Compressive behaviour of locally corroded steel tubular members under eccentric loads

Abstract

This paper investigated the compressive behaviour of locally corroded steel tubular members under both concentric and eccentric loads, revealing insights into the effects of corrosion thickness and patch angle on failure and buckling behaviour. A direct relationship between corrosion thickness and structural integrity was found in this study, highlighting the significant impact of corrosion on the columns. Moreover, the patch angle's influence on buckling and failure modes emphasises the role of geometric considerations in evaluating these members. Notably, an evident linear reduction in loading capacity occurs as the patch angle increases, irrespective of loading conditions, underscoring the need to account for geometric factors. In addition, even minor eccentricities lead to a substantial decrease in the compressive capacity, further emphasizing the vulnerability of corroded structures. By comparing the effects of corroded patch angle and depth on capacity reduction, the study underscores a steeper reduction gradient with patch angle. The established linear relationships between volume loss due to corrosion damage, centroid shifted distance, and ultimate compressive load capacity provide valuable insights for capacity prediction. Moreover, this study evaluates the applicability of conventional prediction methods like AS 4100:2020, which tends to overestimate critical load capacity for locally patch-corroded members. As an alternative, a proposed formula is presented, exhibiting enhanced accuracy with lower errors compared to existing models.