Fatigue behaviour of nailed tubular connections

Tests on nailed connections under static axial tension or compression loading have resulted in published limit states design procedures for these types of splice connections. This paper represents the results of an experimental study on the fatigue behaviour and performance of similar nailed tubular connections. A total of 14 lapped splice nailed tubular connections have been tested in fatigue under constant amplitude loading, with variables including tube thickness, number of nails and stress range. The performance of nailed tubular connections has consistently proven to be both reliable and predictable, both under static and now fatigue loading conditions. As such, design criteria for nailed connections can safely and easily be included in structural design codes.