# Static Bearing Capacity Investigation of a Novel Prefabricated Light-Steel Beam-Column Connection
## 4 Conclusions  
In this study, we investigated the structural performance of the proposed light-steel beam-column connection by carrying out experimental tests. Eight cruciform specimens with different configurations were tested to failure under balanced vertical loading. The effect of three primary parameters on the load-bearing capacity of the proposed connection and the deflection of the truss beam were investigated, i.e., truss-beam configuration, truss-beam type, and with or without sleeve tube reinforcement. Based on the experimental results, the following conclusions can be drawn:  
1. A sleeve tube plug-welded to the thin-wall RHS column can significantly increase the static bearing capacity of the proposed connection because it can effectively prevent  
Figure 16: Effect of truss\(-\)beam type on the proposed connection. (a) JU60\(-\)1 and JU100\(-\)4, (b) JU60\(-\)2 and JU100\(-\)3, (c) JU60\(-\)3 and JU100\(-\)2, (d) JU60\(-\)4 and JU100\(-\)1.  
local buckling of the RHS column. In engineering practice, it is recommended to use a sleeve tube to locally reinforce the thin-wall RHS column for the proposed connection. 2. The light-steel beam-column connection has a higher load-bearing capacity and a lower deflection of the truss-beam when the brace members are arranged in a \"V\" shape. 3. For specimens without a sleeve tube to reinforce the thin-wall RHS column, those with double-truss beams have a higher load-bearing capacity and a lower deflection compared to their counterpart composed of single-truss beams. However, for specimens with a column locally reinforced with a sleeve tube a single-truss beam has a higher load-bearing capacity and a lower deflection compared to the counterpart composed of double-truss beams. Because double-truss beams are more troublesome to fabricate and require more material, it is recommended to use single-truss beams for the proposed light-steel beam-column connection. 4. For all the specimen tested, four types of local failure were observed: local column buckling, fillet-weld fracture, U-connector buckling, and local buckling of the slotted region of the chord under compression. Local column buckling can be prevented by using a sleeve tube. Fillet-weld quality should be guaranteed to avoid early failure of the connection due to weld fracture. U-connector buckling was only observed for specimens JU100-1 and JU100-3, and it appears that U-connector buckling only occurs when the fillet weld of the proposed beam-column connection is sufficiently strong. In order to reduce local failure of the slotted region of the chord under compression, it is necessary to control the deformation of the sidewall of the slotted region of the chord during slotting and assembly processes. Due to a lack of suitable loading system, the authors had to apply the monotonic loading to each specimen using two manual oil jacks in a force-control manner. Therefore, loading-displacement data after the peak load was obtained. In fact, it is preferred to apply the monotonic force simultaneously to the two loading points of each specimen in a displacement-control manner so that the full loading-displacement curves can be obtained. More experimental tests are needed to propose a design approach for the proposed light-steel beam-column connection. Conceptualization, X.W. ; methodology, X.W. ; investigation, X.L. and F.L. ; writing--original draft preparation, T.L. and H.W. ; writing--review and editing, T.L. and X.X. ; supervision, X.W. and Z.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This study was funded by the Major Science and Technology Program Projects of Hainan Province (ZDKJ2021024), the Key Research and Development Program of Hainan Province (ZDYF2021 GXJS211), the Foundation of Zhongshan Institute of Advanced Engineering Technology of WHUT (WHUT202002), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51908437). Not applicable. The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.