Abstract:
High-strength, low-alloy vanadium (HSLA-V) steel offers enhanced strength and toughness, leading to lighter, more slender structural components that are susceptible to buckling in compression. This study utilized an experimental database to develop and verify a modeling approach using the general-purpose finite element (FE) software ABAQUS to simulate component buckling response. The research extensively evaluates existing design equations for double-angle buckling from the AISC and SJI specifications, providing significant findings and recommendations for both. A primary objective was to assess the applicability of SJI 2010 Design Specification buckling equations for double-angle compression members made from 80-ksi HSLA-V steel, as current SJI specifications are limited to steel with a yield stress of 50 ksi or less. The study also aimed to compare buckling design equations between SJI and AISC 2010 specifications and offer recommendations for improving the accuracy of common buckling equations. To achieve these goals, an extensive database of analytical buckling simulations, generated through FEA, was created to compare the performance of code buckling equations in determining the buckling strength for both regular and HSLA-V steel compression members. The study investigated potential solutions to address observed non-conservatism in strong-axis buckling predictions, finding that using the modified component slenderness ratio from AISC provisions significantly improved the accuracy of SJI buckling strength predictions for strong-axis buckling with Q-factor values less than 1.0.
