A Mechanical Model to Predict the Initial Stiffness of The Beam-to-Upright Connection in A Steel Pallet Racking System

Abstract

Pallet racking systems are a mainstay of contemporary logistics and warehousing operations, offering effective storage solutions to a variety of global sectors. The rotational stiffness of the beam-to-upright connection of the pallet racking system is very important for the design of any finite element program. This paper introduces a mechanical model, employing the component method, aimed at predicting the initial rotational stiffness of beam-to-upright connections within cold-formed steel storage racks. An experimental investigation of the behavior of beam-to-column connections in a steel pallet racking system is conducted, and the results are used to verify the mechanical model. The findings indicate that there is a satisfactory agreement between the experimental results and the initial rotational stiffness values derived from the mechanical model.