Compression tests of aluminium alloy cross-sections

Aluminium structural members are being used increasingly widely nowadays due to a range of advantageous characteristics such as high strength to weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, ease of fabrication and aesthetic appearance.A test program on aluminium Square Hollow Sections (SHS) and Rectangular Hollow Sections (RHS) as well as SHS and RHS with internal cross stiffeners was conducted. A total of nine stub columns with a wide range of cross-section slenderness were compressed between fixed ends. Two kinds of aluminium alloy, 6063-T5 and 6061-T6, were investigated. Material properties were determined by tensile coupon tests and hardness measurements. Significant strain hardening was observed for most of the columns. The test strengths obtained from this study, together with the previous test data conducted by other researchers, were compared with the design strengths predicted by the American, Australian/New Zealand and European specifications for aluminium structures. Furthermore, the test strengths were also compared with the strengths predicted using the deformation based Continuous Strength Method (CSM). The design strengths predicted by the three specifications were generally conservative for all columns. The Continuous Strength Method provides better predictions for aluminium alloy columns with stocky sections.