Prediction of the flexural strengths of welded H-sections with local buckling

This paper describes the flexural strength of welded sections based on a series of flexural tests performed on H-sections fabricated from steel plates of thickness 6.0 mm with nominal yield stress of 315.0 MPa. Thin-walled flexural members undergo local, lateral-torsional or their interactive buckling according to the section geometries and lateral boundary conditions. Flexural members with the flanges or the web of large width-to-thickness ratios may undergo local buckling before lateral-torsional buckling and their interaction before the final collapse of the section. The local buckling has a negative effect on the flexural strength based on the lateral-torsional buckling. This phenomenon should be considered in the estimation of the nominal flexural strength of thin-walled flexural members. Welded H-section beams composed of the flanges and the web with various width-to-thickness ratios were tested to failure. The initial imperfections in local and lateral buckling mode, and residual stresses were included in the FE analyses. Simple design flexural strength formulas for the direct strength method (DSM) were proposed based on the test and FE results of welded sections to account for interaction between local and lateral-torsional buckling. The design strength curves were compared with the AISC specifications (2005), Eurocode3 (2003) and test results. The adequacy of the strength curve for the DSM was confirmed. A set of conclusions on the flexural strength and structural behavior of thin-walled welded H-sections was drawn from the experimental studies.     

Compression tests of welded section columns undergoing buckling interaction

This paper describes a series of compression tests performed on welded H-section and channel section columns fabricated from a mild steel plate of thickness 6.0 mm with nominal yield stress of 240 MPa. The ultimate strength and performance of the compression members undergoing nonlinear interaction between local and overall buckling were investigated experimentally and theoretically. The compression tests indicated that the interaction between local and overall buckling had a significant negative effect on the ultimate strength of the thin-walled welded steel section columns. The Direct Strength Method (DSM), which was newly developed and adopted as an alternative to the effective width method for the design of cold-formed steel sections recently by NAS (AISI, 2004), was calibrated by using the test results for application to welded steel sections. This paper confirms that the Direct Strength Method can properly predict the ultimate strength of welded section columns when local buckling and flexural buckling occur simultaneously or nearly simultaneously.     

焊接H型钢局部纵弯失稳下抗弯强度计算

对由厚度为6.0mm、名义屈服强度为315.0MPa的钢板制成的H型钢进行了一系列弯曲试验,研究焊接H型钢的抗弯强度。截面几何形状和侧向边界条件决定了薄壁受弯构件的屈曲形式(局部屈曲、侧向扭转屈曲或交互屈曲)。翼缘或腹板宽厚比较大的受弯构件最先出现局部屈曲,继而发生侧向扭转屈曲,在交互屈曲作用下材料最终破坏。侧向扭转屈曲下局部屈曲对抗弯强度有负面影响。计算薄壁抗弯构件名义屈服应力时应将该现象考虑在内。对翼缘和腹板宽厚比不同的焊接H型钢梁进行了试验。进行有限元分析时将局部和侧向扭转屈曲模态的初始缺陷及残余应力考虑在内。基于考虑焊接型材局部和侧向扭转屈曲相互作用的试验和有限元分析结果,给出直接强度法(DSM)计算抗弯强度的简化公式。计算强度曲线与AISC规范(2005),EC3(2003)及试验结果进行比较,验证了DSM方法所计算的强度曲线的准确性。通过试验得出薄壁焊接H型钢的抗弯强度和结构性能的有关结论。     

Tests and numerical study of ultra-high strength steel columns with end restraints

