Experimental and Analytical Study of SHS Aluminium Members under Uniform Compression

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the ultimate behaviour of box-shaped aluminium members subjected to uniform compression. Eight stub column tests have been carried out at the University of Salerno. In particular, four box sections made of 6060 aluminium alloys with different width-to-thickness ratios have been investigated. The results have been reported in terms of the maximum compressive resistance and corresponding deformation capacity. Subsequently, the experimental results have been compared with those obtained by two accurate methodologies: (1) a theoretical procedure based on the deformation theory of plasticity (J2); and (2) an extension of the effective thickness method (ETM) provided by Annex L of the Eurocode 9 draft. These approaches take into account the local buckling effects within the elastic-plastic region, the strain-hardening be-haviour of the aluminium material, and the interaction between the plate elements constituting the cross-section. Finally, a comparison between new methodologies and current design rules has been presented.

Keywords

• aluminium alloys
• box-shaped member
• stub test
• Eurocode 9
• uniform compression
• local buckling