Shape optimization of innovation cold-formed steel columns under uniaxial compressive loading

In this study,an experimental and numerical investigation on the uniaxial compressive strength for 40 different profile shapes was conducted. ten different cross-sections with four different lengths (300,600,900 and 1200 mm) of columns were cold-formed to choose the optimum design of columns for steel structure construction. thin steel sheets with a thickness of 1 mm and a width of 400 mm were used to fabricate these columns. the behavior of the 40 simply supported columns under uniaxial compressive loading was experimentally evaluated and validated with a finite element model. it was observed that two main distinct types of failure mechanism are distortional buckling and local buckling in the deformed columns. the ultimate compressive strength of all columns is considerably shape-dependent,where the star-like cross-sectional profile of columns obtained the highest compressive load-carrying capacity regardless the length of columns. 300 mm long columns obviously carried the highest strength for all cross-sectional shapes. the numerical results of compressive strength showed good convergence with the practical ones. in-plane displacement to slenderness ratio is graphically discussed. © 2017 just. all rights reserved.