Ultimate compressive strength of CHS members with flattened edges

Abstract

The paper studies circular hollow members which have been submitted to a procedure for the formation of a flattened edge. Two different ways of formation of flattened edges are investigated, one involving a single-step procedure and one involving a two-steps procedure. An unexpected failure mode under compressive loading is demonstrated, which is connected with the excessive plastification of the area near the flattened edges. The flattened members are simulated numerically using appropriate finite element models and nonlinear analysis. Finally, parametric analyses are performed in order to clarify the limits between the failure modes, and useful diagrams are obtained. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.