EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE BIDIRECTIONAL PIN HINGED JOINTS OF GUANGZHOU NEW TV TOWER

Two specimens at full scale of bidirectional pin??hinged joint in the Guangzhou new TV tower were tested using FEM analysis. The joint was the connection between a floor beam with an outer tube column, which was composed of radial spherical plain bearing, embeded slab, ear plate and pin. Based on the goal of the test, the test was carried out in two stages. After completion of test stage 1, some improving ideas were advanced for structural details of joints, and then the improved joints were tested in test stage 2. The experimental method, behavior within the whole loading period and failure mode of the joint were described. The test results indicated that the ultimate capacity of the joints was over 2.5 times of the designed load.The loading force on the failure condition has exceeded the rated dead load of bearing in two test stages. No failure behavior of the bearing was observed in the test. Both the test results and the FEM analysis results proved that the reinforcement of the joint with ear plate A and thickening flange of the connecting region of flange were quite effective.