Numerical simulation and design of aluminum compression members with plain and lipped channel sections

This paper describes the numerical simulation and design of aluminum axial compression members with plain and lipped channel sections. Based on 28 tests of aluminum extruded columns, a non-linear finite element model of plain and lipped channel sections was created using ABAQUS. Overall and local geometric imperfections were considered. The numerical results were compared with the test results, and it is shown that the numerical model can accurately predict the structural behavior of aluminum columns with plain and lipped channel sections. The design rules using direct strength method were proposed. The experimental and numerical results were compared with the design strengths calculated using the proposed design rules and Chinese code for aluminum structures. It is shown that the design rules given by the Chinese code are conservative. Two different relative slenderness ratios are specified. It is also shown that the proposed design rules are accurately predicted the column strengths. It is recommended that one relative slenderness ratio should be used in the Chinese code. Reliability analysis was performed to check the reliabilities of different design rules.