Introduction of the Intermeshed Steel Connection—A New Universal Steel Connection
Salam Al-Sabah,
Debra F. Laefer,
Linh Truong Hong,
Minh Phuoc Huynh,
Jia-Liang Le,
Tony Martin,
Pantelis Matis,
Patrick McGetrick,
Arturo Schultz,
Mohammad E. Shemshadian,
Roseanne Dizon
Affiliations
Salam Al-Sabah
School of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 8Q66 4W, Ireland
Debra F. Laefer
Center for Urban Science and Progress & Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
Linh Truong Hong
Formerly University College Dublin, currently Department of Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands
Minh Phuoc Huynh
Formerly at University College Dublin, currently Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford X91 K0EK, Ireland
Jia-Liang Le
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Tony Martin
Department of Civil Engineering, Queens University Belfast, BT7 1NN Belfast, UK
Pantelis Matis
School of Natural and Built Environment, Queens University Belfast, BT7 1NN Belfast, UK
Patrick McGetrick
School of Natural and Built Environment, Queens University Belfast and College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
Arturo Schultz
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Mohammad E. Shemshadian
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Roseanne Dizon
Formerly School of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, currently Punch Consulting Engineers, Limerick V94 YC2H, Ireland
Digital manufacturing has transformed many industries but has had only a limited impact in the construction sector. To capitalize on advanced manufacturing techniques, this paper introduces a radically new connection approach for gravity structural steel frames. The proposed intermeshed steel connection (ISC) exploits robotic abilities to cut structural steel member ends precisely to accelerate deployment and offer better disassembly options over existing approaches. Forces are transferred through common bearing surfaces at multiple contact points, and connections can be secured by small locking pieces. This paper introduces the geometry, manufacturing, and initial analysis and test results of the connection. The paper demonstrates the ability of the connection to (1) be manufactured within current industrial tolerances, (2) be erected and disassembled, and (3) perform at expected design levels.
