ULTIMATE STRENGTH OF THIN-WALLED BOX STUB-COLUMNS

Abstract

This paper concerns the ultimate strength of thin-walled box stub-columns designed to fail by interactive plate buckling between the plate elements rather than by overall column buckling. An experimental study is described, conducted using nine stub-column specimens. The ultimate strength of stub-columns with initial imperfections and residual stresses is investigated using a finite element method (F. E. M.) based on elasto-plastic large deflection theory. Finally, two simplified design methods are proposed for evaluating the ultimate strength of stub-columns.