Experimental investigation of built-up cold-formed steel section battened columns

This paper presents an experimental investigation on behaviour and design of built-up cold-formed steel section battened columns. The built-up columns were pin-ended and consisted of two cold-formed steel channels placed back-to-back at varied spacing of intersection. The two channels were connected using batten plates, with varying longitudinal spacing. The cold-formed steel channel sections were manufactured by brake-pressing flat strips having a plate thickness of 2 mm. The built-up cold-formed steel section battened columns had different slenderness and geometries but had the same nominal length of 2200 mm. The column strengths, load–axial shortening, load–lateral displacement and load–axial strain relationships were measured in the tests. In addition, the failure modes and deformed shapes at failure were observed in the tests and reported in this paper. Overall, the built-up column tests provided valuable experimental data regarding the column behaviour that compensated the lack of information on this form of construction as well as used to develop nonlinear 3-D finite element models. The column strengths measured experimentally were compared against design strengths calculated using the North American Specification, Australian/New Zealand Standard and European Code for cold-formed steel columns. Generally, it is shown that the specifications were unconservative for the built-up cold-formed steel section battened columns failing mainly by local buckling, while the specifications were conservative for the built-up columns failing mainly by elastic flexural buckling.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of high strength stainless steel structures

The paper summarises research on high strength stainless steel tubular structures conducted at the University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Square and rectangular hollow sections were investigated. The test specimens were cold-rolled from high strength austenitic and duplex stainless steel sheets. The material properties of the test specimens were determined by tensile coupon tests at normal room and elevated temperatures. The initial geometric imperfection and residual stress of the specimens were measured. The experimental and numerical investigation focused on the design and behaviour of cold-formed high strength stainless steel structural members. The results were compared with design strengths calculated using the American, Australian/New Zealand and European specifications for cold-formed stainless steel structures.     

Research on cold-formed steel columns

The paper summarises research on cold-formed steel columns performed by the author. Cold-formed steel members are either cold-rolled or brake-pressed into structural shapes. As a result, cold-formed steel open sections are usually singly-point- or non-symmetric. The most common types of singly-symmetric sections are channel and angle. The research focused on cold-formed steel open sections, such as plain and lipped channels, channels with simple and complex edge stiffeners as well as plain and lipped angles, and unequal angles. In addition, cold-formed steel built-up closed sections with intermediate stiffeners were investigated. Both experimental and numerical investigations into the strength and behaviour of cold-formed steel columns were conducted. The column strengths obtained from these investigations were compared with the design strengths obtained using various international standards for cold-formed steel structures. Furthermore, the behaviour and design of cold-formed steel lipped channel columns at elevated temperatures were also investigated. The paper also summarises the design recommendations for cold-formed steel columns.     

Nonlinear analysis of concrete-filled square stainless steel stub columns under axial compression

Concrete-filled stainless steel tubes (CFSST) can be considered as a new and innovative kind of composite construction technique, and have the potential to be used extensively in civil engineering. This paper employs a nonlinear analysis of square CFSST stub columns under axial compression. A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element (FE) model is developed using ABAQUS, where nonlinear material behaviour, enhanced strength corner properties of steel, and initial geometric imperfections are included. Close agreement is achieved between the test and FE results in terms of load-deformation response and ultimate strength. In light of the numerical results, the behaviour of stainless steel composite columns is compared with that of carbon steel composite columns. A simple model is proposed to calculate the ultimate strength of square CFSST stub columns.     

Post-buckling behaviour of prestressed steel stayed columns

A steel column that is reinforced by prestressed stays generally has an increased strength in axial compression. A geometrically nonlinear model accounting for the post-buckling behaviour of the stayed column is formulated using the Rayleigh–Ritz method and then validated using the finite element method. It is found that the post-buckling behaviour is strongly linked to the level of the initial prestress. As the prestress is increased, the following different levels of the responses can be observed in sequence: initial Euler buckling that subsequently restabilizes strongly, the critical load increasing with a post-buckling path that is either stable or unstable, an upper limit for the critical load where the post-buckling is unstable after an initially rather flat response. These findings are important for designers aiming to achieve safer and more efficient designs for this structural component.     

FE based mode interaction analysis of thin-walled steel box columns under axial compression

This paper presents the Finite Element (FE) analysis based mode interaction analysis of thin-walled steel box columns under axial compression. Earlier theoretical results on the optimum design of axially compressed box columns were validated through FE analysis. The study was then extended to cover factors that were previously omitted. These factors included column out-of-straightness, residual stresses and plasticity. Emphasis was given on imperfection sensitivity and its effect on optimum design.     

