Tests of aluminum alloy circular hollow section compression members

Publisher Summary Aluminum tubular members are used in space structures, curtain walls, and other structural applications, and could easily be joined by welding. A series of tests consisting of two cross-section geometries are performed on aluminum alloy circular hollow section fixed-ended columns. The chapter aims to present a test program on fixed-ended aluminum alloy circular hollow section columns with and without transverse welds, and compare the test strengths with the design strengths predicted using the American Aluminum Design Manual (AA 2000), Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS 1997), and European Code (EC9 2000) for aluminum structures. The reliability of the design rules for welded columns is evaluated using a reliability analysis. The design strengths predicted by the three specifications are more conservative for the welded columns as compared to the non-welded columns. However, the reliability analysis showed that the design rules in the AA Specification and EC9 Code are slightly more reliable than the design rules in the AS/NZS Standard for the high strength aluminum welded columns.