Design of Cold-Formed High-Strength Steel Tubular Stub Columns

This paper presents the numerical investigation of the compressive behavior of cold-formed high-strength steel (HSS) tubular stub columns. The nominal 0.2% proof stresses of the high-strength steel are 700, 900, and 1,100 MPa. Experimental investigations have been conducted, and the numerical methodology has been verified against the test results in a complementary study. Parametric studies on the cold-formed HSS tubular stub columns were performed using the verified models, and additional data were generated to evaluate the structural performance of such compression members. The experimental and numerical results were then compared with the predictions from the design guidelines for square hollow sections (SHS), rectangular hollow sections (RHS), and circular hollow sections (CHS). The current codified slenderness limits and design methods were examined. Modifications to the design methods for resistances of SHS, RHS, and CHS stub columns against cross-sectional yielding or local buckling are proposed in this paper.