International Journal of Mechanical Civil and Control Engineering

Vol. 1, Issue. 2, April, 2015

ISSN (Online): 2394-8868

Practical Column Study on Hot Rolled Rectangular

Hollow Sections An Experimental Approach
1

Dr.S.Arul Mary, 2A.Raju, 3R.Prem Kumar, 4K.Gomathy Raja

Associate Professor, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, INDIA
2,3,4
UG Students, Department of Civil Engineering, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, INDIA
1

Abstract:
Hollow sections have many merits and applications
than the open sections, hence the present study focus
on the behavior of Hot Rolled Rectangular Hollow
sections as an axially loaded compression member.
The main scope of the study is on the Buckling
behavior of rectangular hollow section under
compression. To investigate this various national and
international codal provisions such as IS 800-2007
(General construction in steel-Code of practice), EN
1993-1-1-2005 (Design of steel structures, Part 1-1:
General rules for buildings), AISC-13th EDITION
(American Institute of Steel Construction., Thirteenth
Edition) and AS 4100-1998 (Australian StandardDesign of Steel structures) are used for the analysis.
On studying various codal provisions the
interpretation was made by which way the designed
load prediction is to be carried out and what are all
the parameters influencing the designed load
prediction are also focused. The specimens of
different slenderness ratios with varying geometrical
dimensions are to be taken for the study. The
imperfection check were performed by Total Station
in order to check the initial crookedness of the
specimen and the specimens designed load as per
various codal provisions are computed. Then this is
compared with the actual strength and the
interpretations are made over the results.

open sections. They have a well-defined flange and

web. The other set of shapes which are used in
structural steel are called closed sections. They are
generally circular, square or rectangular in shape. All
surfaces may not be accessible from any sides.
Since hollow sections have many merits and
applications than the hot rolled sections, the present
study focus on the behavior of hot rolled section as
an axial loaded column member. The main scope of
the study is on the buckling behavior of rectangular
hollow section under compression. Various national
and international codal provisions are also taken for
the study of open section behavior. Hence the design
strength proposed to be estimated from various codes
was also plan to compare with the actual strength. In
addition to this it is proposed to study any
modification required in the IS 800-2007 codal
provisions.
II.TEST SPECIMEN
In closed sections, Rectangular hollow sections are to
be taken for the analysis. For the analysis 42
rectangular specimens were taken. They are in the
length of 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2 m lengths. They also
of different dimensions according to
TATASTRUCTURA steel specification in Fig-1.
Sectional dimensions are to be arrived on the 42
specimens. The straightness check is to be needed to
design the column. Then the design strength based
upon the national and international codes as given in
Table-1 is to be evaluated. Comparisons on the codal
provisions are also performed.

Keywords: Hot rolled Rectangular Hollow sections,

Buckling Behavior, National and International codes,
Imperfection Check, Actual Strength, Comparison.
I.INTRODUCTION
Steel is used as a structural load bearing member
in various structures throughout the world. Various
shapes and profiles are used to cater to various
requirements and to resist various natures of
loadings.
The current shapes which are used in the
industry are I sections, H sections, C sections, L
sections, T sections. All these sections are called

20

International Journal of Mechanical Civil and Control Engineering

Vol. 1, Issue. 2, April, 2015

ISSN (Online): 2394-8868

CODE
IS 800-2007
EN 1993-1-1-2005

TITLE
General construction in steel-Code of practice
Design of steel structures., Part 1-1:General rules for buildings

