Tests and finite element analysis on the local buckling of 420 MPa steel equal angle columns under axial compression

Abstract

Local buckling can be ignored for hot-rolled ordinary strength steel equal angle compression members, because the width-to-thickness ratios of the leg don't exceed the limit value. With the development of steel structures, Q420 high strength steel angles with the nominal yield strength of 420 MPa have begun to be widely used in China. Because of the high strength, the limit value of the width-to-thickness ratio becomes smaller than that of ordinary steel strength, which causes that the width-to-thickness ratios of some hot-rolled steel angle sections exceed the limit value. Consequently, local buckling must be considered for 420 MPa steel equal angles under axial compression. The existing research on the local buckling of high strength steel members under axial compression is briefly summarized, and it shows that there is lack of study on the local buckling of high strength steel equal angles under axial compression. Aiming at the local buckling of high strength steel angles, this paper conducts an axial compression experiment of 420MPa high strength steel equal angles, including 15 stub columns. The test results are compared with the corresponding design methods in ANSI/AISC 360-05 and Eurocode 3. Then a finite element model is developed to analyze the local buckling behavior of high strength steel equal angles under axial compression, and validated by the test results. Following the validation, a finite element parametric study is conducted to study the influences of a range of parameters, and the analysis results are compared with the design strengths by ANSI/AISC 360-05 and Eurocode 3.