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1. Introduction periods of time during a severe earthquake and the question can
be asked whether steel columns could, under certain conditions,
Large axial compression loads are expected to develop in accommodate limited yielding excursions and/or even buckle
columns of concentrically braced steel frames as a result of without adverse loss in load carrying capacity. For instance, Newell
bracing members developing their probable compressive and and Uang [5] verified that columns can sustain a large cyclic plastic
tensile resistances when the structure is subjected to seismic flexural demand without losing their axial load capacity. Similar
strong ground motions [1]. Similarly, the yielding of link beams experimental data for columns subjected to variable compression
in eccentrically braced steel frames also induces high compression axial loads exceeding the column compressive resistance do
axial forces in columns. Capacity design requirements have been not exist. Limited preliminary numerical simulations by the
introduced in code seismic provisions to ascertain that the columns authors [6,7] indicate that current capacity design provisions for
are provided with sufficient strength to support their tributary columns could be relaxed to some extent without a detrimental
gravity loads together with the axial loads from the yielding impact on the structural integrity. Such a relaxation, if permitted,
components of the system [2–4]. In multi-storey buildings, the could lead to substantial savings for new structures. The benefits
column design axial load at a given level is obtained by summing up could be extended to existing structures that have not been
the contribution of all yielding braces or links above the level under designed according to recently implemented capacity design
consideration, leading to very high axial loads in the columns that methods and for which column strengthening represents a costly
may considerably affect the overall cost of structures. and challenging operation.
In reality, such large seismic axial load peak demands are The seismic performance of structures designed for short du-
expected to occur only a few times and to last for very short ration buckling excursions must be carefully evaluated by means
of probabilistic structural collapse assessment studies before such
relaxation is implemented in practice. The methodology devel-
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 819 821 7704; fax: +1 819 821 7974. oped in the ATC-63 project [8] can be used to evaluate the mar-
E-mail address: charles-philippe.lamarche@usherbrooke.ca (C.-P. Lamarche). gin of safety against structural collapse. The application of this
0143-974X/$ – see front matter © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd
doi:10.1016/j.jcsr.2010.10.008
1402 C.-P. Lamarche, R. Tremblay / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 67 (2011) 1401–1410
Table 1
Buckling test program.
Test Type Loading rate Loading
3 potentiometers to measure the out-of-plane displacements at Test εh (%) εn (%) εmax (%) Fy (MPa) Fu (MPa)
h/4, h/2, and 3h/4 (h is the specimen height = 3725 mm), 4 f1 1.7 22 30 370 516
potentiometers, one at each corner of the bottom hinge to measure f2 1.9 20 27 372 504
the axial shortening of the columns, 2 inclinometers to measure Average 1.8 21 29 371 510
the end-rotations, and 8 strain gauges positioned at h/4 and h/2 w1 2.7 21 27 349 454
(a total of 16 strain gauges), i.e., one strain gauge on either side w2 2.3 21 27 351 452
Average 2.5 21 27 350 453
(interior and exterior faces) of each of the 4 half flanges positioned
at 25 mm from the flanges’ tips. The built-in 12 MN capacity load
cell of the test frame was used to measure the applied axial load. and the web are in compression. The maximum compression stress
value at the centre of the web is about 40% of the nominal yield
2.3. Ancillary tests strength value. The maximum compression residual stress value
at the tip of the flanges in compression is about 20% of the nominal
The test program also comprised four tensile tests performed yield strength value.
on coupons taken out of the flanges and web of a virgin piece of The initial out-of-straightness profiles presented in Fig. 2(b)
the W310 × 129 profile. The coupon tests were performed in ac- were measured using a Leica TPS400 total station (theodolite).
The initial out-of-straightness was measured in the plane of
cordance with Technical Memorandum #7 of the Guide to Stabil-
buckling at nine points equally spaced along the height of the
ity Design Criteria for Metal Structures [15]. The average measured
columns. When measuring out-of-straightness, the columns were
modulus of elasticity is E = 203 000 MPa. A summary of the mea-
in their position in the test apparatus while no axial load was
sured mechanical properties from the four tensile coupon tests is
applied. Measurements were taken on each flange, 25 mm from
presented in Table 2. In the table, εh is the strain value at the onset
the flange tips. Each measurement point was surveyed twice.
of strain-hardening, εn is the strain value at the onset of necking,
Therefore, each measurement point in Fig. 2(b) is the average
i.e., when the cross-section area of the coupon starts to decrease
of four measurements. Positive values in the figure are in the
and the load begins to drop, and εmax is the maximum strain value same direction as positive lateral deflections measured in the tests.
reached during the test. Idealized bi-linear models were calibrated Detailed information about the tensile coupon tests, residual stress
from the tensile coupon test results. These values were determined measurements and initial out-of-straightness measurements can
using an equal plastic energy criteria between strain values εh and be found in [18].
