Numerical and experimental investigation on the buckling behavior of elliptical perforated thin walled columns

Maintenance and control works are very important for the continuation of the planned long service periods in engineering structures. Damages in steel elements, for example the growth of the holes in the structure, cause a decrease in the bearing capacity and shorten the service time. The size of the hole on the structure is uncertain for steel structures. For these reasons, it is very important to predict and analyze the bearing capacity of a damaged structure and to take the necessary precautions. In this article, a series of systematic experimental studies have been carried out in calculating the bearing capacity of elliptical perforated steel columns. The deformation shapes of the columns subjected to the compression test and the load-displacement graphs were obtained. In addition, the behavior of the column under axial load is analyzed by finite element modelling. Numerical simulations were performed using the Dynaform finite element package. The effect on the bearing capacity by changing the width, height and location of the elliptical hole on the column was investigated numerically and experimentally. Prepared samples were subjected to compression test and compared with numerical results. Using the data obtained from the numerical simulations, the effect of the width, height and location of a single elliptical hole on the column on the bearing capacity of the column was revealed. The bearing capacity of the columns was increased by strengthening the damaged columns using carbon and glass fiber technique. Using the Taguchi method, the effect ratios of the elliptical hole geometric characteristics affecting the bearing capacity of the column were calculated.