MATERIAL PROPERTIES, RESIDUAL STRESSES AND LOCAL STABILITY OF S690 HIGH STRENGTH STEEL WELDED I-SECTION COLUMNS

This paper describes a comprehensive testing and numerical investigation into the material properties, residual stresses and compression capacities of S690 high strength steel welded I-section stub columns. The testing programme included material testing, residual stress and imperfection measurements, and sixteen stub column tests. A parallel numerical modelling study was then conducted, in which finite element models were firstly developed and validated against the test results, and afterwards employed to perform parametric studies, aiming at generating further structural performance data. The obtained experimental and numerical data were used to evaluate the accuracy of the slenderness limits and design rules for S690 welded I-section stub columns, as given in the European, American and Australian standards. The evaluation results revealed that the codified slenderness limits are accurate for the cross-section classifications of S690 welded I-sections in compression, and the local buckling design provisions in the three codes result in precise and consistent cross-section compression resistance predictions for S690 welded I-section stub columns.