Design for openings in cold-formed steel channel stub columns

This paper is concerned with the ultimate load capacity of perforated cold-formed steel channel stub columns. A design equation has been developed to determine the ultimate load capacity of perforated channel short columns containing either single or multiple openings of square, circular and manufacturer's opening shape. The equation is based on extensive parametric studies carried out using finite element modelling on plain and lipped channel sections containing openings. A wide range of parameters such as plate slenderness, opening shapes and sizes have been considered in the study. Web plate slenderness and opening area ratio are the two main variables used to derive the design equations. The accuracy of the proposed design equation is established by comparison with a number of experimental and finite element results reported by other researchers.     

Analysis of steel storage rack columns

Storage rack systems are structures composed of cold-formed steel structural members that are used as columns, beams and bracing. The rack columns present peculiar features in their design because they have perforations to facilitate assemblage of the system, which makes them more difficult to analyze by cold-formed steel structures design codes. There are several design codes proposed by the manufacturers associations, as the specifications of Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI), applied in the USA along with the specification of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). These codes propose experimental stub columns tests for the determination of their resistance. In this work, the commercial software, ANSYS, is used for material and geometric non-linear analysis of these columns, and the results are compared with experimental data obtained by stub column tests, for a typical section of racks manufactured in Brazil.     

钢骨混凝土柱基于ABAQUS的力学性能分析

有限元分析可以作为试验的补充手段,模拟型钢混凝土构件的整个受力和变形过程。为了探讨轴压比和钢骨率的变化对SRC柱的延性和承载力的影响,利用有限元分析软件ABAQUS对型钢混凝土(SRC)柱的受力性能进行了非线性数值分析。为验证分析模型的合理性,首先利用已有的试验数据,建立试件的有限元模型,对试验全过程进行非线性数值模拟,通过对比荷载-位移曲线,验证有限元分析的有效性和准确性。通过建立具有不同轴压比和钢骨率的两组模型,分析了轴压比和钢骨率对构件力学性能的影响,为工程应用提供参考依据。     

Nonlinear analysis of circular concrete-filled steel tubular short columns under axial loading

The confinement effect provided by the steel tube in a circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) short column remarkably increases the strength and ductility of the concrete core. The reliable prediction using nonlinear analysis methods for circular CFST columns relies on the use of accurate models for confined concrete. In this paper, accurate constitutive models for normal and high strength concrete confined by either normal or high strength circular steel tubes are proposed. A generic fiber element model that incorporates the proposed constitutive models of confined concrete is created for simulating the nonlinear inelastic behavior of circular CFST short columns under axial loading. The generic fiber element model developed is verified by comparisons of computational results with existing experimental data. Extensive parametric studies are conducted to examine the accuracy of various confining pressure models and the effects of the tube diameter-to-thickness ratio, concrete compressive strengths and steel yield strengths on the fundamental behavior of circular CFST columns. A new design formula accounting for concrete confinement effects is also proposed for circular CFST columns. It is demonstrated that the generic fiber element model and design formula adequately predict the ultimate strength and behavior of axially loaded circular CFST columns and can be used in the design of normal and high strength circular CFST columns.     

Experimental and numerical study on a full scale apex connection of cold-formed steel portal frames

In this paper, experimental and theoretical studies performed on apex connection of an industrial portal frame constructed with cold-formed back-to-back double sigma profile rafters are presented. By those experiments performed, local buckling behavior of the apex plate and load–displacement behavior of the system were investigated under monotonic vertical loading. This investigation was conducted for conditions that the gap between rafter ends at the apex plate are 90, 180, 360, and 450 mm and apex plate is unstiffened/stiffened. Experimental results for the model with 360 mm gap were compared to those of nonlinear quasi-static finite element analyses performed using a finite element software and a good agreement between those results was observed. The connection׳s behavior is controlled by the apex plate. No significant damage occurred on the profiles after the tests. According to the results, it is sufficient to increase the gap between rafter ends up to not higher than 360 mm in order to maximize the general load carrying capacity of the system and the stability of out of plane local buckling behavior of the apex plate. Furthermore, although stiffener plate significantly restricted local buckling of apex plate, no remarkable effect of this enhancement was observed on the flexural capacity of the system.     

