Local and Overall Buckling of Welded Box Columns

An experimental study is presented on the local and overall interaction buckling strength of welded built-up box columns made of high strength steel. A total of twenty-seven box columns with large width-thickness ratios were tested to failure, of which twenty-four columns were centrally loaded and the rest eccentrically loaded. Based on the test results, an empirical design formula is presented to predict the interaction buckling strength. Further, a discussion of an economical way of proportioning box sections is presented.