Finite-element modelling and design guidelines for axial compressive capacity of aluminium alloy circular hollow sections with holes

Abstract

This paper presents a finite-element (FE) investigation on the axial compressive capacity of aluminium alloy circular hollow sections (CHSs) with circular holes. The geometrical and material non-linearities were considered in the finite-element analysis (FEA). Two consecutive steps including an eigenvalue analysis and a load-displacement non-linear analysis were performed in the FEA. The FE models were validated against the test results reported by the first author in a previous study. The validated FE models were used to conduct an extensive parametric study comprising 300 FE models, to investigate the effects of five geometrical parameters on axial compressive capacity: the wall thickness, overall length, the diameter, and the quantity and location of the circular through-holes. In addition, a comparison was performed between the FEA strengths and design strengths calculated using the design formulae of American Design Manual (AA), European Code (EC9), Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS), Chinese Code for imperforated members, and North American Specification (NAS). Moreover, the FEA strengths were compared against the design strengths calculated from the proposed design guidelines of Dhanalakshmi and Shanmugam, Shanmugam et al., Shanmugam and Dhanalakshmi, and Moen and Schafer for cold-formed steel (CFS) sections with holes. The comparison of design strengths against FEA results showed that the current design formulae for CFS perforated sections are not suitable for aluminium alloy CHSs with circular holes. Therefore, new design equations were proposed based on the current design formulae that use effective area method (EAM) by considering the influences of key geometrical parameters.