Numerical study on remaining ultimate strength of compressive box-section members with sectional loss

Abstract

This paper discusses remaining capacity of compressive box-section members with artificial section loss area, which were cut out from an actual truss bridge and tested in authors’ previous study. FE analyses of 7 test specimens were conducted by solid element models with consideration of initial imperfection in order to clarify the effect of the section loss on the elasto-plastic behaviors through comparison between experimental findings and analytical results. Also, parametric FE analyses were carried out to obtain the relation between section loss and decrease of compressive strength. As the results, elasto-plastic behaviors were almost properly evaluated by analytical model, and effects of section loss on the compressive strength were assessed by analytical results.