Web crippling tests of aluminum rectangular hollow sections

Abstract

A series of tests on aluminum rectangular hollow sections subjected to web crippling is presented. A total of 38 web crippling tests were conducted under two loading conditions of End-Two-Flange (ETF) and Interior-Two-Flange (ITF). The concentrated load was applied by means of bearing plates, which act across the full flange width of the specimens. Different bearing lengths were investigated. The test specimens were fabricated by extrusion using 6063-T5 and 6061-T6 heat-treated aluminum alloys. The test specimens consisted of normal strength material (T5) with the 0.2% tensile proof stress (yield stress) ranging from 189 to 196 MPa, and high strength material (T6) with the 0.2% tensile proof stress ranging from 260 to 275 MPa. The measured web slenderness value of the tubular sections ranged from 31.4 to 74.5. The effects of the 0.2% proof stress and bearing length on the web crippling strength (capacity) of aluminum tubular sections were investigated. In the literature, little test data are available on aluminum members subjected to web crippling. The web crippling test results obtained from this study are valuable for the development of design rules. A non-linear finite element model is developed and verified against the test results. The geometric and material non-linearities were considered in the finite element model. It is shown that the finite element model closely predicted the web crippling strengths and failure modes of the tested specimens.