Experimental study on H-shaped steel beam-columns with large width-thickness ratios under cyclic bending about weak-axis

This paper presents the findings from an experimental study of nine H-shaped steel beam-columns with large width-thickness ratios subjected to combined constant axial force and cyclic bending about the weak-axis. Considering different categories of cross-sections, various width-thickness ratios for the flange and web of the specimens are selected, and a reliable structural testing system is developed. The test results show that local buckling dominates the failure mechanism of all the specimens without overall buckling being observed. For bending about the weak-axis, the H-shaped steel members exhibit favorable plastic deformability, and it is concluded that the classification rules in the current design specifications for H-sections are unsuitable for weak-axis bending scenarios. In addition, it is found that the effects of the flange/web width-thickness ratios as well as the axial force ratios on the hysteretic behavior are strongly dependent on each other, and thus should be considered in an interactive way.

► We conducted test on nine H-section steel beam-columns subjected to cyclic weak-axis bending.
► Specimens exhibited favorable plastic deformability.
► The classification rules in the current specifications are unsuitable for H-sections bending about weak-axis.
► The effects of flange and web slendernesses and axial force ratio are strongly dependent on each other.