Load-Carrying Capacity of Damaged Steel Columns with Channel Sections

Abstract

The influence of damage on the load-carrying capacity of thin-walled steel columns with channel sections is investigated. The axial load-carrying capacity is evaluated for different profiles, and different damage magnitudes are dealt with. The profiles selected for the analysis are commonly used as upright members in rack and shelving systems in industry. The type of damage corresponds primarily to truck impacts. The strategy presented, however, is generally applicable to different types of profiles, and suitable for parameter studies of different types of damage, load cases, and boundary conditions. The main part of the analysis consists of numerical simulations using the finite-element method, but a verifying laboratory test series is also presented. The results of the numerical simulations are in good agreement with the laboratory tests, and show that even very small defects in the thin-walled columns significantly reduce the axial load-carrying capacity.