Flexural behaviour of stainless steel oval hollow sections
Introduction
The traditional family of structural hollow sections comprises square, rectangular and circular hollow sections. The general choice of section for carrying predominantly axial loading is either square or circular, while when bending is introduced, a rectangular section will generally be more efficient. The natural counterpart to a rectangular hollow section, but with a smooth external profile is an oval or elliptical hollow section (EHS). Hot-rolled carbon steel elliptical hollow sections and cold-formed stainless steel oval hollow sections (OHS) have been recently introduced as tubular construction products. The flexural behaviour of such sections formed in stainless steel is the subject of the present study.
Previous research into the structural response of oval and elliptical hollow sections has included analytical and numerical investigations of elastic buckling and post-buckling [1], [2], [3], experimentation and derivation of slenderness limits [4], [5], [6] and examination of shear [7] and flexural buckling [8] behaviour. The resistances of EHS under combined loading [9] and with concrete infill [10], [11], [12] have also been studied, as have a range of EHS connection types [13], [14], [15]. On the basis of these studies, design rules for carbon steel EHS, principally in line with the provisions of Eurocode 3: Part 1.1 [16], have been developed. With regard to the structural behaviour of stainless steel OHS, efficient design rules in line with Eurocode 3: Part 1.4 [17] are sought. Experimental and numerical results on stainless steel OHS stub and long columns, together with appropriate design recommendations have been presented by the authors in a prior study [18]. The present paper focuses on the flexural response of stainless steel OHS, though comparisons are also made with the experimental results from previous studies on carbon steel EHS [6] and stainless steel circular hollow sections (CHS) [19], [20], [21].
Section snippets
Experimental study
A laboratory testing programme was carried out to investigate the flexural response of stainless steel OHS in bending. A total of six beam tests in a three-point bending configuration was conducted with the principal aim of generating data that could be employed in the determination of suitable slenderness parameters and cross-section classification limits. These tests were supplemented by six tensile coupon tests and six stub column tests, to obtain the basic material stress–strain response in
Numerical modelling
Numerical simulations were performed in parallel with the experimental studies. The finite element (FE) package ABAQUS [32] was employed to replicate the experimental results and assess the sensitivity of the numerical models to key parameters, such as initial geometric imperfections, material properties and mesh density. Upon validation of the numerical models, parametric studies were conducted to expand the available structural performance data over a wider range of cross-sectional
Cross-section classification
Most modern structural steel design codes, including Eurocode 3: Part 1.1 [16], employ the cross-section classification process for the treatment of local buckling of cross-sections subjected either partly or fully to compression. The concept of classification is based on an assumed bilinear stress–strain behaviour with a material specific and well-defined yield point, which imposes an upper limit (i.e. the yield strength) on the stress level that can be attained by a cross-section. Despite the
Conclusions
Six in-plane 3-point bending tests on stainless steel oval hollow sections have been performed. Three section sizes with an aspect ratio of approximately 1.5 and varying cross-section slenderness were tested in major axis and minor axis bending. The tests were replicated by means of FE simulations and, upon validation of the FE models, parametric studies were conducted to examine the effect of key variables on moment resistance and rotation capacity. Previous studies on carbon steel EHS [2] in
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Oval 316 for the supply of test specimens and technical data, and would like to thank Namrata Ghelani for her contribution to the experimental part of this research.
References (52)
- et al.
Elastic buckling of elliptical tubes
Thin-Walled Structures
(2008) Buckling behaviour of elliptical cylindrical shells and tubes under compression
International Journal of Solids and Structures
(2008)- et al.
Compressive resistance of hot-rolled elliptical hollow sections
Engineering Structures
(2008) - et al.
Bending strength of hot-rolled elliptical hollow sections
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
(2008) - et al.
Testing and analysis of concrete-filled elliptical hollow sections
Engineering Structures
(2008) Strength and stability criteria for thin-walled stainless steel circular hollow section members under bending
Thin-Walled Structures
(2005)- et al.
Structural design for non-linear metallic materials
Engineering Structures
(2006) - et al.
Strength enhancements induced during cold forming of stainless steel sections
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
(2008) - et al.
Structural design of high-strength austenitic stainless steel
Thin-Walled Structures
(2006) - et al.
Tests of cold-formed stainless steel tubular flexural members
Thin-Walled Structures
(2005)
Computational modelling of cold-formed steel: characterizing geometric imperfections and residual stresses
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Section slenderness limits of very high strength circular steel tubes in bending
Thin-Walled Structures
On the calculation of deflections in structural stainless steel beams: an experimental and numerical investigation
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Full-range stress–strain curves for stainless steel alloys
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Experiments on stainless steel hollow sections—Part 1: material and cross-sectional behaviour
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
An explicit stress formulation for stainless steel applicable in tension and compression
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Numerical investigation of the plastic behaviour of short welded aluminium double-T beams
Engineering Structures
Residual stress analysis of structural stainless steel sections
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Definition of flange slenderness limits on the basis of rotation capacity values
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Discrete and continuous treatment of local buckling in stainless steel elements
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Cross-section classification of elliptical hollow sections
Steel and Composite Structures
Shear response of elliptical hollow sections
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Structures and Buildings
Cited by (74)
Web crippling of stainless steel built-up I-sections under End-Two-Flange loading: Tests, simulations and design
2024, Engineering StructuresTesting, numerical analysis and design of CFDST cross-sections with square stainless steel outer tubes in bending
2023, Journal of Constructional Steel ResearchUltimate behaviour of hybrid stainless steel cross-sections
2023, Journal of Constructional Steel ResearchTesting, FE modelling and design of pin-ended stainless steel equal-leg angle section columns and beam–columns
2023, Journal of Constructional Steel ResearchEffect mechanism of torsion on flat oval profile free bending
2023, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences