Strength and stability of High-Strength Steel tubular beam-columns

Abstract

In this study, the structural behavior of high-strength steel tubular CHS seamless structural members under combined loading of axial compression and bending is examined. The work is mainly numerical supported by a series of tests. Eight full-scale combined loading tests on short seamless tubular specimens are performed and are used to calibrate the finite element tools. Furthermore, initial imperfection and residual stress measurements are conducted and taken into account in the numerical analyses. Using the numerical tools, stability curves for high-strength steel (TS590) tubular members are obtained. Subsequently, combined loading analyses are conducted on high-strength steel tubular members, so that interaction diagrams are developed, showing the interaction between axial load and bending moment. Both stability curves and interaction diagrams are compared with existing beam-column design provisions of relevant European and American specifications. The comparison shows that the current EN 1993, API RP 2A and AISC specifications, provide reasonable, yet conservative, estimates for the ultimate strength of high-strength steel tubular CHS seamless beam-columns. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, London.