Experimental study and design calculation for compressive strengths of cold formed thick‐wall sections

Abstract

In order to investigate section capacities of thick‐wall cold formed steel with square and rectangular hollow cross‐sections, experiments were carried out on mechanical properties of the flat coupons, corner coupons, parent steel coupons and full section stub columns. Strain hardening of cold forming thick‐wall cold formed sections was investigated. The stub column test strengths were compared with the design compressive strengths specified by the Australian/New Zealand and Chinese standards for the design of the cold formed steel structural members respectively. It has been shown that the strength predicted by the Australian/New Zealand standard using material properties and that forecasted by the Chinese standard based on the average design yield stress of the full section are a little conservative. The two mean strengths predicted by Australian/New Zealand standard based on the mean design yield stress and forecasted by the Chinese standard using material properties tests are identical, which are superior to the present thick‐wall cold formed steel tubes because of their safety and economy.

Keywords:

• Experimental study
• Thick‐wall steel tube
• Cold formed
• Stub column
• Section capacity
• Structural strength design

The authors are grateful for the financial support and the test specimens supplied by Taian Kenuo Profile Steel Co., Ltd, China.