Behaviour and design of aluminium CHS in compression and bending
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Circular hollow sections (CHS) made from extruded aluminium alloys offer high strength-to-weight ratios and corrosion resistance, but their design is constrained by conservative provisions in current standards. This study addresses critical gaps in experimental data for aluminium CHS under isolated compression (local buckling) and bending through a systematic experimental and numerical investigation. Nine stub column tests and seven four-point bending tests were conducted on extruded aluminium CHS (alloys 6063-T66, 6063-T6, 6082-T6, 6061-T6) covering D/t ratios from 16.6 to 62.7. All stub column specimens were designed to develop local buckling response. Validated finite element models were developed and used to generate a parametric database of 64 additional simulations. Comparison with design provisions revealed that the 2007 European design standard for structural aluminium, EN 1999-1-1 (2007), provided accurate predictions, whereas the current 2023 edition, EN 1999-1-1 (2023) significantly underestimates capacity due to the increased local buckling coefficient applied to CHS in compression (ko = 6 instead of 3). The Continuous Strength Method (CSM) achieved the best accuracy. A simplified design method for Class 4 sections in bending is proposed and validated in this study, achieving excellent agreement with experimental data. The findings support retention of the 2007 formulation and adoption of strain-based design approaches such as the CSM for aluminium CHS.
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,310
Award: G9001167383
OpenAlex ID: W7218592254