Testing, modelling and design of Fe-Mn damping steel welded I-sections under combined compression and minor-axis bending
Peng Dai,Yejia Wang,Jiangwen Li,Shanglin Lv,Li Ma,Huiyong Ban
Abstract
Fe–Mn damping steel is a promising structural material that exhibits excellent damping capacity, high
ductility, and stable strength characteristics, making it suitable for seismic and vibration-sensitive structures. This
study presents an integrated experimental and numerical investigation on welded I-section beam–columns made of
Fe–Mn damping steel under combined axial compression and minor-axis bending. A total of seven specimens,
including one Q235 carbon steel reference, were tested under eccentric axial loading, with measurements focusing on
initial global and local geometric imperfections as well as load–lateral deflection responses and failure modes.
Additionally, acoustic tests were conducted on both damping steel and Q235 specimens to quantify their noise
attenuation characteristics under mechanical excitation. The finite element models were calibrated using the results
from the present eccentric compression tests and a prior axial loading study. Following validation, the models were
used to conduct a parametric study covering a wide range of cross-sectional geometries, member slenderness levels,
and loading scenarios. The resulting numerical data were employed to assess the resistance predictions provided by
existing design standards, including EN 1993–1-1, ANSI/AISC 360-22, and GB 50017-2017. The comparison
indicated that EN 1993–1-1 yields generally acceptable yet scattered predictions, while the ANSI/AISC 360-22
method tends to produce non-conservative estimates with substantial variability when applied to damping steel
members. In comparison, GB 50017-2017 offers overall conservative results but with relatively high dispersion. To
improve predictive accuracy, a modified design framework was proposed by concurrently refining the buckling
curve and recalibrating the interaction factors. Reliability analysis conducted in accordance with EN 1990 confirmed
the effectiveness of the proposed method, with a derived partial safety factor of 1.140.
Key Words
beam-column; test; combined axial compression and minor-axis bending; damping steel; Finite Element (FE); welded I-section
Address
Peng Dai — Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Yejia Wang — Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Jiangwen Li — Ansteel Beijing Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
Shanglin Lv — Central Research Institute of Building and Construction Co., Ltd., MCC Group, Beijing, China
Li Ma — Central Research Institute of Building and Construction Co., Ltd., MCC Group, Beijing, China
Huiyong Ban — Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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