预应力轴压撑杆钢柱高温性能试验研究与数值分析

为研究预应力轴压撑杆钢柱的高温性能,进行了2根预应力撑杆钢柱高温试验。试验结果表明：拉索无防火措施时,其相对张力在初始升温阶段就迅速下降,直至完全松弛;预应力撑杆钢柱的轴向变形先由于热膨胀效应轴向伸长,而后在压力作用下轴向压缩;临界状态时,撑杆柱出现对称和反对称两种失稳形态。采用验证后的ANSYS有限元分析模型,考虑材料非线性、几何非线性和初始缺陷等,分析了荷载比、相对轴向刚度比和预应力比等3个关键参数对预应力撑杆柱高温性能的影响,得到了一系列拉索相对张力、侧向变形和轴向变形分别与时间的关系曲线。分析表明：预应力撑杆柱中拉索张力很快在高温下逐渐松弛,达到张力松弛所需时间主要受预应力比影响;预应力撑杆钢柱的侧向变形在升温初期缓慢增长,在失效前增长迅速;随着荷载比增大,预应力撑杆柱侧向变形和轴向变形越来越明显,且达到峰值所需时间不断缩短;预应力比对撑杆钢柱失效临界温度影响较小,但对预应力撑杆柱的破坏形态有较大影响。     

Load-temperature-deformation behaviour of partially protected steel columns in fires

In recent years many tests have been carried out to assess the fire resistance of steel members at elevated temperatures. These tests are very expensive to undertake and the results obtained for similar tests carried out in different furnaces can vary quite considerably. Analytical methods have been developed for determining the fire resistance of steel members but these are often only concerned with predicting the collapse condition and may not allow the behaviour of the member to be fully analysed as the temperature increases. A finite element program (ELTEMP) has been developed by the authors to assess the behaviour of steel columns at elevated temperatures. The effects of temperature gradients over the cross-section, such as occurs, for instance, in the case of members built into fire-resistant masonry walls, are included. The validity of the program has been checked by comparing results obtained from ELTEMP with those from actual fire resistance tests for both uniform and nonuniform temperature distributions. The comparisons show that ELTEMP generally gives good correlation with test results. Two small-scale model tests undertaken for this purpose are described.     

Experimental investigation of thin-walled concrete-filled steel tube columns with reinforced lattice angle

Experimental investigation of thin-walled concrete-filled steel tube columns with reinforced lattice angle was conducted in this study. The lattice angle was designed to reinforce the concrete-filled steel tube columns by increasing the percentage of steel cross-sectional area. Column specimens having different lengths ranged from 500 mm to 3500 mm were tested. The behavior and strengths of concrete-filled steel tube columns with lattice angle were investigated. In addition, concrete-filled steel tube columns having the same size but without reinforced lattice angle were also tested for comparison. Material properties of the concrete and steel used in the test specimens were measured. The test strengths are compared with the design strengths calculated using the AISC Specification and Eurocode for the design of composite structural members. A new design method was also proposed for the concrete-filled steel tube columns with reinforced lattice angle. It is shown that the design predictions from the proposed method agree with test results well.     

Experimental and numerical studies of lean duplex stainless steel beams

Stainless steel is well suited to a range of engineering applications owing to its durability and favourable mechanical properties. The most widely used grades of stainless steel are from the austenitic family and typically contain around 18% chromium and 8%-11% nickel — these grades have a relatively high initial material cost, due, in part, to their high nickel content, and a nominal yield strength (in the annealed condition) of around 220 N/mm². A new, low nickel grade of stainless steel (UNS 32101/EN 1.4162), commonly referred to as ‘lean duplex’, has been developed, that offers over two times the strength of the familiar austenitic grades and at approximately half the initial cost — this lean duplex stainless steel appears well suited to load-bearing applications in construction. This paper reports material and 3-point bending tests on lean duplex stainless steel hollow sections. The 3-point bending tests were replicated by finite element (FE) analysis and, upon validation of the numerical models, parametric studies were conducted to assess the effect of key parameters such as cross-section aspect ratio, cross-section slenderness and moment gradient on the strength and deformation capacity of lean duplex stainless steel beams. Based on both the experimental and numerical results, appropriate slenderness limits and design rules, suitable for incorporation into structural stainless steel design standards, have been proposed.     

