Axial compression behaviour of welded high-strength H-columns experimental tests and numerical simulations

Abstract

High-strength steel has been produced and utilised in construction practice in recent years. Even though experimental studies and numerical simulations have been carried out on high-strength steel columns, design methods for columns have not been fully considered in national codes. This paper describes the overall buckling resistance of welded H-columns made of high-strength steel plates. Six steel columns with varied cross-sectional dimensions and slendernesses were compressed to failure in the experimental tests. The ultimate load and failure pattern of columns were determined and compared with values calculating per different national codes. Moreover, numerical simulations were also performed for high-strength steel columns, and residual stresses and initial bendings were considered in the model. The numerical model was verified using test data, and then parametric studies were conducted on the effects of height-to-width ratios of H-sections and slendernesses of columns on ultimate load. The numerical results of the buckling coefficient were also compared with design values following different design codes, and recommendations were made for the overall buckling design of high-strength steel H-columns in accordance with experimental results and numerical simulations.

Keywords

• High-strength structural steel
• H-sections
• Overall buckling
• Axial compression
• Experimental tests
• Numerical modelling