Structural performance of hot-finished high strength steel square tubular stub columns at elevated temperatures

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical investigation into the structural performance of hot-finished high strength steel S460 and S690 square tubular stub columns at elevated temperatures. FE models were developed and validated against experimental results. Extensive parametric studies using the validated FE models were carried out with the incorporation of material properties for S460 and S690 steel at various elevated temperatures, to investigate the structural performance of the stub columns with a wide range of cross-sectional slenderness and at elevated temperatures up to 700oC. The results of stub column strengths from parametric studies were compared with the design strength predictions obtained based on specifications in European and American standards. It was found that the standards provide significantly conservative strength predictions for the hot-finished S460 and S690 square tubular stub columns. Modifications to the design rules in European and American standards were proposed to achieve more accurate strength predictions for structural design.