Capacity of Axially Loaded SHS Columns Strengthened with CFRP Laminates

Abstract

This thesis describes the methodology adopted in the numerical modeling of Structural Hollow Sections (SHS) cold-formed steel columns of different slenderness ratios under axial compression load and verifying this model against experimental data from (Shaat A. A., 2007). and subsequently using it in parametric studies. The numerical model used was developed considering the material model of cold-formed carbon steel, non-linear stress-strain behavior, initial geometric imperfections, the effect of cold forming by means of applying residual stresses and its equivalent plastic strains, and the interaction between cold-formed SHS and CFRP. The numerical model developed was used to conduct a parametric study to determine the influence of; column’s slenderness ratio, different steel material grade, changing steel cross-section, and CFRP reinforcement ratio on the capacity of CFRP-strengthened steel columns. Results and conclusions from this research are then summarized and suggestions for further work given. The load carrying capacities obtained from the control and strengthened numerical models showed a good match with the experimental results from other researches with a variation in strength less than 6%. While the parametric study showed that the axial load capacity of strengthened columns