Nonlinear Inelastic Buckling Behavior and Residual Strength of H-Section Steel Column

Abstract

A nonlinear analytical approach for evaluating the inelastic buckling and residual strength of column member is presented in this study. A steel column member subjected to an axial compression load will shorten in the direction of load. If the load increased until the column buckles, the shortening will stop and the column will suddenly bend or deform laterally and may at the same time twist in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. However; before final buckling or collapse, steel column member has a tendency of plastic deformation. The issue has been much discussed along with the evaluation of plastic deformation capacity and restoring force of column members in the large deformation range following inelastic post-buckling. In order to predict the inelastic buckling behavior of the member, the load-deformation relationship needs to be identified in the whole process. To verify the accuracy of the nonlinear finite element analysis, compression test on an H-shaped steel column member was carried out and both inelastic deformation and the relationship between load-displacement curves were compared.