Effect of flexural deformation on the bearing capacity of assembled H-shaped steel strut: A case study

Abstract

Abstract Abnormal flexural deformation was found in one assembled H-shaped steel strut (AHSS) of an excavation project. In order to assess the effect of flexural deformation on its bearing capacity, a field axial loading test was carried out before the dismantling of the AHSS. It was found that, due to the weak region around the loading component, the horizontal and vertical displacements were larger for the monitoring points closer to the loading component. The horizontal displacements of points H3 ~ H7 all exceeded the required limit value, and the maximum descent of each monitoring point was smaller than the required limit value. Steel columns showed negligible contribution to the restrict of the horizontal displacement but relatively good vertical support of the AHSS. As compared to the condition considering normal deformation, the safety redundancies of the AHSS were all smaller when considering the abnormal deformations. The mechanism of the flexural deformation was discussed, and suggestions for avoiding such abnormal flexural deformation were given.