Distortional buckling strength of American type cold formed rack columns

Abstract

The present report describes the experimental tests carried out at LERMA to investigate the distortional buckling of steel storage channel rack columns. Previous studies by the authors (Peköz et al. 2012, Casafont et al. 2013a) revealed that it is possible to predict the strength of perforated rack columns undergoing distortional buckling by means of a simple calculation procedure combined with the stub column test. These investigations were carried out using results of experimental tests performed on European rack cross-sections, that is, omega cross-sections with multiple stiffeners. In view of the encouraging results of the previous investigations, it was decided to carry out an experimental campaign on simple channel cross-sections, which are the cross-sections used in America for rack columns. The idea was to create an experimental database of such columns failing in the distortional buckling mode, so that different calculation procedures could be tested. The present report shows the results of the experimental tests of the channel rack columns, as well as the first results of the proposed design procedures.