## 4 Results and Discussion
### Experimental Results and Comparison
#### 4.1.2 Comparison Between FEM and Experimental Data for the 180 mm Frame
This stress distribution is consistent with the higher load-bearing capacity observed for this configuration, as indicated by the force-displacement graphs (Figure 24), which show that the four-clamp setup also achieved the most significant mechanical resistance in this set. Figure 26: Force (N) vs. displacement (mm) for frame 180 mm with two-clamp configuration. As the number of clamps is reduced to three (Figure 28), the stress concentration becomes more localized, although it still follows the expected pattern within the compressed zones (Figure 7b). This effect is particularly evident in the upper region of the beam, near the clamps attached to the L-shaped plate (compressed zone), and in the lower part of the beam, especially in the web and flange, close to the clamps under compression. This redistribution implies an increase in the overall flexibility of the structure and a concentration of loads in more confined areas. When further reducing the number of clamps to a two-clamp configuration (Figure 29), the structural behavior remains consistent with previous cases but shows a seemingly more efficient stress distribution. However, this efficiency is associated with a reduction in the set's ability to support loading within the elastic range considered in this study. Figure 28: Comparison between numerical simulation and experimental test (3 clamps) frame 180 mm: (**a**) stress distribution through Finite Element Analysis (FEA); (**b**) experimental setup with instrumentation for displacement measurement. Figure 27: Comparison between numerical simulation and experimental test (4 clamps) frame 180 mm: (**a**) stress distribution through Finite Element Analysis (FEA); (**b**) experimental setup with instrumentation for displacement measurement. Comparing the analyzed configurations, it is observed that in the two-clamp arrangement, stress is distributed more homogeneously, predominantly in regions represented by green and blue colorations, resulting in fewer critical points. Even so, this arrangement leads to more significant displacements under the same applied load, as experimentally verified (Figure 26), highlighting a decrease in stiffness. In contrast to the transition from four to three clamps, where the variation in stiffness was moderate (approximately 9%), the removal of the third clamp more significantly affected stress dissipation, making the system approximately 19% more susceptible to deformation. Analysis of Plastic Strain Distribution  
The analysis of equivalent plastic strain shows that, for all evaluated configurations, the structure operated within the elastic range defined in this study, with no significant plasticization observed. In the model with four clamps (Figure 30), slight localized plastic strains appear in the compressed regions, indicating a concentration of applied loads in these areas, behavior consistent with the patterns illustrated in Section Stress Distributions and the Influence of the Number of Clamps. Nevertheless, the system remained within the elastic domain. Figure 30: Distribution of equivalent plastic strain in the model with 4 clamps (180 mm): **(a)** global distribution of plastic strain in FEA; **(b)** detail of the upper connection region; **(c)** detail of the lower connection region. Figure 29: Comparison between numerical simulation and experimental test (2 clamps) frame 180 mm: (**a**) stress distribution through Finite Element Analysis (FEA); **(b)** experimental setup with instrumentation for displacement measurement. Moreover, the connection behavior exhibited similar patterns across the different frame sizes tested. The four-clamp configuration displayed a response comparable to the three-clamp arrangement, concentrating stress absorption in the compression zones. Plastic strain was minimal in the three-clamp configuration (Figure 31), suggesting that the structure effectively redistributed internal forces.