εn . These two kinematic strain-hardening ratios b = Esh /E for the The effects of high strain rates on the magnitude of the yield
flanges and the web are: b = 0.0055, and b = 0.0036, respectively. strength Fy were investigated through tension testing of coupons
Residual stresses were determined in accordance with Techni- fabricated from the same steel strips that were used to measure
cal Memorandum #6 of the Guide to Stability Design Criteria for the residual stresses. All strips tested came from the flanges of
Metal Structures [15]. The residual stress measurement pattern in- the steel shape. The test results are presented in Fig. 2 along with
cluded 31 individual strips that were 305 mm long and 28 mm empirical curves to predict the ratio between the dynamic and the
wide: 11 in each flange and 9 in the web. The cutting pattern (d)
static yield strength (Fy /Fy ). The first prediction curve presented
is presented in Fig. 2(a). Gauge holes were drilled on both sides was proposed by Wakabayashi et al. [19]:
of the strips to avoid faulty measurements caused by curvature
(d)
of the strips developing after cutting from the profile. Measure- Fy |ε̇|
ments were taken using 150 and 250 mm DEMEC mechanical strain = 1 + m log (1)
Fy ε̇0
gauges. The measured values are presented in Fig. 2(a). In the fig-
(d)
ure, the two sets of residual stress values are in good agreement. As where Fy is the dynamic yield strength for a strain rate ε̇, Fy , is the
expected, in the case of hot-rolled profiles, the tips of the flanges quasi-static yield strength under a strain rate ε̇0 = 50 × 10−6 s−1 ,
Fig. 2. (a) Measured residual stress values; (b) initial out-of-straightness (weak axis).
1404 C.-P. Lamarche, R. Tremblay / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 67 (2011) 1401–1410
a a
Fig. 3. Effect of the strain rate on the magnitude of Fy : (a) linear scale; (b) log10
scale.
Fig. 6. Strains at the flange tips at the column mid-height (Test 1).
a b
c d
Fig. 7. Axial load vs. average strain at h/2 on: (a) the compression side and (b) the tension side. Influence of the strain-hardening parameter b on the axial load vs. average
strain response at h/2 on: (c) the compression side and (d) the tension side.
1406 C.-P. Lamarche, R. Tremblay / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 67 (2011) 1401–1410
and (b) show the strains at mid-height. The results from the
numerical model begin to diverge from the measured response
at a load of 4300 kN in the post-peak region. This coincides
with initiation of yielding on the convex side and, thereby, the
beginning of plastic rotation in the plastic hinge at the column
mid-height. The differences can be partly explained by the fact
that no imperfections other than initial out-of-straightness in the
plane of buckling were included in the finite element model. More
importantly, strain-hardening plays a key role in the amplitude
of strains in plastic hinge regions, as well as on the length of the
plastic hinge. Therefore, the properties assumed in the numerical
model may also have contributed to the divergence of the strain
results at the column mid height. To illustrate the sensitivity
of the strain prediction to assumptions made for the strain-
hardening parameter, additional simulations were performed
using parameter b = 0 (no kinematic strain-hardening) and b =
0.01 (higher kinematic strain-hardening). The simulation results
a b
are presented in Fig. 7(b) and (c), where it is clear that strain- Fig. 8. Test 2 at the end of test: (a) Overall buckled shape, (b) Flange local buckling
hardening plays a key role on the amplitude and distribution of the at column mid-height.
inelastic demand in the plastic hinge region: a higher kinematic
hardening ratio reducing the peak demand at the column mid- a
height to the level observed by spreading the inelastic demand over
a longer column segment (longer plastic hinge region).
a a
b b
Fig. 10. Comparison between Test 1 and Test 2 (a): Axial-load vs. applied
displacement; (b) Axial load vs. average strain on compression and tension sides
at h/2.
Test 3 was performed to investigate the effect of high away from the centre of the column. In Fig. 12, the compression
seismically induced strain rates on the cyclic buckling behaviour strain demand at the column mid-height is also significantly
of the column. In that test, the same displacement protocol as in reduced when higher strain rates are applied. This trend does not
Test 2 was applied but at a faster rate more representative of a seem to exist on the tension side but one strain gauge on this side
seismic loading history. The measured axial load as a function of started malfunctioning after the third cycle, at 7500 µε (11 mm
the applied axial displacement during the test was compared to axial displacement), and formal conclusions cannot be drawn on
the results from Test 2 in Fig. 11(a). The ultimate load reached this aspect.
during Test 3 was Pu = 6004 kN, an increase of 11.2% compared As an attempt to model the effect of strain rates at the material
to Pu = 5399 kN measured in Test 2. This higher buckling strength level on the column strength, the Steel02 base code was modified
was expected due to the increase in steel yield strength resulting to account for the shift in the yield envelope at each time step
from the higher applied strain rate. The strain rates measured at the of the analysis as a function of the measured stain-rate history.
