moment connections subject to combined shear, tension and bending moment design strength in bearing Pages 28 28 31 31 33 35 36 39 39 40 40 a 42 42 42 42 42 43 43 43 45 46 a7 a? 48 48 ae III.pages 5.2.2.bolting procedures 49 5.2.2.1, tightening the bolts 49 5.2.2.2. preparation of contact surfaces 50 5.2.2.3. holes st 5.2.2.4, pitch of bolts St 5.2.2.5. washers 52 5.2.2.6. fit of contact surface 52 5.2.2.7. protection against corrosion 52 5.2.2.8. storage of bolts $2 5.2.2.9. checks $2 5.2.3.calculation of framing connections with high-strength friction grip bolts 53 i 5.2.3.1. end plate connections . 53 5.2.3.2. flange plate connections - 57 R.6. WELDS . 59 R.6.0 GENERAL 59 6.0.1.reduced strength zones (RSZ) so 6.0.2.filler metal 60 R.6.1, CALCULATION AND DESIGN OF WELDS or 6.1.l.general, definition calculation methods 61 6.1.2.design of butt welds 63 6.1.3.transverse fillet velds 64 6.1.4. longitudinal fillet welds 65 6.1.5.allowable stresses and efficiency factors 66 6.1.6.combined stresses in welds 67 6.1.6.1. butt welds 67 6.1.6.2. fillet welds 67 6.1.6.3. strength of combined welds, simpli- fied calculation 68pages R.6.2. DESIGN OF WELDED PARTS 70 6.2.1. basis of design 70 6.2.2. equivalent cross sectional area, equivalent static moment, equivalent moment of inertia and equivalent section modulus TT 6.2.3. design of welded parts subject to tension and compression without buckling 72 6.2.4, design of welded parts subject to compres- sion with buckling 73 6.2.5. design of welded parts subject to shear = 73 6.2.6. strengthening of transverse velded parts 74 R.6.3. CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS 7 6.3.1 general was 6.3.2. welded connections Te: 6.3.2.1. butt welds 75. 6.3.2.2.fillet welds 7sRECOMMENDATIONS INTRODUCTION The Recommendations for Alu~Alloys Structures are inspired to the general principles of the European Convention for Constructional Steelvork, which also the Steel Redoumendations are based upon. Therefore the method for checking etruc~ tural safety: envisaged in these Recommendations are, ao close as possible, the same used in the Steel Recommendations It is a matter of @ semiprobabilistic "Limit state" method in vhich the term "limit state” defines any state in which a structure or any part of it be~ cames no longer capable of fulfilling the function for which it was designed. A distinction is made between “ultimate limit states’ and Limit ecates' rviceability The object of design is to ensure that the probability of reaching # par ticuler limit state is less that @ certain agreed value for the type of struc- ture under consideration.RECOMMENDATIONS R.0.1 SCoPE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ‘The present Recommendations deal vith load bearing. structures made of Mu-Alloys, provided that they are composed by sheets, plates, profiles and structural elements which are rolled, extruded, welded, Cast members should be considered on the same principles. ‘They suppose the use of the later indicated Aluminium Alloys (see R2) With material thclnesses about 20mm or more, particular attention is called to the mechanical properties of materials. These Recoumendations apply to homogenoas structures and not to struc~ tures in composite elements of different materiels working together. The types of constructions under consideration are generally: related to the field of structural engineering. As an example the following types of constructions should be nentioned: : . Buildings « Bridges . Industrial structures « Roof systems . Masts, pylons, transmission tovers . Hydraulic structures . Containers and storage tanks + Scaffolding structures » Crane structures Special attention should be given to the fatigue behaviour. Where specific regulations exist for particular types of constructions these must be respected.3a CdD C22. C2687 COMMENTS The general safety principles mentionned here are given in the anncze A "Common wified rules for different types of constructions and matorials" of the European Recommendations for steel constructions - edition 1278. The stated rules are based upon the use of the already knoum methods of elestic design. The a0 called “plastic' design" methods are not considered here. These Recommendations can be applied only by qualified engineers having the required knowledge of the assumptions which have been adopted in this approach and the necessary apprateat of vhat the "negligible errors” can be. Other approaches may also be user « etther by dtrect experimentation, + or by different calculation methods but te thie ease, tt behavea to the engineer to prove the reliability of the safety degree. On applying the present recommendations one is reteasuil from the charge to prove it. The folloving items must be completed for certain kinds of structures and for certain types of actions. Those itens should be given in particular apecifications, especially in case of fatigue and dynamic actions. In a genera2 way, the verification ealeulations will be of the Jat onder (it's the current practice). The requirements concerning the buckling, the lateral buckling and the local buckling have set up by placing the calculations in the field of the 2nd order; thoy Lead formations vhich vill be applied to verifi- catioms based on force resultants as calculated by Ist order theory.RECOMMENDATIONS R.1 BASES FOR DESIGN R.1.1 GENERAL The clauses of the present document concern the application to aluminiun alloys structures of the general aafety principles whose field of applica- tion englobes not only all the types of structures but also all the struc- tural materials. The following specifications concern the verification processes, which are called limic state verifications, to be carried out by taking into account for the actions andthe combinations of actions on one hand and for the Strengths on the other hand, the design values obtained by applying various Yrcoefficients to some representative valu To set up the numerical values, code maker authorities master builders or consulting engineers should cecide according to each particular cases. In the following articles, the numerical values are supposed to be fixed and given to the designers or supervisers in order to carry out a limit states verification. R.1.2 Limit states ‘There are two categories of limit state: + the ultimate limit states « the serviceability limit states R.1-2.1 ULTIMATE LIMIT STATES ‘These limit states, vhich correspond to the maximun load carrying capacity, should be checked by an elastic method of analysis. The limit states can be reached due to: « loss of stacic equilibrum of the structure considered as a rigid body + elastic or inelastic instability