STR-959: OPTIMIZATION OF A POLYGONAL HOLLOW STRUCTURAL STEEL SECTION IN THE ELASTIC REGION

London

Square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, and oval steel hollow structural sections are commonly used in a wide range of structural applications. The need for deep sections with increased bending stiffness has been the motivation for polygonal hollow structural sections. Polygonal hollow structural sections can have a higher bending strength, and rotational capacity when compared to traditional rectangular or square hollow structural sections with similar cross-sectional area. This paper discusses the numerical optimization of one such polygonal hollow structural section currently used in Canada. Previously conducted full-scale beam bending tests provide data for the calibration of the numerical model. The optimized cross-section has a 9.4% higher bending stiffness with no increase in cross-sectional area as compared to the original design. If a 19.6% increase in cross-sectional area is permitted, the optimized cross-section has a 40.5% higher bending stiffness than the original design.

https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/csce2016/London/Structural/96