2018 H.A Krentz Research Award
Dr. Jeffrey Packer
Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto
HSS Joint Welding
This research project will clarify options available for the fabrication of welded rectangular Hollow Structural Section (HSS) K-connections, and their implications for design. The aim is to liberalize current constraints applied to: member geometric parameters, the relative positions of branches (with regard to gap size, zero gap, or amount of overlap), miter cutting and required welding. The study will focus on truss K- and N-connections with a wide range of eccentricities, gaps and overlaps, with branch members under different loading arrangements. In particular, the requirements for welding (or not welding) the so-called “hidden toe” in overlapped K-connections will be resolved (see Figure 1). The research will involve both experimental and numerical analysis.
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)
