Tests and behavior of hot-rolled channel steel sections subjected to web crippling

Web crippling failure of hot-rolled channel steel sections could be found due to localized concentrated loads or brace reactions. This paper reports the results of an investigation into web crippling behavior of channel sections subjected to end-one-flange (EOF), interior-one-flange (IOF), end-two-flange (ETF) and interior-two-flange (ITF) loading conditions. A total of 48 channel section tests subjected to web crippling were conducted. The investigation was mainly focused on the effects of bearing length and web slenderness ratio of channel sections on ultimate capacity against web crippling. The tests were performed on four different sizes of channel sections. The results obtained from these tests show that as the bearing length increases, the web crippling ultimate capacity increases significantly. When the bearing length was 50 and 100 mm, the web crippling ultimate capacity of channel sections with web slenderness ratio (ht/t) = 18 reached its peak. When the bearing length was 150 mm, the web crippling ultimate capacity of channel sections with web slenderness ratio (ht/t) = 12.55 reached its peak. The web crippling ultimate capacity of channel sections with web slenderness ratio (ht/t) = 24.67 reached the minimum value. Plastic deformation developed near the mid-height of the web, and that a plastic hinge zone formed in the ultimate limit state. Finite element models have been developed and verified against the test results. The calculation equations of web crippling ultimate capacity put forward in the paper can accurately predict experimental value.