2015
Dr. Jeffrey A. Packer
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto
Offset HSS Connections
The objective of this research is to investigate the behaviour of offset HSS connections where HSS branch members are offset from the chord centreline and where connections are offset towards an open chord end (HSS branch members near the end of an open-ended chord) (see Figure 1 above). Such “irregular” connections are not covered in current design recommendations.
In the first phase of this investigation, a set of 12-16 isolated square/rectangular HSS, T-, Y- and X-connections experiments will be tested. In a second phase, finite element model calibration and parametric analysis will be conducted so that practical design guidance can be generated and published.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jeff Packer is a Bahen/Tanenbaum Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. He graduated from the University of Adelaide, Australia, then subsequently received his Master’s degree from the University of Manchester (1975) and Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham (1978), in the U.K. Since his initial appointment at the University of Toronto in 1980 he has undertaken research, development and consulting work primarily on tubular steel structures. He has published extensively on this topic, including several co-authored CIDECT Design Guide books (published in four languages) and two Design Guides for the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC). He currently serves on technical committees for the American Welding Society (AWS D1), the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the Comité International pour le Développement et l’Étude de la Construction Tubulaire (CIDECT), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the International Institute of Welding (IIW), where he is also on the Board of Directors. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (U.K.) and has served on the Editorial Boards of several journals. His recent awards include: Kurobane Lecture Award (ISTS, 2003), American Institute of Steel Construction Special Achievement Award (2005), Houdremont Award (International Institute of Welding, 2006), and a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Nottingham (2006)