Behaviour of cold-formed high strength steel RHS under localised bearing forces

Abstract

The structural response of cold-formed high strength steel (CFHSS) rectangular hollow sections (RHS) under localised bearing forces is investigated. Web crippling tests were undertaken on cold-formed steel RHS that had nominal yield strengths (0.2% proof stresses) of 700 and 900 MPa. The experiments were conducted under end and interior load cases. The experimental results were utilised in a numerical investigation to verify finite element (FE) models. Upon verification, an extensive parametric study was conducted. The ultimate capacities obtained experimentally and numerically were compared with nominal resistances computed by the current North American Specification, European Code and Australian Standard. Overall, the codified resistance provisions gave either unconservative or overly conservative predictions. Therefore, improved design rules for CFHSS RHS under localised bearing forces were proposed. The reliability of the codified as well as modified design provisions were appraised. It is demonstrated that the modified design rules proposed in this paper can provide reliable predictions for the CFHSS RHS under localised bearing forces.