Stability of Slender Section HSS Columns

This research is focused on the behavior and response of hollow section columns having slender cross-sections. Columns typically concerned with sections affected by local buckling are made of quite thin-walled tubular shapes and/or high strength material. Unlike for classical columns, the detrimental influence of local instability and its coupling with flexural buckling is so strong that it cannot be neglected in design, and deserves adequate treatment. 

As a major difficulty to a safe but accurate treatment of such columns, the way the local/global coupled instabilities depends on the member’s length and on the interaction with yielding is essential. This, however, remains a complex and challenging situation within Structural Engineering.
The present paper details numerical investigations that aimed at providing a deeper understanding of the combined phenomena involved. Using hundreds of suitable shell F.E. results as a database of reference results, the mechanical response of such members is carefully characterized and improved design recommendations are proposed.

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