Strength analysis of eccentrically loaded thin-walled steel lipped C-profile columns

Abstract

The work includes the results of numerical, analytical-numerical and experimental study into the influence of load eccentricities with regard to major axis on post-buckling behaviour and load-carrying capacity of thin-walled cold-formed steel lipped channel section columns. The study was solved by using the finite element method (code Ansys) with taking into consideration a full material characteristics in logarithmic strain system and geometric nonlinearities. The analytical-numerical solution was based on Koiter's theory with an application of finite difference method (FDM). Some chosen results of numerical simulations have been compared to experimental results. The deformations of columns were registered by means of Digital Image Correlation Aramis System (DICAS) to observe the maps and the magnitude of displacements for adequate point of a load. The analyses showed that the decrease in maximum load in a dependency on the eccentricity value can be even 3 times minor in a comparison to the load-carrying capacity of axially loaded column.