Buckling Behaviours of Differently Fabricated Steel Circular Columns

Abstract

The column buckling performance of steel circular columns fabricated by submerged arc welding, high-frequency welding and hot-rolled forming was investigated. Nine axially compressed columnar specimens fabricated by the three different fabrication methods were tested. On the basis of the experimental results, buckling deformation and capacity, a finite element model was established and validated by comparison with the test data obtained in the present study and by other researchers. The analytical results obtained by the finite element model and the experimental results were compared with the existing column design curves in Chinese, European and US codes. The experimental and numerical results showed that the design resistance calculated on the basis of a design curve in GB 50017-2003 and Eurocode 3, as well as the column curve in ANSI/AISC 360-16, should be adopted for hot-rolled steel circular columns. In contrast to the design curve specified in ANSI/AISC 360-16, the design curves specified in GB 50017-2003 and Eurocode 3 for submerged arc-welded and high-frequency welded columns are too conservative.

Keywords:

• steel structure
• overall buckling
• fabrication method
• steel circular column
• design method

Acknowledgement

Thanks are extended to the Key Lab of Structural Engineering and Earthquake Resistance, Ministry of Education (XAUAT), for the test equipment and conditions provided.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Education Shaanxi Province [grant number 17JS064] and the Science and Technology Department Shaanxi Province [grant number 2018JZ5015].