Experimental study and parametric analysis on the stability behavior of 7A04 high-strength aluminum alloy angle columns under axial compression

An experimental program including study has been conducted to investigate buckling behavior of 7A04 high-strength (HS) aluminum alloy columns under axial compression, in which 42 L-shaped extruded specimens were designed and tested. The specimens involved two sections and seven slenderness ratios varying from 15 to 100. The test results were compared with design results in accordance with American Aluminum Design Manual, GB 50429-2007 and Eurocode 9. A finite element (FE) model of the tested specimens under axial compression has been developed by using general finite element software ANSYS, and was verified by using the test results reported herein and other experimental results presented in the literature. By using this FE model, an extensive body of parametric analyses were conducted to clarify the effects of width-to-thickness ratio of angle legs, initial imperfections and material strengths on the buckling resistance of the 7A04 angle columns. Based on the test and FE analyses results, a modified design method was proposed for predicting the buckling resistance of 7A04 high-strength aluminum alloy columns more accurately.