AISC-13th EDITION

American Institute of Steel Construction., Thirteenth Edition

AS 4100-1998

Australian Standard-Design of Steel structures

Table-1

Table-2

21

International Journal of Mechanical Civil and Control Engineering

Vol. 1, Issue. 2, April, 2015

ISSN (Online): 2394-8868

III.IMPERFECTION:
The specimen may not be straight as
possible. Sometimes the imperfections may occur due
to handling and transportation of the specimen.
Hence the specimen has to be checked for the
straightness test to confirm that the value is within
the limit as per the codal provision. If the
imperfection value is within the limit then the
specimen is designed as an axially loaded column
due to the eccentricity within limits. If it exceeds the
codal limit then the specimen has to be designed as a
beam column due to the eccentricity. Initially Dial
gauges are used to measure the imperfection, but the
value of the imperfection given by the codal
Provision is less than 0.6mm. Hence Total station is
used. The elevations of the two supports are adjusted
in such a way that they are at the same elevation by
fixing the bench mark. Then the prism was placed
over the each markings and the elevation
(deflection/Bending/imperfection) was found. The
process is repeated in all the markings. The
elevations of the prism at various markings are
plotted in a graph. From this graph, the deviation of
the member is found out. The whole process is
repeated for all the 4 faces in a member to find out
the imperfection of the specimen. Similarly, th e
same procedure is adopted to six sample specimens
taken from each length. From this experiment, all the
members are found to have initial imperfections
within the tolerance limits.

Figure.2 Straightness Chart for Specimen by TOTAL

STATION in Face 2&4
IV.PARAMETRIC-STUDY
Thickness is an important criterion which is
responsible for the strength of the specimen it has to
be arrived. Since the specimens is closed with end
plates the initial thickness has to be measured. The
sizes are measured by Vernier Caliper and the values
are checked with the specification given by the
TATA STRUCTURA. According to their sizes the
specimens the approximate thickness are arrived
from the specification given by the TATA
STRUCTURA. But each sizes of specimen contains
with 4 varying thickness. For example:
RHS50x25mm thickness available are 2.0, 2.6, 3.2,
4.0mm,RHS60x40mm.The thickness available are
2.6, 2.9, 3.6, 4.5mm and RHS 80x40mm thickness
available are 2.6, 3.2, 4.0, 4.8mm. Thickness of the
specimen is calculated. by deducting the weight of
the end plate and stiffeners from the original weight
of the specimen. By this the thickness of the
specimens are easily calculated. The weight of the
specimen can be easily weighed by using the
weighing machine, but it includes the weight of the
stiffener and end plates. In order to calculate the
original weight of the specimen, the size of the
stiffener and end plates are measured with the help of
the scale and the thickness of the stiffener is
measured by Vernier Caliper. With the help of size
and thickness of the end plate and stiffener it weight
are calculated which are detected from the total
weight of the Specimen. The overall weight of the
specimen is measured from the weighing machine.
This weight is compared with the specification given
by the TATA STRUCTURA and the actual thickness
of the specimen is arrived.

Figure.1 Straightness Chart for Specimen by TOTAL

STATION in Face 1&3

V. COMPARATIVE STUDY
The Analytical Study of the Specimens are carried
out according to the various national and
international codes. With this the analytical strength
are calculated for different varying thickness and

22

International Journal of Mechanical Civil and Control Engineering

Vol. 1, Issue. 2, April, 2015

ISSN (Online): 2394-8868

lengths. This analytical results are compared with the

practical result. With this the variation in the
difference national and international codes are
compared with the IS code. This may help to identify
the important criteria for the strength of the hollow
rectangular section.

Figure.5 Graph for Comparing Analytical and

Practical Study
Figure.3 Graph for Design Stress and Ultimate
Stress achieved by Different codes

VII. CONCLUSION:
From the above study the rectangular hollow section
takes more load than predicted in the lower
slenderness value and its depends upon the increasing
kl/r value it converges and economy achieved. But
compared with open section close section takes more
load than predicted hence modification are required
in the codal provision.

Figure.4 Graph for Design Stress and Ultimate

Stress achieved by Different codes

The comparison shows that there is a large deviation

in the designed stress with the ultimate stress in the
critical value and its nearest values. So, further study
is required to enhance the performance of the codal
provisions in the design of hollow sections for this
deviation. From the above plot it was observed that
IS code will give the most conservative result than all
other codal provisions. EURO code will give the
fittest result because of its partial safety factor.
VI. EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
The specimens are tested to find the axial load
capacity of the specimen by column tester. The end
conditions is to be achieved by proper arrangement
using ball socket, base plates, load cell, LVDT as
shown in figure. The test procedure is followed for
varying length of specimens. The deflection at the
midpoint is to be measured by fixing the LVDT at
mid region. The buckling nature of column is shown
in the figure. From this, the results of load vs
displacement curve and ultimate load capacity are to
be predicted and plotted for each specimens and it
is compared with the analytical study shown in the
below graphs.

23