Hysteretic Cycles of Axially Loaded Steel Members

Seventeen tube specimens and eight angle specimens were tested under repeated axial loading. Length of the specimens varied from 20 in. to 59 in. and their effective slenderness ratio varied from 30 to 140. The objective of this experimental investigation was to quantify the reduction in maximum compressive loads and increase in member length, to study the influence of mode of buckling and shape of cross section on the hysteresis behavior and energy dissipation through hysteretic cycles. It was concluded that local buckling and shape of the cross section can have significant influence on the hysteresis behavior of axially loaded steel members. A hysteresis model is proposed for tubular members which is in reasonable agreement with the observed inelastic behavior.