Experimental and numerical investigations of cold-formed stainless steel tubular sections subjected to concentrated bearing load

Experimental and numerical investigations of cold-formed stainless steel square and rectangular hollow sections subjected to concentrated bearing load are presented in this paper. A total of 124 data are presented that include 64 test results and 60 numerical results. The tests were performed on austenitic stainless steel type 304, high strength austenitic and duplex material. The measured web slenderness value of the tubular sections ranged from comparatively stocky webs of 6.2 to relatively more slender webs of 61.4. The tests were carried out under end and interior loading conditions. A non-linear finite element model is developed and verified against experimental results. Geometric and material non-linearities were included in the finite element model. The material nonlinearity of the flat and corner portions of the specimen sections were carefully incorporated in the model. It was shown that the finite element model closely predicted the web crippling strengths and failure modes of the tested specimens. Hence, the model was used for an extensive parametric study of cross-section geometries, and the web slenderness value ranged from 52.0 to 206.7. The test results and the web crippling strengths predicted from the finite element analysis were compared with the design strengths obtained using the American, Australian/New Zealand and European specifications for stainless steel structures. A unified web crippling equation with new coefficients for cold-formed stainless steel square and rectangular hollow sections subjected to concentrated bearing load is proposed. It is demonstrated that the proposed web crippling equation is safe and reliable using reliability analysis.     

Fire behaviour of concrete filled elliptical steel columns

In this work, a non-linear three-dimensional finite element model is presented in order to study the behaviour of axially loaded concrete filled elliptical hollow section (CFEHS) columns exposed to fire. This study builds on previous work carried out by the authors on concrete filled circular hollow section (CFCHS) columns both at room temperature and in fire. The numerical model is first validated at room temperature against a series of experiments on CFEHS stub columns available in the literature and subsequently extended to study the performance of slender columns at elevated temperatures. The aim of this work is to understand and represent the behaviour of axially loaded CFEHS columns in fire situations and to compare their effectiveness with that of the circular concrete filled tubular (CFT) columns. Parametric studies to explore the influence of variation in global member slenderness, load level, cross-section slenderness and section size are presented. Finally, guidance on the fire design of CFEHS columns is proposed: it is recommended to follow the guidelines of Clause 4.3.5.1 in EN 1994-1-2, but employing the flexural stiffness reduction coefficients established in the French National Annex with an equivalent EHS diameter equal to P/π, where P is the perimeter of the ellipse.     

Experimental investigation of thin-walled complex section concrete-filled steel stub columns

An innovative X section with intermediate stiffeners of thin-walled concrete-filled steel stub was proposed in this study. The X section was firstly brake-pressed from structural steel sheets to form three edges open section with intermediate stiffener in each edge, then a plate with intermediate stiffener was welded to the open section to form the closed section. The intermediate stiffener was designed to enhance the local buckling stress of the thin-walled specimens. Stub column tests of both hollow steel tubes and concrete-filled steel tubes were performed. Material properties of the self-compacting concrete and steel used in the test specimens were also measured. Design methods specified in current design standard and proposed by other researchers are used to predict the design strengths of test specimens. It is shown that the predicted design strengths are conservative.     

钢骨-钢管混凝土柱的偏压承载力研究

介绍了钢骨-钢管混凝土柱是一种新型的结构组合柱,它是综合钢管混凝土和钢骨混凝土的优缺点而提出的一种新模式的重载柱,对钢骨-钢管混凝土柱的偏压极限承载力进行了试验研究的同时,采用ANSYS有限元软件对钢骨-钢管混凝土柱的偏压承载力进行了模拟分析,结果证明了有限元分析的有效性。     

Evaluation of progressive collapse alternate load path analyses in designing for blast resistance of steel columns

The alternate load path method is a convenient, “threat-independent” method used in progressive collapse analysis and design. Because no actual loadings are considered in this method, the resistance provided by the alternate load path method for specific extreme events is not well quantified. However, such quantification allows for an understanding of what real scenarios can be efficiently represented by alternate load path analyses. As blast loading is one of the abnormal loading events typically motivating an alternate path analysis, this load type is selected for evaluation in the present work. In order to find the blast threat that is representative of the alternate load path method in steel-framed buildings, finite element analyses of steel columns being subjected to blast loads were analyzed in the program LS-Dyna. Prior to this, sensitivity and validation studies were also completed, which are described herein. The results of the column analyses show that failure is governed by a stability-based deflection criterion. Conclusions regarding the charge sizes that the alternate load path method may be considered to be representative of, as well as the influence of column spacing, size, and end fixity on these results are given.