An Experimental Investigation on Base-Plate Joints of Steel Storage Pallet Racks

Adjustable storage pallet racks are framed structures commonly made of cold-formed steel profiles. The performance of these structures is strongly influenced by the beam-to-column and the base-plate joints behaviour. The key role of joints is even more significant in seismic loading conditions. The complexity of their non-linear and non-symmetric behaviour calls for their experimental characterisation both in monotonic and cyclic range. In recent years, attention has been paid to the study of beam-to-column joints, while the knowledge on the base-plate joints response is still quite limited. This gap is even more evident when the cross-aisle (transversal) direction and the cyclic range are considered. The research presented in this paper focuses on the monotonic and cyclic experimental response of a typical rack base-plate joint, tested both in down-aisle (longitudinal) and cross-aisle direction. The main features and outcomes of the study are presented and discussed.