High strength steels with the nominal yield strength more than 460 MPa have begun to be applied in the construction of many steel structures, but there are short of sound researches on the major axis buckling behavior of such steel welded I-section columns, especially for the ultra-high strength steels having the nominal yield strength more than 690 MPa. In this paper, the experimental research is described on the overall buckling behavior about the major axis of ultra-high strength steel compression I-section columns with end restraints. In this research 8 columns made from 2 kinds of ultra-high strength structural steels S690 and S960, with nominal yield strengths of 690 MPa and 960 MPa, respectively, were tested. Based on the test results, the finite element analysis (FEA) model was validated to analyze this behavior of ultra-high strength steel columns, and the buckling strength of pin-ended columns fabricated from such steels were calculated by the verified FEA model, which were compared with the design buckling strengths according to the Eurocode 3, the American specification for structural steel buildings ANSI/AISC 360–05, and the Chinese codes for steel structures design GB50017-2003 respectively. It shows that the major axis nondimensional buckling strengths of the ultra-high strength steel compression columns, whose buckling curve is type b according to Eurocode 3 and GB50017-2003, are much higher than that calculated according to the column curve b, even higher than the curve a₀ in Eurocode 3 and the curve a in GB50017-2003 on average, and they are also higher than the design values according to ANSI/AISC 360–05. It is therefore indicated that the buckling strength about the major axis of the ultra-high strength steel I-section columns is improved a lot compared with the ordinary strength steel columns on a non-dimensional basis, and the column curve a₀ and curve a can be adopted to design this behavior in Eurocode 3 and GB50017-2003, respectively. Besides, there is no obvious difference between the major axis nondimensional buckling strengths of the pin-ended I-section columns fabricated from these two kinds of ultra-high strength steels: S690 and S960. These research works will provide the test basis to complete the buckling design method and theory of the ultra-high strength steel columns, and also be helpful for the application of ultra-high strength steel structures.     

Residual stresses in welded flame-cut high strength steel H-sections

The presence of residual stress in members can significantly compromise the stiffness and fatigue life of steel structural components. Researches in this area are well documented for structural members of mild carbon steels. Nevertheless, due to the difference of stress–strain relations and material properties under ambient and high temperatures, the residual stress distribution in a high strength steel member is physically different from those fabricated from mild carbon steel. It is imperative to study the residual stress distribution for structural members fabricated from high strength steel. In this paper, the residual stresses of three welded flame-cut H-section columns with a nominal yield strength of 460 MPa but different cross-section dimensions were investigated. Both sectioning and hole-drilling methods were used in the measurement and the obtained residual stresses were compared between the two methods. The magnitudes and distributions of the measured residual stresses are identical with those of carbon steel, however in relatively smaller residual stress ratios. Finally, based on the measurements, a simplified residual stress distribution for 460 MPa high strength steel members with welded flame-cut H-section is proposed.     

Experimental investigation of the overall buckling behaviour of 960 MPa high strength steel columns

Investigations of the mechanical performance of high strength steel structures have become a research hotspot in civil and structural engineering, and existing experimental studies of their overall buckling behaviour have hitherto focused mainly on columns fabricated from either 460 MPa or 690 MPa steels. The present study describes an experimental programme including six pin-ended 960 MPa steel columns under axial compression. Both welded I- and box-section specimens are considered. The initial geometric imperfections and cross-sectional residual stresses are reported, with the axial loading, deformation and the strain distributions at the mid-length section being monitored during the testing. The buckling mode is clarified, and the buckling capacity is compared with design results according to current national design codes. Based on the experimental results, a finite element model is described and validated, and then used to perform a large number of parametric studies, considering different cross-sectional dimensions and column slendernesses. It is found that all specimens failed by overall flexural buckling, and the corresponding column curves in current design codes underestimate the dimensionless buckling strength of 960 MPa steel columns. Higher and more adequate column curves are suggested for such columns, and new column curves are proposed based on a non-linear fitting of the parametric results.     

Overall buckling behavior of 460 MPa high strength steel columns: Experimental investigation and design method

Overall buckling behavior of compression columns is one of the most important research subjects in steel structures, especially for high strength steel which has been increasingly applied in recent years. An experimental investigation was carried out to study the overall buckling behavior of 460 MPa high strength steel compression members. Totally twelve columns including welded box and I-sections were comprised. The initial imperfections such as the residual stress, initial bending and loading eccentricity were all measured. Based on experimental results the buckling deformation and capacity were investigated. A finite element model was established and further validated by comparing with the test data in both present study and other previous researches, in which initial imperfections were taken into account. A large number of columns with various section dimensions and lengths were calculated by using the validated model, and their buckling capacities were compared with design values according to different steel structures specifications. It was found that the nondimensional buckling strength of such 460 MPa high strength steel columns were significantly improved compared to normal strength steel columns, and corresponding column curves and design formulae were suggested.     

