Experimental study on structural behaviour of branching steel columns

Abstract

Few researchers have study the branching column and there is no enough information about it. The objects of this research is to study the structural behaviour of the branching columns and how it effects on the form-finding. These branching columns are experimentally tested and preparation tables to assist with design of it. Experimental work was carried out on the seventeen specimens. All specimens have been tested under static load then evaluated for maximum failure load, maximum vertical displacement and failure mode. The studied variables are the ratio of horizontal spacing between branches to total width of specimen, number of branches and number of branching level. The results showed that when the ratio between the width of the specimen and the overall width was increased, failure load and buckling load was decreased and maximum vertical displacement was increased. When the number of branches increases, the failure load increases slightly, with the vertical displacement increasing. The failure load, buckling load decreased and the vertical displacement greatly increased as the number of branching levels increases. All specimens have failed with buckling mode, and had less failure load and buckling load than the reference specimen.