The behaviour of cold-formed rectangular hollow flange beams under combined axial and bending actions

Abstract

The Rectangular Hollow Flange Beam (RHFB) is a unique thin-walled section formed out of steel sheets that are bent to form an I-section with hollow flanges. Research has been conducted on this section under both axial compression and flexural actions applied separately. This study furthers this by investigating the behaviour of the RHFB when subjected to these actions simultaneously. A limitation in physical production capability obliged a Finite Element Analysis carried out on a model correlated to experimental results published in previous research. The dissertation goes on to describe the parameters involved in validating the Finite Element Model, followed by a study of the RHFB under combined actions. The results of an analysis of the RHFB with varying slenderness were plotted on non-dimensional graphs of axial load vs flexural load interactions. The structural behaviour of the RHFB chatacterised by these curves is subsequently analysed.