column mid-height in Test 3 are presented in Fig. 11(b) and (c) as Eq. (1) with the updated parameters: m = 0.00225 and ε̇0 = 200 ×
a function of the applied axial displacements. A comparison of the 10−6 s−1 was used in the numerical simulations. The modified
average strains at the flanges’ tips in tension and in compression for Steel02 material with residual stress and strain rate capabilities
Tests 2 and 3 is also presented in Fig. 12. The episodes of high strain was introduced in the RD-SAP (Rate Dependent Sectional Analysis
rates that occurred during Test 3 coincide with loading sequences, Program) sectional analysis tool that was specifically developed
when downward axial displacements were applied, as depicted for this study. RD-SAP is a standalone program coded in the
in Fig. 11 whilst unloading sequences generate much lower stain Matlab language that is independent of the OpenSees software. The
rates. The maximum strain rates were recorded during and just program is based on the Euler–Bernoulli plane section hypothesis
after the first buckling occurrence. The peak strain rates then and uses fibre sections. The axial strain and curvature responses
gradually decreased in subsequent cycles. This is attributed to the measured in Test 3 were used as input in RD-SAP to compute the
fact that as column bending becomes more pronounced, the strains resisting axial load and bending moment histories. The parameters
in the plastic hinge become less concentrated as plasticity spreads used to model the steel material were the same as in the
1408 C.-P. Lamarche, R. Tremblay / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 67 (2011) 1401–1410
a a
Fig. 14. Test 4. (a): Axial load vs. applied displacement; (b) Axial load vs. out-of-
plane displacement at h/2.
a b c
Fig. 16. (a) Residual stress pattern of the 14H202 profile. Model vs. test results [6]: (b) stub column test; (c) centrally loaded column tests: KL/r = 60 and 90.
reached. In Fig. 14, the numerical models overpredicted the col- 6. Summary and conclusions
umn resistance in the post-buckling range. Local buckling effects
are not accounted for in the OpenSees fibre cross-section model. A test program was conducted to examine the buckling and
Further study is needed to investigate if the observed difference post-buckling responses of a W310 × 129 column and when
can be attributed to this modelling simplification. subjected to monotonic and cyclic axial loading, with special
attention to the effects of residual stresses and seismically induced
5. Columns made from welded flame-cut steel plates high strain rates. The column specimens were made of ASTM A992
steel and had an effective slenderness ratio of 48. In the cyclic tests,
To further examine the capability to predict the pre- and a static load equal to approximately 60% of the column nominal
post-buckling behaviour of steel columns including initial stress compressive strength was initially applied prior to imposing cyclic
effects, predictions with the OpenSees model were also validated axial displacements in the post-buckling range up to a compressive
against data from tests performed on 14H202 columns at Lehigh axial deformation of 0.53% of the column height. Quasi-static
University [27]. The test columns were made of ASTM A572 and dynamic cyclic tests were carried out. End moments were
(grade 50) welded flame-cut steel plates. The experimental study applied in one of the quasi-static cyclic tests. The test results
included residual stress measurements, tensile coupon tests to were compared to numerical predictions obtained from OpenSees
determine the base yield stress, stub column tests on short models built with nonlinear beam column elements and fibre
columns, and pin-ended centrally loaded tests on columns having discretization of the cross-section. Residual stresses were included
slenderness ratios KL/r of 60 and 90. The measured residual in the numerical models. Opensees numerical predictions were
stresses and cross-section dimensions of the 14H202 columns also compared to results from stub column and centrally loaded
along with the residual stress pattern used in the finite element column tests performed on built-up I-shaped columns made
model are presented in Fig. 16(a). The column cross-section was from flame-cut steel plates. Predictions of the strain rate effects
modelled using 100 fibres, 40 for the flanges and 20 for the on column buckling and post-buckling axial resistances were
web, and 8 elements were used along the column height, with validated against test data using a fibre cross-section numerical
4 integration points per element. The end conditions were taken model accounting for both strain rate effects on the yield strength
as pinned–pinned and an initial half-sine wave profile was used and residual stresses. The main conclusions of the study can be
to represent the column out-of-straightness [6]. The simulation summarized as follows:
results for the stub column test are presented in Fig. 16(b) for • In all column tests described in this article, column inelastic
two cases: with and without residual stresses. The softening effect buckling occurred about the weak axis with the formation of
upon yielding due to the residual stresses is well predicted by the a plastic hinge at the column mid-height.
model. In Fig. 16(c), the numerical results are compared to the • The columns subjected to monotonic and quasi-static cyclic ax-
measurements taken during the two centrally loaded column tests. ial displacements in the post-buckling range were able to carry
Buckling developed about the column weak axis in both tests. The the applied gravity loads up to axial deformations of 0.53% of
same failure mode was observed in the simulations and a very good the column height and out-of-plane displacements at the col-
correlation is achieved between test and numerical results when umn mid-height of 3.7% of the column height. Comparison of
including residual stresses in the analyses. the results from the monotonic and cyclic tests showed that the
1410 C.-P. Lamarche, R. Tremblay / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 67 (2011) 1401–1410
post-buckling behaviour of the columns studied was not influ- to express their appreciation to the technical staff at the Hydro
enced by the imposed inelastic cyclic displacements. These re- Québec Structures Laboratory of École Polytechnique de Montréal.
sults suggest that steel columns with class 1 (compact) I-shaped
sections may be able to accommodate limited yielding excur- References
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