端部带约束的超高强度钢材受压构件整体稳定受力性能

高强度钢材(屈服强度≥460MPa)已经在国内外多个钢结构实际工程中得到应用,但关于其受压构件整体稳定性的研究还很少,特别是屈服强度超过690MPa的超高强度钢材。针对两种超高强度钢材S690和S960(名义屈服强度分别为690MPa和960MPa),进行了端部带约束的受压构件整体稳定受力性能的试验研究,试验共包括8个试件。基于试验结果,分析该类钢材构件的失稳破坏形态和屈曲承载力,利用经过验证的有限元模型计算其整体稳定系数,并与欧洲规范和我国规范的柱子曲线进行对比分析。结果表明,超高强度钢材受压构件整体稳定系数的试验值要明显高于其所在的b类柱子曲线,甚至比欧洲规范的a0类柱子曲线和我国规范的a类柱子曲线还要高出很多。这说明超高强度钢材受压柱的屈曲强度较普通强度钢材的屈曲强度有明显提高。这些试验研究和有限元分析成果为完善我国超高强度钢材的稳定设计方法和设计理论提供了重要的试验依据和前提条件,并有利于超高强度钢材在我国钢结构工程中得到更广泛的应用和发展。     

Column tests of dodecagonal section double skin concrete-filled steel tubes

A series of tests on dodecagonal section double skin concrete-filled steel columns (DCS) were carried out in this study. Column specimens having different lengths ranged from 1000 mm to 3500 mm were tested. The behavior and strengths of dodecagonal section double skin concrete-filled steel columns were investigated. In addition, local bucking of inner and outer steel tubes were also investigated. 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 proposed methods based on current AISC Specification and Eurocode for the design of composite structural members. The suitability of design method proposed by other researcher for circular section double skin concrete-filled steel columns for dodecagonal section specimens was also evaluated.     

Influence of ultra-high strength infill in slender concrete-filled steel tubular columns

This paper describes 24 tests conducted on slender circular tubular columns filled with normal, high, and ultra-high strength concrete for plain, bar reinforced and steel fiber reinforced columns. These were reinforced and subjected to both concentric and eccentric axial load. It is a continuation of a previous research paper (Portoles et al., 2011 [1]), which presented test results on eccentrically loaded plain concrete columns. The test parameters are nominal strength of concrete (30, 90 and 130 MPa), eccentricity e (0, 20 and 50 mm) and type of reinforcement. A comparison with the corresponding empty tubular columns is performed, as the aim of the paper is to analyze the influence of each type of infill and establish the best option for practical application. For the limited cases analyzed the results show that the addition of high or ultra-high strength infill is more useful for concentric loaded cases than for eccentric loaded ones, where it seems that the best design option is the utilization of bar reinforced concrete filling rather than steel fiber to reinforce CFST columns. The experimental ultimate load of each test was compared with the design loads from Eurocode 4, accurate for the eccentrically loaded tests.     

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.     

Preliminary experimental investigation of the fatigue bond behavior of CFRP confined RC beams

This paper presents the results of the first phase of a study on the effect of the confinement provided by transverse carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets on the fatigue bond strength of steel reinforcing bars in concrete beams. Reinforced concrete bond-beams 150 × 250 × 2000 mm were tested. The variables examined were the area of the CFRP sheets (none or one U-wrap CFRP sheet), the reinforcing bar diameter (20 or 25 mm) and the load range applied to the specimens. The results showed that increasing the bar diameter increased the fatigue bond strength for the unwrapped beams. The CFRP sheets increased the bond strength of the bond-beams with 20 mm bars. However, for the beams with 25 mm steel bars the failure mode changed from a bond splitting failure for the unwrapped beams to a diagonal shear failure for the CFRP wrapped beams, and there was little increase in fatigue strength. Finally, the bond failure mechanism for repeated loading is described.     

