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Steel and Composite Structures
  Volume 13, Number 1, July 2012 , pages 15-33
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/scs.2012.13.1.015
 


Ultimate capacity of welded box section columns with slender plate elements
Hong-Xia Shen

 
Abstract
    For an axially loaded box-shaped member, the width-to-thickness ratio of the plate elements preferably should not be greater than 40 for Q235 steel grades in accordance with the Chinese code GB50017- 2003. However, in practical engineering the plate width-to-thickness ratio is up to 120, much more than the limiting value. In this paper, a 3D nonlinear finite element model is developed that accounts for both geometrical imperfections and residual stresses and the ultimate capacity of welded built-up box columns, with larger width-to-thickness ratios of 60, 70, 80, and 100, is simulated. At the same time, the interaction buckling strength of these members is determined using the effective width method recommended in the Chinese code GB50018-2002, Eurocode 3 EN1993-1 and American standard ANSI/AISC 360-10 and the direct strength method developed in recent years. The studies show that the finite element model proposed can simulate the behavior of nonlinear buckling of axially loaded box-shaped members very well. The width-tothickness ratio of the plate elements in welded box section columns can be enlarged up to 100 for Q235 steel grades. Good agreements are observed between the results obtained from the FEM and direct strength method. The modified direct strength method provides a better estimation of the column strength compared to the direct strength method over the full range of plate width-to-thickness ratio. The Chinese code and Eurocode 3 are overly conservative prediction of column capacity while the American standard provides a better prediction and is slightly conservative for b/t = 60. Therefore, it is suggested that the modified direct strength method should be adopted when revising the Chinese code.
 
Key Words
    width-to-thickness ratio; welded box-shaped section; axially loaded members; ultimate capacity; direct strength method; effective width method; FEM
 
Address
School of Civil Engineering, Xian University of Architecture and Technology, Xian 710055, PR China
 

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