Analyzing the effective length of I cross-section beams in connections with girder clamps for totally removable, reusable and reconfigurable structures

Abstract One of the goals of factories in the future and Industry 4.0 is for industrial facilities to be environmentally friendly. This objective should be compatible with saving money, always required of investments in industrial production plants. Industrial structures are part of such investments, used in industrial installations and equipment. In order to achieve the two objectives mentioned above, joints with clamps are a promising solution for the manufacturing of steel structures based on I-section beams. Joints with girder clamps make it possible to build steel structures that are completely removable, reusable and reconfigurable. There is currently a lack of research regarding the minimum length required for beams in joints with clamps according to geometrical measurements of the cross-section of the beam. This work studies the behavior of beams in clamps joints in relation to the effective working length of the beam. This work also verifies whether the use of a fixed angle of stress distribution is suitable for calculating the minimum beam length required for the manufacturing process of this type of structures.