Effect of Residual Stresses on the Column Flexural Buckling Curves

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the effects of residual stresses on the flexural buckling resistance of hot-rolled wide flange steel columns fabricated from ASTM A992 and A913 Grade 80 steels. Through advanced nonlinear finite element simulations, the influence of initial imperfections, nonlinear material properties, and multiaxial residual stress fields is investigated. The residual stress fields were simulated via a sequentially coupled thermo-mechanical analysis representing realistic cooling conditions after hot-rolling. The models were validated against benchmark experimental results and utilized to generate buckling curves for various slenderness ratios. The findings show that residual stresses have a noticeable effect on heavier shapes and significantly influence inelastic buckling resistance, often resulting in non-conservative predictions by current AISC 360-22 design provisions. These results underscore the need for developing refined design curves for steel columns, particularly for heavy sections and high-strength steel.