屈曲交互作用下焊接截面柱的抗压试验

对焊接H形和槽形截面的柱进行了一系列压力试验,这些柱采用厚度为6·0 mm,名义屈服应力为240 MPa的软钢板制成。从理论上和试验中对这些受压构件在非线性局部和整体屈曲交互作用下的极限强度和性能进行了研究。压力试验表明,局部和整体屈曲交互面对薄壁焊接钢柱截面有较大的负面影响。近期发展起来的DSM方法,对冷加工钢截面的设计,可作为有效宽度法的备选方法,最近已由NAS( AISI ,2004)提出,并由焊接钢截面的试验结果进行了校验。证明了当局部屈曲和弯曲同时或者近乎同时发生时,可采用直接强度法预测焊接截面的极限强度。     

Numerical modelling of light gauge cold-formed steel compression members subjected to distortional buckling at elevated temperatures

Fire safety design of building structures has received greater attention in recent times due to continuing loss of properties and lives during fires. However, fire performance of light gauge cold-formed steel structures is not well understood despite its increased usage in buildings. Cold-formed steel compression members are susceptible to various buckling modes such as local and distortional buckling and their ultimate strength behaviour is governed by these buckling modes. Therefore a research project based on experimental and numerical studies was undertaken to investigate the distortional buckling behaviour of light gauge cold-formed steel compression members under simulated fire conditions. Lipped channel sections with and without additional lips were selected with three thicknesses of 0.6, 0.8, and 0.95 mm and both low and high strength steels (G250 and G550 steels). More than 150 compression tests were undertaken first at ambient and elevated temperatures. Finite element models of the tested compression members were then developed by including the degradation of mechanical properties with increasing temperatures. Comparison of finite element analysis and experimental results showed that the developed finite element models were capable of simulating the distortional buckling and strength behaviour at ambient and elevated temperatures up to 800 °C. The validated model was used to determine the effects of mechanical properties, geometric imperfections and residual stresses on the distortional buckling behaviour and strength of cold-formed steel columns. This paper presents the details of the numerical study and the results. It demonstrated the importance of using accurate mechanical properties at elevated temperatures in order to obtain reliable strength characteristics of cold-formed steel columns under fire conditions.     

Column tests of cold-formed steel non-symmetric lipped angle sections

The geometry of angle sections is simple, but the behaviour and design calculations of angle sections can be quite complicated. Furthermore, lipped angle sections with unequal flange widths form a non-symmetric section and the behaviour of the section is even more complicated than a singly-symmetric angle section with equal flange widths. A test program on cold-formed steel non-symmetric lipped angle columns is presented. The non-symmetric angle sections were brake-pressed from high strength structural steel sheets having nominal yield stresses of 450 and 550 MPa with plate thicknesses of 1.0, 1.5 and 1.9 mm. The material properties of the column specimens were obtained by tensile coupon tests. The behaviour and strengths of cold-formed steel non-symmetric lipped angle columns were investigated. The test strengths are compared with the design strengths calculated using the North American Specification for the design of cold-formed steel structural members. In addition, the current design rules in the North American Specification for cold-formed steel non-symmetric lipped angle columns are assessed using reliability analysis. It is shown that the design strengths are generally quite conservative.     

Parameter optimization on compressive strength of steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete

This paper illustrates parameter optimization of compressive strength of steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete (SFRHSC) by statistical design and analysis of experiments. Among several factors affecting the compressive strength, five parameters that maximize all of the responses have been chosen as the most important ones as age of testing, binder type, binder amount, curing type and steel fiber volume fraction. Taguchi analysis techniques have been used to evaluate L₂₇ (3¹³) Taguchi’s orthogonal array experimental design results. Signal to noise ratio transformation and ANOVA have been applied to the results of experiments in Taguchi analysis. The confirmation runs were conducted for the optimal parameter level combination, which is obtained from the results of the above methodologies. The maximum compressive strength has been observed as around 124 MPa. By using the optimal parameter level combination, the direct tensile strength and flexural strength tests have been conducted. The mean values at the age of 28 days are obtained as 7.5 MPa and 13 MPa respectively. In this study, it is clearly demonstrated that all main factors except steel fiber significantly contribute to the compressive strength of steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete, yet age and binder type are the most significant contributors.     

