Applied Element Modelling of Warping Effects in Thin-Walled C-Shaped Steel Sections

Abstract

The Applied Element Method (AEM) is a relatively recent numerical technique, originally conceived for simulating the large displacement nonlinear response of reinforced concrete, masonry and steel structures, and successful applications have been presented by various researchers. Recently, AEM was used to model the mechanical behaviour of steel storage pallet racks, i.e., particular cold-formed steel structures typically employed for storing goods and materials. Such systems are often subjected to peculiar displacements and stresses due to warping effects, which are inherent and often govern their behaviour, increasing the peak strength and ultimate displacement demand. This phenomenon has not been studied through AEM yet; hence, this work investigates the capabilities of AEM in simulating the warping effects in typical steel rack members, i.e., thin-walled C-shaped sections. Preliminary results and comparison against established modelling approaches indicate that AEM can accurately simulate this phenomenon, both in terms of displacements and stresses.