Experimental behaviour of cold-formed steel welded tube filled with concrete made of crushed crystallized slag subjected to eccentric load

This paper presents results of tests conducted on thin welded rectangular steel stubs filled with concrete that gravel was substituted by 10 mm crushed crystallized slag stone. The studied section was made of two cold steel plates with U shape and welded with electric arc to form a steel box section. The cross-section dimensions were: 100×70×2 mm³. the main studied parameters were the stub height (200, 300, 400, 500 mm), the effect of the in filled concrete, the continued weld and the eccentric force. The tests were carried out 28 days after the date of casting. A total of 20 stubs were tested in a 50 tf machine up to failure, 4 stubs subjected to axial load compression and 16 stubs subjected to eccentric load compression along the minor and major rigidity axis. The aim of the study is to provide some evidences that the use of crushed slag could be integrated in the manufacturing of non-conventional concrete. All failure loads were predicted by using the Euro code 4 and the design method proposed by Z. Vrcelj and B. Uy. From test results, it was confirmed that the length of stubs and the eccentric load had a drastic effect on the load carrying capacity. The failure mode of composite stubs was a local buckling mode with all steel sides deformed outwards. The Euro code 4 loads predictions were generally in good agreement compared with experimental loads and on safe side. The loads results of design method proposed by Vrcelj and B. Uy were generally on safe side compared with experimental load except the columns subject to eccentric load with 400 mm and 500 mm height.     

Effects of tensile reinforcement ratio and compressive strength on the behaviour of over-reinforced helically confined HSC beams

The technology of high strength concrete has improved over the last decade. High strength concrete (HSC) is more brittle than normal strength concrete. The brittleness increases with the use of over-reinforced section, which fails suddenly without warning. Use of over reinforced sections is restricted in codes of practice of concrete design. This paper presents an experimental study of the behaviour of five HSC beams confined with helical reinforcement. Concrete compressive strength in the range 72–95 MPa and tensile reinforcement ratio in the range 5.24–7.86% were used. The main results indicate that as the concrete compressive strength increases the displacement ductility index decreases and the load at spalling-off the concrete cover increases. Also, the displacement ductility index increases as the longitudinal reinforcement ratio increases and the load at spalling-off the concrete cover decreases.     

冷弯薄壁C型钢绕强轴偏心受压构件的极限承载力

冷弯薄壁型钢结构多采用有效截面法对构件承载力进行计算,该方法计算繁杂且未考虑构件的畸变屈曲性能。直接强度法采用全截面计算各类参数,能够考虑各种单独屈曲模式及其相关屈曲对构件稳定性能的影响,但目前该方法并不能应用于压弯构件。对冷弯薄壁C形钢绕强轴偏压构件的稳定性能进行参数分析,探讨了构件长度、偏心距、腹板高厚比、翼缘宽厚比和卷边高厚比等因素对构件承载力的影响规律。结合有限元分析结果,基于轴压构件和纯弯构件的直接强度法公式,提出了冷弯薄壁型钢绕强轴偏压构件的极限承载力计算方法。     

Experimental and numerical investigations of high strength steel welded h-section columns

This paper reports experimental and numerical investigations of high strength steel columns. A series of tests was performed on different geometries of welded H-sections fabricated from high strength steel sheet with a nominal yield stress of 460 MPa. A non-linear finite element model which includes geometric and material non-linearities was developed and verified against experimental results of high strength steel welded H-section columns. The calibrated model was shown to provide accurate predictions of the experimental ultimate loads and failure modes of the test specimens. Therefore, a parametric study was carried out over a range of cross-section geometries and column lengths. The test and numerical results of stub columns obtained in this study were compared with the nominal section capacities. It is shown that the design provisions specified in the European Code, American Specification and Chinese Code on yield slenderness limits are all conservative. The normalized flange and web slenderness limits for fully effective section codified in European Code are very close to those codified in the American Specification, which are more suitable. Furthermore, the test and numerical results of long columns obtained in this study were compared with the nominal member capacities predicted using the European Code, American Specification and Chinese Code for steel structures. It is shown that the European Code provides the best agreement between the test and numerical data with design strength predictions for high strength steel welded H-section long columns.